The minister of small business () is a minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet.
History Before 2015, the Cabinet position responsible for small business was filled by either a Minister of State or Secretary of State. On November 4, 2015, upon the formation of the 29th Canadian Ministry, the position was named Minister of Small Business and Tourism without "of State" but remained formally a Minister of State "to assist the Minister of Industry" (the senior portfolio now styled as the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development).
Following the 2019 election, responsibility for small business was given to the newly created Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, before eventually becoming its own post once again in 2023.
List of ministers Key:
No.PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical partyMinistryMinister of State (Small Businesses) 1Leonard MarchandSeptember 30, 1976 September 15, 1977Liberal20 2Tony AbbottSeptember 16, 1977 June 3, 1979LiberalMinister of State for Small Businesses and Industry 3Ron HuntingtonJune 4, 1979 March 2, 1980Progressive Conservative21 (Clark)Minister of State (Small Businesses and Tourism) 4Charles LapointeMarch 3, 1980 September 29, 1982Liberal22 5Bill RompkeySeptember 30, 1982 August 11, 1983Liberal 6David SmithAugust 12, 1982 June 29, 1984LiberalJune 30, 1984 September 16, 198423 (Turner)Minister of State (Small Businesses) 7André BissonnetteSeptember 17, 1984 June 29, 1986Progressive Conservative24 (Mulroney)Minister of State (Small Businesses and Tourism) 8Bernard Valcourt June 30, 1986 January 29, 1989Progressive Conservative24 (Mulroney) 9Tom HockinJanuary 30, 1989 June 24, 1993Progressive ConservativeMinister responsible for Small Business 10Rob NicholsonJune 25, 1993 November 3, 1993Progressive Conservative25 (Campbell)vacantNovember 4, 1993 December 11, 2003Liberal26 (Chrétien)December 12, 2003 February 5, 200627 (Martin)February 6, 2006 January 3, 2007Conservative28 (Harper)Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism) 11Gerry RitzJanuary 4, 2007 August 13, 2007Conservative28 (Harper) 12Diane AblonczyAugust 14, 2007 October 29, 2008ConservativeMinister of State (Small Business and Tourism) (12)Diane AblonczyOctober 30, 2008 January 18, 2010Conservative28 (Harper) 13Rob MooreJanuary 19, 2010 May 17, 2011Conservative 14Maxime BernierMay 18, 2011 July 14, 2013ConservativeMinister of State (Small Business and Tourism, and Agriculture) (14)Maxime BernierJuly 15, 2013 November 3, 2015Conservative28 (Harper)Minister of Small Business and Tourism 15Bardish ChaggerNovember 4, 2015 July 18, 2018Liberal29 (J. Trudeau)Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion 16Mary NgJuly 18, 2018 November 20, 2019Liberal29 (J. Trudeau)Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade (16)Mary NgNovember 20, 2019 October 26, 2021Liberal29 (J. Trudeau)Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development (16)Mary NgOctober 26, 2021 July 26, 2023Liberal29 (J. Trudeau)Minister of Small Business 17Rechie ValdezJuly 26, 2023 March 14, 2025Liberal29 (J. Trudeau)vacantMarch 14, 2025 May 13, 2025Liberal30 (Carney)Secretary of State (Small Businesses and Tourism) (17)Rechie ValdezMay 13, 2025 Liberal30 (Carney)
References
External links Department of Industry Canada