List of Visible Minority Canadian Cabinet Ministers

The Cabinet of Canada has had 20 Visible Minorities appointed members. By definition, a visible minority is a person or group visibly not one of the majority race in a given population. The term is generally used for Canadians with at least partial non-European or Native Canadian ancestry.

Pierre De Bane became the first Visible Minority and Arab Canadian to hold a Cabinet position when he was appointed Minister of Supply and Services in 1978 by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In 1979, Minister of Labour Lincoln Alexander became the first African Canadian appointed to the Cabinet. Hedy Fry became the first Visible Minority female cabinet member and first Caribbean Canadian minister when she was appointed Minister for Status of Women and Multiculturalism in 1996. Raymond Chan became the first Chinese Canadian to hold a Cabinet Position when he was appointed Asia-Pacific Gateway Minister in 1993, while Herb Dhaliwal was the first South Asian Canadian minister, appointed Revenue Minister in 1997. Vic Toews became the first Latino-Canadian appointed to Cabinet when he was sworn in as Minister of Justice in 2006.

The Department of Multiculturalism has had the most Visible Minority Cabinet ministers, with four. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has appointed the most Visible Minorities to cabinet (7), and also appointed the most serving concurrently (6).

J. Trudeau Cabinet (2015–current)

	Image	Minister	Took office	Left office	Duration	Mandates	Notes
		Bains, NavdeepNavdeep Bains MP for Mississauga—Malton	4 November 2015	Incumbent	Incumbent	Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development (2015–current)	Bains was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1977 to Indian parents.
		Sajjan, HarjitHarjit Sajjan MP for Vancouver South	4 November 2015	Incumbent	Incumbent	Minister of National Defence (2015–current)	Harjit Singh Sajjan was born in Bombeli, in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, India. He along with his mother and older sister immigrated to Canada in 1976 when he was five years old to rejoin their father who had left for British Columbia two years prior to work in a sawmill.
		Sohi, AmarjeetAmarjeet Sohi MP for Edmonton Mill Woods	4 November 2015	Incumbent	Incumbent	Minister of Infrastructure and Communities (2015–Current)	Sohi was born in 1964 in the Banbhaura, Sangrur district in the Indian state of Punjab. Sponsored by an elder brother, he emigrated to Edmonton in 1981.
		Monsef, MaryamMaryam Monsef MP for Peterborough—Kawartha	4 November 2015	Incumbent	Incumbent	Minister of Democratic Institutions (2015–Current)	Monsef is Afghan descent and was born in 1985 in a hospital in Iran;[1] as her parents were Afghan refugees rather than Iranian citizens, Monsef has never held Iranian citizenship and has always been an Afghan citizen.[2] She immigrated to Canada with her family as a refugee in 1996.
		Chagger, BardishBardish Chagger MP for Waterloo	4 November 2015	Incumbent	Incumbent	Minister of Small Business and Tourism (2015–Current) Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (2016–present)	Chagger immigrated to Waterloo, Canada with her parents from India in the 1970s.

Harper Cabinet (2006–2015)

	Image	Minister	Took office	Left office	Duration	Mandates	Notes
		Chong, MichaelMichael Chong MP for Wellington-Halton Hills	6 February 2006	27 November 2006	0 years, 294 days	Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (2006) Minister of State (Sport) (2006)	Chong was born to a Chinese father and Dutch mother. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004. Chong resigned from cabinet in November 2006 because he didn't support a conservative motion of Quebec autonomy.[3]
		Clement, TonyTony Clement MP for Parry Sound—Muskoka	6 February 2006	4 November 2015	9 years, 271 days	Minister of Health (2006–2008) Minister of Industry (2008–2011) President of the Treasury Board (2011-2015)	Clement was born in England and is of mixed Cypriot-Syrian descent.[4]
		Oda, BevBev Oda MP for Durham	6 February 2006	4 July 2012	6 years, 148 days	Minister of Canadian Heritage (2006–2007) Minister of State (Status of Women) (2006–2007) Minister for International Cooperation (2007–2012)	Oda was born to Japanese parents in Thunder Bay. She was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004. Oda resigned her seat and resigned from cabinet in 2012 over expense scandals.[5]
		Toews, VicVic Toews MP for Provencher	6 February 2006	9 July 2013	7 years, 159 days	Minister of Justice (2006–2007) President of the Treasury Board (2007–2010) Minister of Public Safety (2010–2013)	Toews is of mixed Paraguayan-German descent. He served as a Provincial MLA in Manitoba before bbeing elected in 2000 as a federal MP. He resigned from Cabinet and Parliament in 2013.
		Gosal, BalBal Gosal MP for Bramalea-Gore-Malton	18 May 2011	4 November 2015	5 years, 203 days	Minister of State (Sport) (2011–2015)	Gosal is of Indian descent and immigrated to Canada in 1981. He was elected in 2011 and was named to cabinet thereafter.[6]
		Uppal, TimTim Uppal MP for Edmonton-Sherwood Park	18 May 2011	4 November 2015	5 years, 203 days	Minister for Democratic Reform (2011–2013) Minister for Multiculturalism (2013–2015)	Uppal is a Sikh born in New Westminster to Indian immigrant parents. Uppal was elected to Parliament in 2008.[7]
		Wong, AliceAlice Wong MP for Richmond	18 May 2011	4 November 2015	5 years, 203 days	Minister for Seniors (2011–2015)	Wong is a Chinese Canadian who immigrated to Canada in 1980. She was first elected to Parliament in 2008.[8]

Martin Cabinet (2003–2006)

	Image	Minister	Took office	Left office	Duration	Mandates	Notes
		Augustine, JeanJean Augustine MP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore	12 December 2003	19 July 2004	0 years, 219 days	Minister for Multiculturalism (2003–2004) Minister of State (Status of Women) (2003–2004)	First elected in 1993, she became the first black woman elected to Canadian Parliament. She was born in Grenada and immigrated to Canada in her youth. Augustine retired in 2004.[9]
		Pagtakhan, ReyRey Pagtakhan MP for Winnipeg North	12 December 2003	19 July 2004	0 years, 219 days	Minister of Western Economic Diversification (2003–2004) Minister for Science & Technology (2003–2004)	Pagtakhan is a Filipino-Canadian. He was first elected to Parliament in 1988. He also served in Jean Chretien's cabinet. He lost election in 2004.[10]
		Chan, RaymondRaymond Chan MP for Richmond	20 July 2004	5 February 2006	1 year, 199 days	Minister for Multiculturalism (2004–2006)	Chan is the first Chinese-Canadian to serve in Cabinet. He was elected in 1993, and lost election in 2006. He also served in Jean Chretien's cabinet.[11]
		Dosanjh, UjjalUjjal Dosanjh MP for Vancouver South	20 July 2004	5 February 2006	1 year, 199 days	Minister of Health (2004–2006)	Dosanjh was born in India and immigrated to Canada when he was 17. He served as Premier of British Columbia from 2000–2001 and was elected as an MP in 2004.[12]

Chretien Cabinet (1993–2003)

	Image	Minister	Took office	Left office	Duration	Mandates	Notes
		Chan, RaymondRaymond Chan MP for Richmond	4 November 1993	8 January 2001	7 year, 65 days	Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway (1993–2001)	Chan is the first Chinese-Canadian to serve in Cabinet. He was elected in 1993, and lost election in 2006. He also served in Paul Martin's cabinet.[11]
		Fry, HedyHedy Fry MP for Vancouver Centre	25 January 1996	27 January 2002	6 years, 2 days	Minister for Multiculturalism (1996–2002) Minister of State (Status of Women) (1996–2002)	First elected in 1993, Fry is of Trinidadian ancestry. She was a physician before being elected. Fry was dropped from cabinet in 2002.[13]
		Dhaliwal, HerbHerb Dhaliwal MP for Vancouver-Burnaby	11 June 1997	12 December 2003	6 years, 184 days	Minister of National Revenue (1997–1999) Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (1999–2002) Minister of Natural Resources (2002–2003)	Raised in Canada since the age of six, Dhaliwal became Canada's first Indo-Canadian cabinet minister. Dhaliwal was first elected in 1993, and retired after Jean Chretien resigned as Liberal leader.[14]
		Pagtakhan, ReyRey Pagtakhan MP for Winnipeg North	9 January 2001	12 December 2003	2 years, 338 days	Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway (2001–2002) Minister for Science & Technology (2002–2003) Minister of Veterans Affairs (2002–2003)	Pagtakhan is a Filipino-Canadian. He was first elected to Parliament in 1988. He also served in Paul Martin's cabinet. He lost election in 2004.[10]
		Augustine, JeanJean Augustine MP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore	26 May 2002	12 December 2003	1 year, 200 days	Minister for Multiculturalism (2002–2003) Minister of State (Status of Women) (2002–2003)	First elected in 1993, she became the first black woman elected to Canadian Parliament. She was born in Grenada and immigrated to Canada in her youth. Augustine retired in 2004. She also served in Paul Martin's cabinet.[9]

P. Trudeau Cabinet II (1980–1984)

	Image	Minister	Took office	Left office	Duration	Mandates	Notes
		De Bané, PierrePierre De Bané MP for Matapédia—Matane	3 March 1980	29 June 1984	4 years, 118 days	Minister of Industrial Expansion (1980–1982) Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (1982–1984)	De Bané was born in Palestine, and immigrated to Canada. He was first elected in 1968, serving until his appointment to the Senate in 1984.[15]

Clark Cabinet (1979–1980)

	Image	Minister	Took office	Left office	Duration	Mandates	Notes
		Alexander, LincolnLincoln Alexander MP for Hamilton West	4 June 1979	2 March 1980	0 years, 271 days	Minister of Labour (1979–1980)	Lincoln Alexander was Canada's first black Cabinet Minister. He was first elected in 1968, and retired in 1980. He then served as Ontario's first black Lieutenant Governor between 1985 and 1991.[16]

P. Trudeau Cabinet I (1968–1979)

	Image	Minister	Took office	Left office	Duration	Mandates	Notes
		De Bané, PierrePierre De Bané MP for Matapédia—Matane	24 November 1978	3 June 1979	0 years, 191 days	Minister of Supply and Services (1978–1979)	De Bané was born in Palestine, and immigrated to Canada. He was first elected in 1968, serving until his appointment to the Senate in 1984.[15]

See also

• List of Asian-Canadian First Ministers
• List of visible minority politicians in Canada
• Cabinet of Canada

References

1. "Heralded as Canada's first Afghan-born MP, Maryam Monsef shocked to discover truth of roots". The Globe and Mail, September 22, 3016.
2. "Liberal MP Maryam Monsef, Canada's first Afghan cabinet minister, was actually born in Iran". National Post. September 22, 2016.
3. "Can Michael Chong save MPs from themselves?". National Post. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
4. http://www.cjnews.com/news/industry-minister-halachically-jewish
5. "Bev Oda Resigns". Toronto. 3 July 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
6. "Bal Gosal gets interrupted". Maclean's. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
7. "Uppal changes roles in cabinet shuffle". Fort Saskatchewan Online. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
8. "Alice Wong". Government of Canada. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
9. "Jean Augustine". Fairness Commission. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
10. "Rey Pagtakhan". Open Parliament. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
11. "Raymond Chan". Open Parliament. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
12. "Dosanjh new federal health minister" (PDF). Health Edition. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
13. "Hedy Fry won't speculate on portfolio loss". CBC. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
14. "Herb Dhaliwal". Herb Dhaliwal. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
15. "Pierre De Bane on Campus". Macleans. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
16. "Lincoln Alexander". Canada's Heroes.