Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard


The minister of fisheries, oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard, legally the minister of fisheries and oceans, is the minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for supervising the fishing industry, administrating all navigable waterways in the country, and overseeing the operations of the Canadian Coast Guard and the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation.
The minister is the head of the Government of Canada's marine department, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, often referred to by its older name: the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

History

There had been a minister of marine and fisheries since Confederation in 1867. The role was split in two in 1930, with duties related to fisheries going to the new minister of fisheries, and all other responsibilities going to the new minister of marine, which merged into the role of minister of transport a few years later.
The minister of fisheries lasted from 1930 to 1969, at which point it was abolished and merged with forestry to form the minister of fisheries and forestry. This role lasted only two years, until 1971, when the role of minister of fisheries became a secondary role held concurrently by the minister of the environment.. The fisheries portfolio was assigned to Roméo LeBlanc as the minister of state in 1974, to assist the minister of the environment. LeBlanc was appointed minister of the environment in 1976, styled as minister of fisheries and environment.
In 1979, the modern role of minister of fisheries and oceans was established, which has continued under various names since then. Hunter Tootoo was the first Indigenous individual to hold this portfolio, from 4 November 2015 until 31 May 2016. The current minister of fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard is Bernadette Jordan.

Ministers of Marine and Fisheries (1867-1930)

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Ministers of Fisheries (1930-1969)

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Ministers of Fisheries and Forestry (1969-1971)

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Ministers responsible for Fisheries through the Department of Environment (1971-1979)

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Ministers of Fisheries and Oceans (1979-present)

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