The Minister of Militia and Defence was the federal government minister in charge of the volunteer army units in Canada, the Canadian Militia. From 1855 to 1906, the minister was responsible for Canadian militia units only, as the British Army was still stationed in Canada. From 1906 to 1923, the minister was in charge of the Department of Militia and Defence (Canada). After 1923, the position was merged with the Minister of the Naval Service and the

Minister of Aviation The Ministry of Aviation was a department of the United Kingdom government established in 1959. Its responsibilities included the regulation of civil aviation and the supply of military aircraft, which it took on from the Ministry of Supply. ...

into the new position of Minister of National Defence. The Minister of National Defence became responsible for the Canadian Militia, the Royal Canadian Navy and, from 1924, the Royal Canadian Air Force.

List of Ministers

Pre-Confederation (1855–1867)

The following individuals were named the Minister of Militia and Defence for the Province of Canada. Key:

Post-Confederation (1867–1922)

The following individuals were named the Minister of Militia and Defence for Canada. Key:

Ministers with military experience

Several individuals that served as the Minister of Militia and Defence have served with the Canadian Militia. They include: *

Private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

John Alexander Macdonald, Sedentary Militia during 1837 Rebellion * Lieutenant

Étienne-Paschal Taché Sir Étienne-Paschal Taché (5 September 1795 – 30 July 1865) was a Canadian doctor, politician, and Father of Confederation. Life Born in St. Thomas, Lower Canada, in 1795, the third son of Charles Taché and Geneviève Michon, Tach� ...

, 5th Battalion of Select Embodied Militia, Chasseurs Canadiens Militia *

Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

David Tisdale, 39th Norfolk Battalion of Infantry * Assistant

Surgeon In modern medicine, a surgeon is a medical professional who performs surgery. Although there are different traditions in different times and places, a modern surgeon usually is also a licensed physician or received the same medical training as ...

Frederick William Borden, 68th (Kings) Battalion of Infantry, Non-Permanent Active Militia * Colonel Sir

Sam Hughes Sir Samuel Hughes, (January 8, 1853 – August 23, 1921) was the Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence during World War I. He was notable for being the last Liberal-Conservative cabinet minister, until he was dismissed from his cabinet post ...

, 45th Canadian Volunteer Militia (

45th West Durham Battalion of Infantry The Victoria and Haliburton Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). In 1936, the regiment was Converted from Infantry to Artillery to become the 45th Field Battery RCA ...

, later

The Victoria and Haliburton Regiment The Victoria and Haliburton Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). In 1936, the regiment was Converted from Infantry to Artillery to become the 45th Field Battery R ...

and lastly as 45th Medium Battery, RCA) merged into what is

50th Field Artillery Regiment (The Prince of Wales Rangers), RCA The 50th Field Artillery Regiment (The Prince of Wales Rangers), Royal Canadian Artillery was a Canadian Army Reserve artillery regiment based in Peterborough, Ontario. The regiment exists "on paper" on the Supplementary Order of Battle. The regi ...

) in 1960; Canadian volunteer to the British Army *

Major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

Sydney Chilton Mewburn Sydney Chilton Mewburn, (December 4, 1863 – August 11, 1956) was a Canadian lawyer, soldier, and politician. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Hamilton, Canada West, he was the Minister of Militia and Defence from October 12, 1917, to January 1 ...

, Commanding Officer of

Royal Hamilton Light Infantry The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) (RHLI) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army, based at John Weir Foote VC Armoury in Hamilton, Ontario. The RHLI is part of 31 Canadian Brigade Group, which is part of 4t ...

, Permanent Active Militia

Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence

* Eugène Fiset 1906-1922 Fiset was a retired as Surgeon Colonel of Royal Canadian Regiment

References