The minister of families, children and social development () is a minister of the Crown in the Cabinet of Canada. The associated department is Employment and Social Development Canada. On March 14, 2025 the position was abolished, its responsibilities being consolidated into the new position of Minister of Jobs and Families.
History The position of Minister of Social Development was created in 2000 to be responsible for overseeing Social Development Canada a new federal department concerned with the needs of seniors, children, families and people with disabilities. Prior to 2003, these responsibilities were under the Minister of Human Resources Development.
On February 4, 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper merged the personnel and responsibilities of Social Development Canada into Human Resources and Skills Development Canada using an Order in Council, and did not name anybody to the post of Minister of Social Development.
On November 4, 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau transferred the employment responsibilities to the Minister of Labour and changed the name of the portfolio to Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.
The position was abolished on March 14, 2025, its responsibilities being consolidated into the new position of Minister of Jobs and Families.
Role The Minister is also responsible for the: Canada Pension Plan: Pension Appeals Board Canada Pension Plan: Review Tribunals
List of ministers Key:
No.PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical partyMinistryMinister of Social Development 1Liza FrullaDecember 12, 2003 July 19, 2004Liberal27 (Martin) 2Ken DrydenJuly 20, 2004 February 5, 2006LiberalMinister of Human Resources and Social Development 3Diane FinleyFebruary 6, 2006 January 3, 2007Conservative28 (Harper) 4Monte SolbergJanuary 4, 2007 October 29, 2008ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development (3)Diane FinleyOctober 30, 2008 July 15, 2013Conservative28 (Harper)Minister of Employment and Social Development 5Jason KenneyJuly 15, 2013 February 9, 2015Conservative28 (Harper) 7Pierre PoilievreFebruary 9, 2015 November 4, 2015ConservativeMinister of Families, Children and Social Development 8Jean-Yves DuclosNovember 4, 2015 November 20, 2019Liberal29 (J. Trudeau) 9Ahmed HussenNovember 20, 2019 October 26, 2021Liberal 10Karina GouldOctober 26, 2021 July 26, 2023Liberal 11Jenna SuddsJuly 26, 2023 March 14, 2025LiberalPosition discontinued, replaced by the Minister of Jobs and Families
Minister of State for Social Development
On July 15, 2012, MP Candice Bergen was appointed Minister of State for Social Development, a newly created position that was abolished two years later. No.PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical partyMinistryMinister of State for Social Development 6Candice BergenJuly 15, 2013 November 4, 2015Conservative28 (Harper)
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