Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations

Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
Incumbent
Carolyn Bennett
since November 4, 2015
Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Style The Honourable
Member of
Appointer Governor General of Canada
Term length At Her Majesty's pleasure
Inaugural holder Hector Louis Langevin
Formation May 22, 1868
Salary $255,300 (2017)[1]
Website www.ainc-inac.gc.ca
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The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations is one of two Ministers of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet responsible for overseeing the federal Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and administering the Indian Act and other legislation dealing with "Indians and lands reserved for the Indians" under subsection 91(24) of the Constitution Act, 1867.

The Minister's legal title, as set out in the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Act, remains the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and this title continues in use in statutes and legal documents. However, on May 18, 2011, the Minister adopted the working title Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.[2] Following the establishment of the 29th Canadian Ministry on November 4, 2015 the working title was again changed to Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs. The current title was introduced after a Cabinet shuffle in the 29th Ministry on August 28, 2017 in which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development will be abolished in the coming months. This shuffle also created the separate position of Minister of Indigenous Services.[3]

History

Prior to Canadian confederation in 1867, the Indian Department for British North America was responsible for relations between The Crown and indigenous peoples.

A Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs was in the Canadian cabinet from 1867 until 1936 when the Minister of Mines and Resources became responsible for native affairs. In 1950 the Indian Affairs branch was transferred to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, who had responsibility for "status Indians" until the creation of the position of Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in 1966.[4]

Before 1966 the Northern Development portions of the portfolio were the responsibility of the Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources.[5]

Until amendments to the Indian Act in 1985 restored Indian status to many people whose status had been revoked for discriminatory reasons, about half of the persons claiming to be Indians were entitled to be registered as Indians under the Indian Act and to receive the benefits reserved for registered Indians under the Act. The people to whom status was restored were:

  • women who married men who were not Status Indians, and their children
  • people who had, prior to 1961, renounced their Indian status so they could vote in federal elections, and their children
  • people whose mother and paternal grandmother did not have status before marriage (these people lost status at 21), and their children
  • people who had been born out of wedlock of mothers with status and fathers without, and their children.

Over 100,000 people have had their Indian status restored as a result of these changes.

A 1983 House of Commons Committee recommended that Indian or First Nations communities be allowed to write their own membership code provided that the code did not violate fundamental human rights. A second report from the 1983 Penner Committee recommended the gradual abolition of the office of Minister of Indian Affairs and a transfer of responsibility for their own affairs to First Nations communities. Proposed changes died in the House of Commons order paper and have not been re-introduced.

As of July 2004, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development has been assigned the role of Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians concurrently.

Responsibilities

Acts

The Minister has responsibilities, wholly or partially, under a number of Acts:[6](list may not be complete)

  • Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act R.S., 1985, c. A-12
  • British Columbia Indian Cut-off Lands Settlement Act — 1984, c. 2
  • British Columbia Indian Reserves Mineral Resources Act — 1943-44, c. 19
  • British Columbia Treaty Commission Act — 1995, c. 45
  • Canada Petroleum Resources Act — R.S., 1985, c. 36 (2nd Supp.)
  • Canada-Yukon Oil and Gas Accord Implementation Act — 1998, c. 5
  • Canadian Polar Commission Act — 1991, c. 6
  • Caughnawaga Indian Reserve Act — 1934, c. 29
  • Claim Settlements (Alberta and Saskatchewan)Implementation Act — 2002, c-3
  • Condominium Ordinance Validation Act— 1985, c. 46
  • Cree-Naskapi (of Quebec) Act — 1984, c. 18
  • Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Act — R.S., 1985, c. I-6
  • Dominion Water Power Act, — R.S., 1985, c. W-4
  • First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act — 2005, c. 53
  • First Nations Jurisdiction over Education in British Columbia Act — 2006, c. 10
  • First Nations Land Management Act — 1999, c. 24
  • First Nations Oil and Gas and Moneys Management Act — 2005, c. 48
  • Fort Nelson Indian Reserve Minerals Revenue Sharing Act — 1980-81-82-83, c. 38
  • Grassy Narrows and Islington Indian Bands Mercury Pollution Claims Settlement Act — 1986, c. 23
  • Gwich’in Land Claim Settlement Act — 1992, c. 53
  • Indian Act — R.S., 1985, c. I-5
  • Indian Lands Agreement Act (1986) — 1988, c. 39
  • Indian Oil and Gas Act — R.S., 1985, c. I-7
  • Kanesatake Interim Land Base Governance Act — 2001, c. 8
  • Kelowna Accord Implementation Act 2008, c. 23
  • Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act — 2005, c. 27
  • Lands Surveys Act, Canada — R.S., 1985, c. L-6 Part III
  • Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act — 1998, c. 25
  • Manitoba Claim Settlements Implementation Act — 2000, c. 33
  • Mi’kmaq Education Act — 1998, c. 24
  • Natural Resources Transfer (School Lands) Amendments, (Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan) (see also School Lands) — 1960-61, c. 62
  • Nelson House First Nation Flooded Land Act — 1997, c. 29
  • New Brunswick Indian Reserves Agreement — 1959, c. 47
  • Northwest Territories Act — R.S., 1985, c. N-27
  • Northwest Territories Waters Act — 1992, c. 39
  • Nova Scotia Indian Reserves Agreement — 1959, c. 50
  • Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act — 2008, c. 2
  • Nunavut Act — 1993, c. 28
  • Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act — 1993, c. 29
  • Nunavut Waters and Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal Act — 2002, c. 10
  • Oil and Gas Operations Act, Canada — R.S., 1985, c. O-7
  • Pictou Landing Indian Band Agreement Act — 1995, c. 4
  • Sahtu Dene and Metis Land Claim Settlement Act — 1994, c. 27
  • St. Peters Indian Reserve Act — 1916, c. 24
  • St. Regis Islands Act — 1926-27, c. 37
  • Saskatchewan Treaty Land Entitlement Act — 1993, c. 11
  • Sechelt Indian Band Self-Government Act — 1986, c. 27
  • Songhees Indian Reserve Act — 1911, c. 24
  • Specific Claims Tribunal Act 2008, c. 22
  • Split Lake Cree First Nation Flooded Land Act — 1994, c. 42
  • Territorial Lands Act — R.S., 1985, c. T-7
  • Tlicho Land Claims and Self-Government Act — 2005, c. 1
  • Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement Act — 2008, c. 32
  • Westbank First Nation Self-Government Act — 2004, c. 17
  • Western Arctic (Inuvialuit) Claims Settlement Act — 1984, c. 24
  • York Factory First Nation Flooded Land Act — 1997, c. 28
  • Yukon Act — 2002, c. 7
  • Yukon Environmental and Socioeconomic Assessment Act — 2003, c. 7
  • Yukon First Nations Self-Government Act — 1994, c. 35

Boards, Commissions and Other Responsibilities

The Minister is also the lead Minister or responsible Minister for:

  • Canadian Polar Commission
  • Corporation for the Mitigation of Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts
  • First Nations Statistical Institute
  • Indian Oil and Gas Canada
  • Northwest Territories Commissioner
  • Northwest Territories Water Board
  • Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board
  • Contract for Implementation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement
  • Nunavut Commissioner
  • Nunavut Impact Review Board
  • Nunavut Planning Commission
  • Nunavut Water Board
  • Yukon Territory Commissioner

Cabinet ministers

No. Portrait Name Term of office Political party Ministry
Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs
1 Hector Louis Langevin May 22, 1868December 7, 1869 Conservative 1 (Macdonald)
2 Joseph Howe December 8, 1869May 6, 1873 Liberal-Conservative
– James Cox Aikins (acting) May 7, 1873June 13, 1873
3 Thomas Nicholson Gibbs June 14, 1873June 30, 1873
4 Alexander Campbell July 1, 1873November 5, 1873 Conservative
5 David Laird November 7, 1873October 6, 1876 Liberal 2 (Mackenzie)
– Richard William Scott (acting) October 7, 1876October 23, 1876
6 David Mills October 24, 1876October 8, 1878
7 Sir John A. Macdonald
1st time		 October 17, 1878October 2, 1887 Liberal-Conservative 3 (Macdonald)
8 Thomas White October 3, 1887April 21, 1888 Conservative
(7) Sir John A. Macdonald (acting)
2nd time		 May 8, 1888September 24, 1888 Liberal-Conservative
9 Edgar Dewdney September 25, 1888June 6, 1891 Conservative
June 16, 1891October 16, 1892 4 (Abbott)
10 Thomas Mayne Daly October 17, 1892November 24, 1892 Liberal-Conservative
December 5, 1892December 12, 1894 5 (Thompson)
December 21, 1894April 27, 1896 6 (Bowell)
11 Hugh John Macdonald May 1, 1896July 8, 1896 Conservative 7 (Tupper)
– Richard William Scott (acting) July 17, 1896November 16, 1896 Liberal 8 (Laurier)
12 Clifford Sifton November 17, 1896February 28, 1905
– Sir Wilfrid Laurier (acting) March 13, 1905April 7, 1905
13 Frank Oliver April 8, 1905October 6, 1911
14 Robert Rogers October 10, 1911October 28, 1912 Conservative 9 (Borden)
15 William James Roche October 29, 1912October 12, 1917
16 Arthur Meighen October 12, 1917July 10, 1920 Unionist 10 (Borden)
17 Sir James Alexander Lougheed July 10, 1920December 29, 1921 Liberal-Conservative 11 (Meighen)
18 Charles Stewart
1st time		 December 29, 1921June 28, 1926 Liberal 12 (Mackenzie King)
– Henry Herbert Stevens (acting) June 29, 1926July 12, 1926 Conservative 13 (Meighen)
– R. B. Bennett (acting) July 13, 1926September 25, 1926
(18) Charles Stewart
2nd time		 September 26, 1926June 26, 1930 Liberal 14 (Mackenzie King)
19 Ian Alistair Mackenzie June 27, 1930August 7, 1930
20 Thomas Gerow Murphy August 7, 1930October 23, 1935 Conservative 15 (Bennett)
21 Thomas Alexander Crerar October 23, 1935November 30, 1936 Liberal 16 (Mackenzie King)
Minister responsible for Indian Affairs (Minister of the Interior, Minister of Mines)
(21) Thomas Alexander Crerar December 1, 1936April 17, 1945 Liberal 16 (Mackenzie King)
22 James Allison Glen April 18, 1945June 10, 1948
23 James Angus MacKinnon June 10, 1948November 15, 1948
November 15, 1948March 31, 1949 17 (St. Laurent)
24 Colin William George Gibson April 1, 1949January 17, 1950
Minister responsible for Indian Affairs (Minister of Citizenship)
25 Walter Edward Harris January 18, 1950June 30, 1954 Liberal 17 (St. Laurent)
26 Jack Pickersgill July 1, 1954June 21, 1957
– Davie Fulton (acting) June 21, 1957May 11, 1958 Progressive Conservative 18 (Diefenbaker)
27 Ellen Fairclough May 12, 1958August 8, 1962
28 Dick Bell August 9, 1962April 22, 1963
29 Guy Favreau April 22, 1963February 2, 1964 Liberal 19 (Pearson)
30 René Tremblay February 3, 1964February 14, 1965
31 John Robert Nicholson February 15, 1965December 17, 1965
32 Jean Marchand December 18, 1965September 30, 1966
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
33 Arthur Laing October 1, 1966April 20, 1968 Liberal 19 (Pearson)
April 20, 1968July 5, 1968 20 (P. E. Trudeau)
34 Jean Chrétien July 5, 1968August 7, 1974
35 J. Judd Buchanan August 8, 1974September 13, 1976
36 Warren Allmand September 14, 1976September 15, 1977
37 James Hugh Faulkner September 16, 1977June 3, 1979
38 Jake Epp June 4, 1979March 2, 1980 Progressive Conservative 21 (Clark)
39 John Munro March 3, 1980June 29, 1984 Liberal 22 (P. E. Trudeau)
40 Doug Frith June 30, 1984September 16, 1984 23 (Turner)
41 David Crombie September 17, 1984June 29, 1986 Progressive Conservative 24 (Mulroney)
42 Bill McKnight June 30, 1986January 29, 1989
43 Pierre Cadieux January 30, 1989February 22, 1990
44 Tom Siddon February 23, 1990June 24, 1993
45 Pauline Browes June 25, 1993November 3, 1993 25 (Campbell)
46 Ron Irwin November 4, 1993June 10, 1997 Liberal 26 (Chrétien)
47 Jane Stewart June 11, 1997August 2, 1999
48 Bob Nault August 3, 1999December 11, 2003
49 Andy Mitchell December 12, 2003July 19, 2004 27 (Martin)
50 Andy Scott July 20, 2004February 5, 2006
51 Jim Prentice February 6, 2006August 14, 2007 Conservative 28 (Harper)
52 Chuck Strahl August 14, 2007August 6, 2010
53 John Duncan August 6, 2010May 17, 2011
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
(53) John Duncan May 18, 2011February 15, 2013 Conservative 28 (Harper)
– James Moore, (acting) February 15, 2013February 22, 2013
54 Bernard Valcourt February 22, 2013November 3, 2015
Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
55 Carolyn Bennett November 4, 2015August 28, 2017 Liberal 29 (J. Trudeau)
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
(55) Carolyn Bennett August 28, 2017July 18, 2018 Liberal 29 (J. Trudeau)
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
(55) Carolyn Bennett July 8, 2018Incumbent Liberal 29 (J. Trudeau)

Prior to 1966, responsibilities for the Indian Affairs portion of this portfolio fell under the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (List), and the Northern Development portion under the Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources (List).

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Indemnities, Salaries and Allowances". Parliament of Canada.
  2. ↑ "What’s in a name? Indian Affairs is no more", Globe and Mail, May 18, 2011
  3. ↑ Fife, Robert (August 28, 2017). "Indigenous Affairs department to be restructured in cabinet shuffle". The Globe & Mail. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  4. ↑ Departments that have been responsible for Indian Affairs Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ departments that have been responsible for Northern Affairs Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ Acts under Minister Responsibilities
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