Minister of Health (Canada)
| Minister of Health | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Department of Health | |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Appointer | Governor General of Canada |
| Term length | At Her Majesty's pleasure |
| Inaugural holder | David Dingwall |
| Formation | July 12, 1996 |
| Salary | $255,300 (2017)[1] |
| Website | www.hc-sc.gc.ca |
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|---|
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The Minister of Health (French: Ministre de la Santé) is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing health-focused government agencies including Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, as well as enforcing the Canada Health Act (the law governing Canada's universal health care system). The current Minister of Health is Patty Hajdu, MP for Thunder Bay—Superior North.
The Minister of Health is responsible for maintaining and improving the health of Canadians. This is supported by the Health Portfolio which comprises:
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- Health Canada
- Patented Medicine Prices Review Board
- Public Health Agency of Canada
The Health Portfolio consists of approximately 12,500 full-time equivalent employees and an annual budget of over $3.8 billion.[2]
History[edit]
The first Department of Health was established in 1919, and unlike most other departments, had no designated minister.[3] The President of the Privy Council was the first designated to manage the department,[4] which was followed by the Minister of Immigration and Colonization in 1921 under Arthur Meighen,[5] then the Minister of Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment later that year under William Lyon Mackenzie King.[6] The Minister of Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment managed the Department of Health through the next Meighen[7] and King[8] governments.
In 1928, the Department of Health and Minister of Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment were abolished and replaced with the Department and Minister of Pensions and National Health.[9] In 1944, the position was again split into two roles, with the war veteran portfolio going to the Minister of Veterans Affairs,[10] and the rest of the portfolio moving to the Minister of National Health and Welfare.[11]
The role of Minister of National Health and Welfare was abolished in 1996, and replaced with the current Minister of Health. Jane Philpott was the first medical doctor to hold the post.[12]
Ministers[edit]
Key:
| No. | Portrait | Name | Term of office | Political party | Ministry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
David Dingwall | July 12, 1996 | June 10, 1997 | Liberal | 26 (Chrétien) |
| 2 | 
|
Allan Rock | June 11, 1997 | January 14, 2002 | Liberal | |
| 3 | 
|
Anne McLellan | January 15, 2002 | December 11, 2003 | Liberal | |
| 4 | 
|
Pierre Pettigrew | December 12, 2003 | July 19, 2004 | Liberal | 27 (Martin) |
| 5 | .jpg)
|
Ujjal Dosanjh | July 20, 2004 | February 5, 2006 | Liberal | |
| 6 | 
|
Tony Clement | February 6, 2006 | October 29, 2008 | Conservative | 28 (Harper) |
| 7 | 
|
Leona Aglukkaq | October 30, 2008 | July 15, 2013 | Conservative | |
| 8 | .jpg)
|
Rona Ambrose | July 15, 2013 | November 4, 2015 | Conservative | |
| 9 | .jpg)
|
Jane Philpott | November 4, 2015 | August 28, 2017 | Liberal | 29 (J. Trudeau) |
| 10 | 
|
Ginette Petitpas Taylor | August 28, 2017 | November 20, 2019 | Liberal | |
| 11 | .jpg)
|
Patty Hajdu | November 20, 2019 | Incumbent | Liberal | |
References[edit]
- ^ "Indemnities, Salaries and Allowances". Parliament of Canada.
- ^ "Health Portfolio". Government of Canada. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ^ The Department of Health Act, S.C. 1919, c. 24
- ^ "Tenth Ministry - The Ministries - Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
- ^ "Eleventh Ministry - The Ministries - Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
- ^ "Twelfth Ministry - The Ministries - Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
- ^ "Thirteenth Ministry - The Ministries - Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
- ^ "Fourteenth Ministry - The Ministries - Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
- ^ The Department of Pensions and National Health Act, S.C. 1928, c. 39
- ^ The Department of Veterans Affairs Act, S.C. 1944-1945, c. 19
- ^ The Department of National Health and Welfare Act, S.C. 1944-1945, c. 22
- ^ "Jane Philpott, first MD to be named health minister, on mission to help poor". National Post. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
