Solicitor General of Canada


The Solicitor General of Canada was a position in the Canadian ministry from 1892 to 2005. The position was based on the Solicitor General in the British system and was originally designated as an officer to assist the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. It was not initially a position in the Canadian Cabinet, although after 1917 its occupant was often sworn into the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and attended Cabinet meetings. In 1966, the modern position of Solicitor General was created with the repeal of the previous Solicitor General Act and the passage of a new statute creating the ministerial office of the Solicitor General of Canada.
In recent decades the Solicitor General's department was responsible for administering the prison system, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the National Parole Board and other matters relating to internal security. In 2003, the position was styled Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and the portfolio expanded. In 2005, the position of Solicitor General was formally abolished by Prime Minister Paul Martin and his deputy Anne McLellan.

Solicitors General

NamePrime MinisterTenure
John Joseph Curran*Thompson
John Joseph Curran*Mackenzie Bowell
vacantMackenzie Bowell
Sir Charles Hibbert TupperCharles Tupper
Charles Fitzpatrick*Wilfrid Laurier
Henry George Carroll*Wilfrid Laurier
Rodolphe Lemieux*Wilfrid Laurier
vacantWilfrid Laurier
Jacques Bureau*Wilfrid Laurier
vacantRobert Borden
Arthur Meighen*Robert Borden
Arthur Meighen*Robert Borden
Arthur Meighen* 'Robert Borden
Hugh Guthrie*Robert Borden
Hugh Guthrie*Robert Borden
Hugh Guthrie* 'Arthur Meighen
Guillaume-André FauteuxArthur MeighenOctober 1, 1921 - December 28, 1921
Daniel Duncan McKenzieWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King
vacantWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King
Edward James McMurrayWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King
vacantWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King
Lucien Cannon*William Lyon Mackenzie King
vacantArthur Meighen
Guillaume André FauteuxArthur Meighen
Lucien Cannon William Lyon Mackenzie King
Maurice DupréR.B. Bennett
vacantWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King
Joseph JeanWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King
Joseph JeanLouis St. Laurent
Hugues LapointeLouis St. Laurent
Stuart Sinclair GarsonLouis St. Laurent
Ralph Osborne CampneyLouis St. Laurent
William Ross MacdonaldLouis St. Laurent
Léon BalcerJohn Diefenbaker
William Joseph BrowneJohn Diefenbaker
vacantJohn Diefenbaker
John Watson MacNaughtLester Pearson
Lawrence PennellLester Pearson
John TurnerPierre Trudeau
George James McIlraithPierre Trudeau
Jean-Pierre GoyerPierre Trudeau
Warren AllmandPierre Trudeau
Francis FoxPierre Trudeau
Ron Basford 'Pierre Trudeau
Jean-Jacques BlaisPierre Trudeau
Allan Frederick LawrenceJoe Clark
Robert Phillip KaplanPierre Trudeau
Robert Phillip KaplanJohn Turner
Elmer MacKayBrian Mulroney
Perrin BeattyBrian Mulroney
James KelleherBrian Mulroney
Perrin Beatty* 'Brian Mulroney
Pierre BlaisBrian Mulroney
Pierre CadieuxBrian Mulroney
Doug LewisBrian Mulroney
Doug LewisKim Campbell
Herb GrayJean Chrétien
Andy ScottJean Chrétien
Lawrence MacAulayJean Chrétien
Wayne EasterJean Chrétien
Anne McLellan
as Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Paul Martin

Not in Cabinet