In Canada from 1993 to 2003, from 2007 to 2008, and again since 2025, secretary of state is a title given to junior ministers of state in the Government of Canada that sit outside Cabinet.Forsey, Eugene. 2016. "Parliamentary Government." Ch. 1 in How Canadians Govern Themselves (9th ed.). Ottawa, ON: Library of Parliament. Because it is a position that is assigned to assist Cabinet ministers, a secretary of state is legally a minister of state; the distinction is that, unlike a minister, a secretary is not a full cabinet portfolio itself and thus not considered a member of Cabinet. (They are hence considered junior to ministers of state.) The Secretary of State (Training and Youth), for instance, would assist the Minister for Human Resources and Development. This usage is opposite to that in the United Kingdom, where junior ministers generally report to more senior secretaries of state. Secretaries of state are, however, members of the ministry and the King's Privy Council for Canada.
This generic usage should not be confused with the former cabinet positions of Secretary of State for Canada (1867–1996), Secretary of State for the Provinces (1867–1873), and Secretary of State for External Affairs (1909–1995).
History These positions were first used by Jean Chrétien as a way to decrease the size of the Cabinet without substantially decreasing the size of the ministry. When Paul Martin became Prime Minister in 2003, this usage ended, and he instead appointed ministers of state and increased the powers of parliamentary secretaries to act in junior policy positions."Martin's Team", The Globe and Mail, 13 December 2003, A13.
Martin's successor, Stephen Harper, resumed the use of secretaries of state in a cabinet shuffle on 4 January 2007, but went back to ministers of state in his October 2008 cabinet.
Mark Carney resumed the use of secretaries of state in a cabinet shuffle on 13 May 2025.
List of secretaries of state in Canada
External affairs Between 1993 and 2003, there were at least three junior Minister of State positions within the Department of External Affairs (renamed in 1995 to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade) responsible for assisting the Minister of Foreign Affairs (known until 1993 as the Secretary of State for External Affairs).
the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) — relations within the Asia-Pacific the Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa) — relations with Latin America and Africa. the Secretary of State (Central and Eastern Europe and Middle East) — relations with Central & Eastern Europe and the Middle East (introduced by Order-in-Council in 2002).
Between 2007 and 2008, the Conservative Harper government included a less narrow position to assist with the Foreign Affairs minister, called the Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs and International Trade).
NameTook officeLeft officeAsia-PacificRaymond Chan1993 November 42001 January 8Rey Pagtakhan2001 January 92002 January 14David Kilgour2002 January 152003 December 11Latin America and AfricaChristine Stewart1993 November 41997 June 10David Kilgour1997 June 112002 January 14Denis Paradis2002 January 152003 December 11Central and Eastern Europe and Middle EastGar Knutson2002 January 152003 December 11Foreign Affairs and International TradeHelena Guergis2007 January 42008 October 29International DevelopmentRandeep Sarai2025 May 13present
Heritage Several Secretaries of State assisted the Minister of Canadian Heritage (and antecedents) with the various portfolios of the Department of Canadian Heritage (formerly Department of Communications), including multiculturalism, which at one point fell under the Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship. Title and portfolioNameTook positionLeft positionPartySecretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women) communications, multiculturalism, status of womenSheila Finestone1993 November 41996 January 24LiberalHedy Fry1996 January 252002 January 27LiberalSecretary of State (Multiculturalism) multiculturalismClaudette Bradshaw2002 January 152002 May 25LiberalJean Augustine2002 May 262003 December 11LiberalSecretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity) multiculturalism, Canadian identityJason Kenney2007 January 42008 October 29ConservativeSecretary of State (2010 Olympics) (Official Languages) official languages, Vancouver-Whistler Olympics,James Moore2008 July 252008 October 29ConservativeSecretary of State (Amateur Sport) amateur sportDenis Coderre1999 August 32002 January 14LiberalPaul DeVillers2002 January 152003 July 16LiberalSecretary of State (Physical Activity and Sport)
sport2003 July 172003 December 11LiberalSecretary of State (Sport) sportHelena Guergis2007 January 42008 October 29ConservativeSecretary of State (Parks) National ParksAndy Mitchell1997 July 111999 August 2LiberalSecretary of State (Nature) National Parks, environmentNathalie Provost2025 May 13presentLiberalSecretary of State (Sport) sportAdam van Koeverden2025 May 13presentLiberal
Industry The Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development) was a position introduced in 1993 to assist the Minister of Industry within Industry Canada.
The Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development) (Western Economic Diversification) was introduced in 1996 to provide assistance to the Minister of Western Economic Diversification within their department.
Under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the office of Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism) was introduced. On 2008 October 30, a ministerial position was established by Harper as the Minister of State (Science & Technology). +Secretaries of StateNamePortfolioTook officeLeft officeJon GerrardScience, Research and Development1993 November 41997 June 11Western Economic Diversification1996 January 25Ron DuhamelScience, Research and Development1997 June 111999 August 3Western Economic Diversification2002 January 15Gilbert NormandScience, Research and Development1999 August 32002 January 15Andy MitchellRural Development (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario)1999 August 32003 December 11Maurizio BevilacquaScience, Research and Development2002 January 152002 May 26Rey PagtakhanScience, Research and Development2002 May 262003 December 11Stephen OwenWestern Economic Diversification (including Indian Affairs and Northern Development)2002 January 152003 December 11Gerry RitzSecretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)2007 January 42007 August 13Diane AblonczySecretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)2007 August 142008 October 29Buckley BelangerSecretary of State (Rural Development)2025 May 13presentRechie ValdezSecretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)2025 May 13present +Ministers of State (Science, Research and Development)NameTook officeLeft officeGary Goodyear2008 October 302013 July 15Greg Rickford2013 July 152014 March 19Ed Holder2014 March 192015 October 19
Labour The Secretary of State (Training and Youth) assisted the Minister of Labour for the Department of Labour until July 1996, when the labour ministry was abolished and transferred to the Human Resources Development. In 1997, the secretarial position was changed to Secretary of State (Children and Youth).
Between 2007 and 2008 during the conservative Harper government, Human Resources Development included a Secretary of State (Seniors) to assist with the seniors portfolio. NameRoleTook officeLeft officeEthel Blondin-AndrewSecretary of State (Training and Youth)1993 November 41997 July 10Secretary of State (Children and Youth)1997 July 112003 December 11Marjory LeBretonSecretary of State (Seniors)2007 January 42008 October 30Anna GaineySecretary of State (Children and Youth) 2025 May 13presentStephanie McLeanSecretary of State (Seniors)2025 May 13presentJohn ZerucelliSecretary of State (Labour)2025 May 13present
Others TitleNameDepartmentPortfolioTook positionLeft positionSecretary of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food, Fisheries and Oceans)Fernand RobichaudAgriculture and Agri-Food (formerly Agriculture); and Fisheries and Oceansagriculture, agrifood, fisheries, oceans1994/09/151997/06/10Secretary of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food) (Fisheries and Oceans)Gilbert Normand1997/06/111999/08/02Secretary of State (Agriculture)Christian ParadisAgriculture and Agri-Foodagriculture, agrifood2008/06/252008/10/29Secretary of State (Veterans)Lawrence MacAulayNational Defence; and Veterans Affairsveterans, national defence1993/11/041996/01/24Secretary of State (Veterans) (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency; and Veterans Affairs1996/01/251997/06/10George Baker1999/08/032000/10/16Fred J. Mifflin1997/06/111999/08/02Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)Douglas PetersFinanceInternational financial institutions1993/11/041997/06/10Jim Peterson1997/06/112002/01/14John McCallum2002/01/152002/05/25Maurizio Bevilacqua2002/05/262003/12/11Secretary of State (Parliamentary Affairs)Alfonso GaglianoGovernment House Leader; and Solicitor Generalparliamentary affairs1994/09/151996/01/24Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)Claude DrouinEconomic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebececonomic development for regions of Quebec1999/08/032003/12/11Secretary of State (Federal Office of Regional Development - Quebec)Martin CauchonFederal Office of Regional Development - Quebec1996/01/252002/01/14Secretary of State (Selected Crown Corporations)Steve MahoneyTransportationCrown corporations2003/04/112003/12/11Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific Gateway)James MooreAsia-Pacific Gateway2008/06/252008/10/29Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and financial institutions)Wayne LongFinance2025/05/13presentSecretary of State (Defence Procurement)Stephen FuhrProcurementNational Defence2025/05/13presentSecretary of State (Combatting Crime) Ruby SahotaPublic Safetycrime reduction2025/05/13present
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