Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages

The ministerial responsibility for employment has its origins in the October 1, 1966 cabinet reshuffle, when Jean Marchand's portfolio was renamed from Minister of Immigration and Citizenship to Minister of Manpower and Immigration, Along with this change, minister Marchand was tasked by Prime Minister Lester Pearson to draft a White paper to renew Canada's immigration policy. Pearson wanted to removed all discriminatory clauses remaining in Canada's immigration regulations, and instead facilitate the immigration of qualified workers from Asia.{{Cite news|date=September 20, 1966|title=Ottawa fera un meilleur accueil aux immigrants japonais et philippins|work=La Presse|publisher=Reuters|url=https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2698171?docsearchtext=immigration|access-date=December 15, 2020}}

The following year, Canada introduced its first point system to rank potential immigrants for eligibility. It originally consisted of 9 categories: education, occupation, professional skills, age, arranged employment, knowledge of English and/or French, relatives in Canada and "personal characteristics". To qualify for immigration 50 points out of 100 were necessary in 1967.Gogia, N., and Slade, B. (2011), About Canada: Immigration, Fernwood Pub, Halifax, NS

In 1977, the portfolio was renamed Minister of Employment and Immigration, a move that reflected the importance of attracting and retaining economic immigrants for Canadian governments in the 1980s and 1990s.{{Cite web|title=Immigration Policy in Canada {{!}} The Canadian Encyclopedia|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/immigration-policy|access-date=2020-12-15|website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca}}

On 12 July 1996, the office of the Minister of Employment and Immigration was abolished and replaced with the office of Minister of Human Resources Development. The portfolio for immigration was transferred to the office of Minister of Citizenship and Immigration following the reorganization of the government and formation of the department for Citizenship and Immigration Canada."[https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/Federal/areasResponsibility/profile?depId=2821 Employment and Immigration (1977-08-15 - 1996-07-11)]." ParlInfo. Ottawa: Library of Parliament. Retrieved 2020 October 30."[https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SI-93-142/page-1.html Order Transferring to the Department of Employment and Immigration...and Transferring to the Minister of Employment and Immigration...and Combining the Department of Employment and Immigration and the Department of Labour Under the Minister of Employment and Immigration].""[https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n78034786.html Canada. Employment and Immigration Canada (Department)]." Library of Congress.

On February 6, 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper transferred the responsibilities of the Minister of Social Development into this portfolio. Although the legislated names did not change, in accordance with this amalgamation the Minister was for a while styled the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and the department operated as Human Resources and Social Development Canada. This ceased on October 30, 2008, and the name returned to the legislated one.

In 2015, the Employment portfolio was merged into the expanded ministry of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.[https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/heres-what-the-new-liberal-cabinet-looks-like "Here are all 30 cabinet ministers at a glance"].The Ottawa Citizen , November 11, 2015

In 2019, following the 2019 Canadian federal election, the portfolio was split between the Minister of Labour and Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, with Carla Qualtrough being appointed the new minister on November 20.{{Cite web|url=https://www.straight.com/news/1327416/vancouver-area-mps-jonathan-wilkinson-carla-qualtrough-harjit-sajjan-and-joyce-murray|title=Vancouver-area MPs Jonathan Wilkinson, Carla Qualtrough, Harjit Sajjan, and Joyce Murray back in Trudeau cabinet|date=2019-11-20|website=The Georgia Straight|language=en|access-date=2019-11-21}}

In 2023, the Official Languages portfolio was merged into the expanded ministry of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, with Randy Boissonnault being appointed the new minister on July 26, 2023.{{cite web |title=Prime Minister announces changes to the Ministry |url=https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2023/07/26/prime-minister-announces-changes-ministry |website=Prime Minister of Canada |access-date=2 August 2023 |language=en |date=26 July 2023}}

In 2024, responsibility for labour was folded back into the portfolio while responsibility for official languages was split off; consequently, the position reverted to its former title of Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, with incumbent Labour minister Steven MacKinnon being appointed to the post. The position was abolished the following year and its responsibilities consolidated into the new position of Minister of Jobs and Families, with MacKinnon becoming its inaugural holder.

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{{legend|{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}|Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend|{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}|Conservative Party of Canada|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

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• {{cite web|title=Ministers of the Crown|url=http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/FederalGovernment/MinisterProvincial.aspx|access-date=24 December 2010}}

{{Cabinet of Canada}}

Employment Workforce And Labour

Category:Labour relations in Canada

Category:Employment and Social Development Canada