Copps was named to the new office of minister of Canadian heritage in July 1996.¹ This office took responsibility for the recently-formed Department of Canadian Heritage.²

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 27 1952.

Prime Minister: Jean Chrétien.

Political offices held: Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, 1981 – 1984; Member of the Parliament of Canada, 1984 – 2004; Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, 1993 – 1997; Minister of the Environment, 1993 – 1996; Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1996 – 2003.

Political party positions held: Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, 1991 – 1993.

Sources: [1] Parliament of Canada biography (last accessed September 15 2025); [2] “Consolidated federal laws of Canada, Department of Canadian Heritage Act” (last accessed September 15 2025).

Scherrer was the first minister of Canadian heritage in the Martin ministry, before being defeated by Roger Clavet of the Bloc Québécois in the 2004 federal election.¹

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 6 1950.

Prime Minister: Paul Martin.

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of Canada, 2000 – 2004; Minister of Canadian Heritage, 2003 – 2004.

Sources: [1] Parliament of Canada biography (last accessed September 15 2025).

Frulla, a former Quebec provincial politician, served as the final minister of Canadian heritage in the Martin ministry.¹

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 30 1949.

Prime Minister: Paul Martin.

Political offices held: Member of the National Assembly of Quebec, 1989 – 1998; Minister of Communications of Quebec, 1989 – 1990; Minister of Cultural Affairs of Quebec, 1990 – 1994; Minister of Cultural Affairs and Communications of Quebec, 1994; Member of the Parliament of Canada, 2002 – 2006; Minister of Social Development, 2003 – 2004; Minister of Canadian Heritage, 2004 – 2006; Minister responsible for the Status of Women, 2004 – 2006.

Sources: [1] Parliament of Canada biography (last accessed September 16 2025).

Oda was the first minister of Canadian heritage (now also incorporating the status of women portfolio) in the Harper ministry.¹

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 27 1944.

Prime Minister: Stephen Harper.

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of Canada, 2004 – 2012; Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, 2006 – 2007; Minister for International Cooperation, 2007 – 2012.

Sources: [1] Parliament of Canada biography (last accessed September 16 2025).

Verner was the second minister of Canadian heritage and status of women in the Harper ministry.¹

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 30 1959.

Prime Minister: Stephen Harper.

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of Canada, 2006 – 2011; Minister for International Cooperation, 2006 – 2007; Minister responsible for La Francophonie, 2006 – 2007; Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, 2007 – 2008; Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, 2008 – 2011; President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, 2008 – 2011; Minister responsible for La Francophonie, 2008 – 2011; Member of the Senate of Canada, 2011 – present.

Sources: [1] Parliament of Canada biography (last accessed September 19 2025).

Moore served as the third Minister of Canadian Heritage in the Harper ministry. This office now including the Official Languages portfolio, previously Moore’s responsibility as Secretary of State for the 2010 Olympics, the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Official Languages.¹

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 10 1976.

Prime Minister: Stephen Harper.

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of Canada, 2000 – 2015; Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, 2008 – 2013; Acting Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, 2013; Minister of Industry, 2013 – 2015.

Sources: [1] Parliament of Canada biography (last accessed September 19 2025).

Glover served as the last Minister of Canadian Heritage (including the official languages portfolio) in the Harper ministry.¹

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 2 1967.

Prime Minister: Stephen Harper.

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of Canada, 2008 – 2015; Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, 2013 – 2015.

Sources: [1] Parliament of Canada biography (last accessed September 20 2025).

Guilbeault served the first of two stints as Minister of Canadian Heritage in the new cabinet assembled by Justin Trudeau after the 2019 federal election.¹

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 9 1970.

Prime Minister: Justin Trudeau.

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of Canada, 2019 – present; Minister of Canadian Heritage, 2019 – 2021; Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 2021 – 2025; Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada and Quebec Lieutenant, 2025; Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, 2025 – present.

Sources: [1] Parliament of Canada biography (last accessed September 25 2025).

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 13 1977.

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 9 1970.

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 6 1980.

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1976.

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 3 1966.