Secretaries/Ministers of State

History of Current Secretaries/Ministers of State
Under the Industry Portfolio

FedNor

Secretary of State/Minister of State (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario)

History of Past Ministers of State No Longer
in Existence or Under Another Department

History of Current Secretaries/Ministers of State
Under the Industry Portfolio

Secretary of State/Minister of State
(Federal Economic Development Initiative
for Northern Ontario)

June 28, 2005 – present

Hon. Andrew (Andy) Mitchell (b. 1953)
Minister of State (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario)
Liberal
M.P. Parry Sound–Muskoka, Ontario

born in Montreal, Quebec
held various positions in banking including Supervisor of Banking Operations, Auditor, and Branch Manager in Cornwall, Elliot Lake and Gravenhurst, Ontario
served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, Vice Chair of the Industry Committee, Chair of the Federal Ontario Government Caucus Task Force on Access to Capital by Small Business, and member of the Federal Task Force on Disability Issues
posts included Secretary of State (Parks)

December 12, 2003 – June 27, 2005

Hon. Joseph (Joe) Comuzzi (b. 1933)
Minister of State (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario)
Liberal
M.P., Thunder Bay—Superior North, Ontario

born in Fort William, Ontario
barrister and solicitor, businessman, and lawyer
first elected in 1988 for Thunder Bay–Nipigon, Ontario and re-elected in 1993, 1997, 2000 (Thunder Bay–Superior North), and 2004 (Thunder Bay–Superior North)
served on the Standing Committee on Transport and member of the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations

August 3, 1999 – December 11, 2003

Hon. Andrew (Andy) Mitchell (b. 1953)
Secretary of State (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario)
Liberal
M.P. Parry Sound–Muskoka, Ontario

born in Montreal, Quebec
held various positions in banking including Supervisor of Banking Operations, Auditor, and Branch Manager in Cornwall, Elliot Lake and Gravenhurst, Ontario
served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, Vice Chair of the Industry Committee, Chair of the Federal Ontario Government Caucus Task Force on Access to Capital by Small Business, and member of the Federal Task Force on Disability Issues
posts included Secretary of State (Parks)

History of Past Ministers of State No Longer
in Existence or Under Another Department

Secretary of State
(Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)

January 25, 1996 – June 10, 1997

Hon. Lawrence MacAulay (b. 1946)
Secretary of State (Veterans)(Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
Liberal
M.P., Cardigan, Prince Edward Island

born in St. Peters Bay, Prince Edward Island
farmer
posts included Minister of Labour and Solicitor General of Canada

June 11, 1997 – August 2, 1999

Hon. Fred J. Mifflin (b. 1938)
Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
Liberal
M.P., Bonavista–Trinity–Conception, Newfoundland

born in Bonavista, Newfoundland
naval officer
elected in 1988 and re-elected in 1993 and 1997
posts include Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Minister of Veterans Affairs, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence

August 3, 1999 – October 16, 2000

Hon. George S. Baker (b. 1942)
Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
Liberal
M.P., Gander–Grand Falls, Newfoundland

born in Green's Harbour, Newfoundland
assistant clerk, chief clerk, chief law clerk, chief legislative librarian, editor of Hansard, radio and T.V. announcer and producer, and title searcher
first elected in 1974, and re-elected in 1979, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1993, 1997, and 2000
posts include Minister of Veterans Affairs, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of National Revenue

Minister of State
(Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)

October 17, 2000 – January 8, 2001

Hon. James Bernard (Bernie) Boudreau (b. 1944)
Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
Liberal
Senator

born in Sydney, Nova Scotia
lawyer
appointed to the Senate on October 4, 1999; resigned October 26, 2000

January 9, 2001 – January 14, 2002

Hon. Robert Thibault (b. 1959)
Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
Liberal
M.P. West Nova, Nova Scotia

born in Digby, Nova Scotia
active in municipal government, serving the District of Argyle as Clerk-Treasurer, and the region of Clare as an elected municipal councillor
past president of a number of associations, a small business owner, and has worked as an economic advisor and regional coordinator for the Acadian Federation of Nova Scotia
first elected in November 2000

January 16, 2002 – December 11, 2003

Hon. Gerry Byrne (b. 1966)
Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
Liberal
M.P., Humber–St. Barbe–Baie Verte, Newfoundland

born in Corner Brook, Newfoundland
received a Bachelor of Science Degree in biology from Dalhousie University
political assistant
post include Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources
member several standing committees including Agriculture and Agri-Food, Transport, Industry, and Public Accounts

Secretary of State
(Federal Office of Regional Development – Quebec)

January 25, 1996 – February 22, 1998

Hon. Martin Cauchon (b. 1962)
Secretary of State
(Federal Office of Regional Development – Quebec)
Liberal
M.P., Outremont, Quebec

born in La Malbaie, Quebec
lawyer
first elected in 1993 and re-elected in 1997 and 2000
posts include Minister of National Revenue, and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
from 1993-1995, served as President of the Liberal Party of Canada (Quebec)

Secretary of State
(Economic Development Agency of Canada
for the Regions of Quebec)

February 23, 1998 – January 14, 2002

Hon. Martin Cauchon (b. 1962)
Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)
Liberal
M.P., Outremont, Quebec

born in La Malbaie, Quebec
lawyer
first elected in 1993 and re-elected in 1997 and 2000
posts include Minister of National Revenue, and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
from 1993-1995, served as President of the Liberal Party of Canada (Quebec)

January 15, 2002 – December 11, 2003

Hon. Claude Drouin (b. 1956)
Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)
Liberal
M.P., Beauce, Quebec

born in Frampton, Quebec
received a diploma in industrial engineering technique from CÉGEP de La Pocatière
positions included sales and delivery representative, recreation director, foreman and promotional officer
posts include Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry (September 2001 - January 2002)
member of House of Commons Committees including the Standing Committees on Finance, Fisheries and Oceans, Health and Transport

Minister for Science

By Statute 38 Elizabeth II, c. 1 (1990), assented to on January 20, 1990 and proclaimed in force on February 23, 1990, a Minister for Science shall be appointed to assist the Minister of Industry, Science and Technology in carrying out the Minister's responsibilities.

February 23, 1990 – January 3, 1993

Hon. William Charles Winegard (b. 1924)
Minister for Science
Progressive Conservative
M.P., Guelph–Wellington, Ontario

born in Hamilton, Ontario
educator, engineer, scientist
first elected in 1984 and re-elected in 1988
posts included Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for International Trade

January 4, 1993 – June 24, 1993

Hon. Thomas Hockin (b. 1938)
Minister for Science
Progressive Conservative
M.P., London West, Ontario

born in London, Ontario
businessman, professor
posts included Minister for International Trade and Minister of State (Finance)

June 25, 1993 – November 3, 1993

Hon. Robert Douglas Nicholson (b. 1952)
Minister for Science
Progressive Conservative
M.P., Niagara Falls, Ontario

born in Niagara Falls, Ontario
lawyer
posts included Minister for Small Businesses, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

November 4, 1993 – March 28, 1995

Vacant

Secretary of State
(Science, Research and Development)

November 4, 1993 – June 10, 1997

Dr. Jon Gerrard (b. 1947)
Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development)
Liberal
M.P., Portage–Interlake, Manitoba

born in Birmingham, England
pediatric hematologist, physician, professor
elected from Portage–Interlake in 1993; defeated for Selkirk–Interlake in 1997

June 11, 1997 – August 2, 1999

Hon. Ronald J. Duhamel (1938-2002)
Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development)(Western Economic Diversification)
Liberal
M.P., Saint Boniface, Manitoba

born in St. Boniface, Manitoba
teacher, principal and professor, Manitoba's Assistant Deputy Minister of Education, and later, Deputy Minister of Education
in 1987, awarded the Lieutenant Governor's Medal for Excellence in Public Administration
appointed to the Senate on January 15, 2002

August 3, 1999 – January 14, 2002

Hon. Gilbert Normand (b. 1943)
Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development)
Liberal
M.P., Bellechasse-Etchemins-Montmagny-L'Islet, Quebec

born in Montmagny, Quebec
studied at the School of Optometry of the University of Montreal in 1965 and received a degree in medicine from Laval University in 1970
operated a private medical practice from 1970 to 1989
mayor of Montmagny from 1985-1993

January 15, 2002 – May 25, 2002

Hon. Maurizio Bevilacqua (b. 1960)
Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development)
Liberal
M.P., Vaughan–King–Aurora, Ontario

born in Sulmona, Italy
received a B.A. from York University in Toronto
consultant
posts included Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour (Human Resources Development) and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Immigration (Human Resources Development)

May 26, 2002 – December 11, 2003

Hon. Rey Pagtakhan (b. 1935)
Minister of Veterans Affairs and
Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development)
Liberal
M.P., Winnipeg North–St. Paul, Manitoba

born in Manila, Philippines
author, cardiologist, physician, professor of medicine, radiologist
first elected in 1988 and re-elected in 1993, 1997 and 2000
posts included Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister