Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

The Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (formally known as Ministry of Economic Development and Growth) in the Canadian province of Ontario is responsible for programs to attract and retain business and economic development in the province. This is pursued through research and development funding, business advisory services, career exploration opportunities and business startup programs for youth, skills development and marketing Ontario to potential international business investors.

Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Ministère du Développement économique, de la Création d’emplois et du Commerce (French)
Ministry overview
Formed1985
JurisdictionGovernment of Ontario
Minister responsible
  • Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Deputy Minister responsible
  • Stephen Rhodes
Websitewww.ontario.ca/page/ministry-economic-development-and-growth

It was previously responsible for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, though this responsibility has been shifted to the Ministry of Government Services.

Ministry Agencies

[1]

  • Agent-General
  • Expert Review Panel for the Ontario Research Fund Review
  • Ontario Capital Growth Corporation
  • Ontario Immigrant Investor Corporation
  • Ontario's Representative in Washington D. C.

History

Responsibilities for economic development in the Ontario government shifted over time as the province's economy evolved.

Prior to confederation, the Bureau of Agriculture of the Province of Canada was responsible for collecting facts and statistics relating to the agricultural, mechanical and manufacturing interests.

On March 4, 1868, the Act for the Encouragement of Agriculture, Horticulture, Arts, and Manufactures received royal assent, establishing the Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works. "Arts", at the time, referred to the practical application of an industrial, manufacturing, or scientific pursuit, rather than to its current meaning. In 1877, the department was renamed the Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Arts. The industrial, or "arts", functions of the department were carried out through the Bureau of Agriculture and Arts from 1877 until 1882, and the Bureau of Industries from 1882. Although the Bureau was under the general direction of the Commissioner of Agriculture (or the Minister of Agriculture after 1888), the day to day operations were carried out by a small staff under the direction of the Secretary of the Bureau of Industries. From 1880 on however, the focus of that bureau was agricultural in nature. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the responsibilities for various manufacturing industrial matters were carried out at various times by the Department of the Provincial Secretary, Department of Education, and the Bureau of Labour among others.

The Department of Planning and Development was established in 1944. Initially, its mandate was focused in postwar rehabilitation efforts. Over time, the department was mandated to work with agricultural, industrial, labour, mining, trade and other associations and organisations and with public and private sector enterprises in order to create and maintain productive employment and to develop the human and material resources of the province. In addition to trade and industry, the department at various times also had responsibilities over immigration, community planning, conservation, civil defence/emergency management.

For most of 1961, the department was briefly renamed the Department of Commerce and Development. In December 1961, the department took over certain functions of the Department of Economics and Federal and Provincial Relations (predecessor of the Ministry of Finance) and was renamed the Department of Economics and Development.

In 1968, the department was renamed the Department of Trade and Development. In April 1972, the department merged with the Department of Tourism and Information to form the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.

A standalone economic portfolio was recreated in 1982, named Ministry of Industry and Trade. The ministry subsequently went through frequent name changes in the following decades, reflecting shifting economic and political priorities of the governments of the day. For example in 1985, it was renamed Ministry of Industry, Trade and Technology to reflect the growing importance of technology in Ontario's economy.

Since 1993, the department was mostly named the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade or some similar variations, except between 2002 and 2003 when it was briefly named Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation.

A related Ministry of Research and Innovation, and later Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science, existed between 2005 and 2018. While politically a standalone ministry, it shared a deputy minister (civil service head) with the main economic development ministry, and was supported by civil servants of the economic development ministry.

A related Ministry of International Trade existed between 2008 and 2009, and again from 2016 and 2018.

List of ministers

Principal Ministers Term of office Other Ministers Political party
(Ministry)
Note
Minister of Planning and Development PC
(Drew)
Dana PorterMay 8, 1944October 19, 1948
Art WelshOctober 19, 1948May 4, 1949 PC
(Kennedy)
William GriesingerMay 4, 1949January 20, 1953 PC
(Frost)
Bill WarrenderJanuary 20, 1953August 17, 1955
William NickleAugust 17, 1955November 8, 1961
Minister of Commerce and Development PC
(Robarts)
Robert MacaulayNovember 8, 1961December 15, 1961
Minister of Economics and Development
Robert MacaulayDecember 15, 1961October 16, 1963
James AllanOctober 16, 1963November 8, 1963
Stan RandallNovember 8, 1963April 11, 1968
Minister of Trade and Development
Stan RandallApril 11, 1968March 1, 1971
Allan GrossmanMarch 1, 1971February 2, 1972 PC
(Davis)
John WhiteFebruary 2, 1972April 7, 1972
Minister of Industry and Tourism
John WhiteApril 10, 1972January 15, 1973
Claude BennettJanuary 15, 1973January 21, 1978
John Reginald RhodesJanuary 21, 1978September 25, 1978
Larry GrossmanOctober 18, 1978February 13, 1982
Minister of Industry and Trade Development
Gordon WalkerFebruary 13, 1982July 6, 1983
Frank MillerJuly 6, 1983February 8, 1985Elected leader of the Progressive Conservatives and became Premier while minister
Minister of Industry and Trade PC
(Miller)
Andy BrandtFebruary 8, 1985June 26, 1985
Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology Liberal
(Peterson)
Hugh O'NeilJune 26, 1985September 29, 1987
Monte KwinterSeptember 29, 1987October 1, 1990
Allan PilkeyOctober 1, 1990July 31, 1991 NDP
(Rae)
Ed PhilipJuly 31, 1991February 3, 1993
Minister of Economic Development and Trade
Frances LankinFebruary 3, 1993June 26, 1995
Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism PC
(Harris)
Bill SaundersonJune 26, 1995October 10, 1997
Al PalladiniOctober 10, 1997June 17, 1999 Minister of Energy, Science and Technology
Jim Wilson (October 10, 1997 to April 14, 2002)
Minister of Economic Development and Trade
Al PalladiniJune 17, 1999February 7, 2001Resigned for personal reasons, died in office a month later.
Bob RuncimanFebruary 8, 2001April 14, 2002
Minister of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation PC
(Eves)
Jim FlahertyApril 15, 2002October 22, 2003Associate Minister
David Turnbull (April 15, 2002 to October 22, 2003)
Minister of Economic Development and Trade Liberal
(McGuinty)
Joseph CordianoOctober 23, 2003September 18, 2006 Minister of Research and Innovation
Dalton McGuinty (June 29, 2005 to October 15, 2007)
John Wilkinson (October 30, 2007 to June 24, 2009)
John Milloy (June 24, 2009 to August 18, 2010)
Glen Murray (August 18, 2010 to February 11, 2013)
Minister of International Trade and Investment
Sandra Pupatello (September 18, 2008 to June 24, 2009)
Resigned from cabinet and legislature
Sandra PupatelloSeptember 16, 2006September 18, 2008
Minister of Economic Development
Michael BryantSeptember 18, 2008May 25, 2009Resigned to become CEO of Invest Toronto
Dalton McGuintyMay 25, 2009June 24, 2009Interim Minister while Premier
Minister of Economic Development and Trade
Sandra PupatelloJune 24, 2009October 20, 2011Did not seek re-election
Minister of Economic Development and Innovation
Brad DuguidOctober 20, 2011February 11, 2013
Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment Liberal
(Wynne)
Eric HoskinsFebruary 11, 2013June 24, 2014 Minister of Research and Innovation
Reza Moridi (February 11, 2013 to June 13, 2016)
Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure
Brad DuguidJune 24, 2014June 13, 2016
Minister of Economic Development and Growth
Brad DuguidJune 13, 2016January 17, 2018 Minister of Research, Innovation and Science
Reza Moridi (June 13, 2016 to June 2, 2018)
Minister of International Trade
Michael Chan (June 13, 2016 to June 29, 2018)
Minister Responsible for Small Business
Jeff Leal (January 12, 2017 – June 29, 2018)
Steven Del DucaJanuary 17, 2018June 29, 2018
Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade PC
(Ford)
Jim WilsonJune 29, 2018November 2, 2018
Todd SmithNovember 2, 2018June 20, 2019Interim minister prior to November 5, 2018
Vic FedeliJune 20, 2019presentAssociate Minister for Small Business & Red Tape Reduction
Prabmeet Sarkaria (June 20, 2019 – June 18, 2021)
Nina Tangri (June 18, 2021 – present)
While Chair of Cabinet

See also

References

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