The minister of the interior was the member of the Canadian Cabinet who oversaw the Department of the Interior, which was responsible for federal land management, immigration, Indian affairs, and natural-resources extraction.
The position was created in 1873 by Statute 36 Victoria, c. 4, to replace the Secretary of State for the Provinces. The Act designated the Minister as ex officio the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs. From 30 March 1912 to 9 February 1913, and from 31 December 1919 to 6 August 1930, the Minister of the Interior was also designated ex officio the Minister of Mines.
In 1917 the responsibility for passports was transferred to the Minister of Immigration and Colonization.
It was superseded in 1936 by the Minister responsible for Indian Affairs and Minister of Mines and Resources.
Ministers Key:
No.PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical partyMinistry 1 Alexander Campbell July 1, 1873 November 5, 1873 Liberal-Conservative 1 (Macdonald) 2 David Laird November 7, 1873 October 6, 1876 Liberal2 (Mackenzie) – Richard William Scott(Acting) October 7, 1876 October 23, 1876 Liberal 3 David Mills October 24, 1876 October 8, 1878 Liberal 4 John A. Macdonald October 17, 1878 October 2, 1887 Liberal-Conservative3 (Macdonald) 5 Thomas White October 3, 1887 April 21, 1888 Conservative – John A. Macdonald(Acting) May 8, 1888 September 24, 1888 Liberal-Conservative 6 Edgar Dewdney September 25, 1888 June 6, 1891Conservative June 16, 1891 October 16, 18924 (Abbott) 7Thomas Mayne Daly October 17, 1892 November 24, 1892Liberal-Conservative December 5, 1892 December 12, 1894 5 (Thompson) December 21, 1894 April 27, 1896 6 (Bowell) 8 Hugh John Macdonald May 1, 1896 July 8, 1896 Conservative (historical) 7 (Tupper) – Richard William Scott(Acting) July 17, 1896 November 16, 1896 Liberal8 (Laurier) 9 Clifford Sifton November 17, 1896 February 28, 1905 Liberal – Wilfrid Laurier(Acting) March 13, 1905 April 7, 1905 Liberal 10 Frank Oliver April 8, 1905 October 6, 1911 Liberal 11 Robert Rogers October 10, 1911 October 28, 1912 Conservative9 (Borden) 12 William James Roche October 29, 1912 October 12, 1917 Conservative 13 Arthur Meighen October 12, 1917 July 10, 1920 Unionist 10 (Borden) 14 James Alexander Lougheed July 10, 1920 December 29, 1921 National Liberal and Conservative 11 (Meighen) 15 Charles Stewart(First time) December 29, 1921 June 28, 1926 Liberal 12 (King) – Henry Herbert Stevens(Acting) June 29, 1926 July 12, 1926 Conservative13 (Meighen) – Richard Bedford Bennett(Acting) July 13, 1926 September 24, 1926 Conservative (15) Charles Stewart(Second time) September 25, 1926 August 6, 1930 Liberal 14 (King) 16 Thomas Gerow Murphy August 7, 1930 October 23, 1935 Conservative 15 (Bennett) 17 Thomas Crerar October 23, 1935 November 30, 1936 Liberal 16 (King)
See also Secretary of State for the Provinces - post preceding the Minister of Interior Secretary of State for Canada
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