Surf Wiki
Save to docs
geography/canada

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Canadian Cabinet minister; main legal advisor to the government

Canadian Cabinet minister; main legal advisor to the government

FieldValue
postMinister of Justice
Attorney General
bodyCanada
native_name*Ministre de la Justice
procureur général du Canada*
imageSean Fraser - Collision 2023 - Centre Stage VR3 8228 (cropped).jpg
incumbentSean Fraser
incumbentsinceMay 13, 2025
departmentDepartment of Justice
styleThe Honourable
member_of
reports_to
appointerMonarch (represented by the governor general);
appointer_qualifiedon the advice of the prime minister
termlengthgenderp=~}}}} Majesty's pleasure
formationJuly 1, 1867
inauguralSir John A. Macdonald
salaryCA$299,900 (2024)
website
abbreviationMoJAG

Attorney General procureur général du Canada*

The minister of justice and attorney general of Canada () is a dual-role portfolio in the Canadian Cabinet.

The officeholder in the role of Minister of Justice (Ministre de la Justice) serves as the minister of the Crown responsible for the Department of Justice and the justice portfolio, and in the role of Attorney General (Procureur général), litigates on behalf of the Crown and serves as the chief legal advisor to the Government of Canada. (Though most prosecution functions of the attorney general have been assigned to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. The attorney general is supported in this role by the director of public prosecutions, who is simultaneously the deputy attorney general.)

Attorney General of Canada

The role was created in 1867 to replace the attorney general of Canada West and attorney general of Canada East.

As the top prosecuting officer in Canada, 'attorney general' is a separate title held by the minister of justice—a member of the Cabinet. The minister of justice is concerned with questions of policy and their relationship to the justice system. In their role as attorney general, they are the chief law officer of the Crown. The roles have been connected since confederation. As a result of controversy, following the SNC-Lavalin affair, Anne McLellan was appointed to review the roles and prepare a report on whether they should be separated. She recommended the positions remain combined.

This cabinet position is usually reserved for someone holding a legal qualification. There have been exceptions: Joe Clark only studied the first year of law at Dalhousie University before transferring to University of British Columbia Faculty of Law and dropping out to embark on political life.

This cabinet portfolio has been held by many individuals who went on to become prime minister including John Sparrow David Thompson, R. B. Bennett, Louis St Laurent, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, John Turner, Kim Campbell and Jean Chrétien (Clark became MoJAG after his time as prime minister). This is the only Canadian Ministry (other than that of the prime minister) which has not been reorganized since its creation in 1867.

A separate cabinet position, the minister of public safety (formerly known as the "solicitor general") administers the law enforcement agencies (police, prisons, and security) of the federal government.

The Attorney General is usually appointed a King's Counsel.

Ministers of justice and attorneys general

Key:

No.PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical partyMinistryCAConservative (historical)}};"1CALiberal}}; color:white"2CALiberal}}; color:white"–CALiberal}}; color:white"3CALiberal}}; color:white"4CALiberal}}; color:white"5CAConservative (historical)}};"6CAConservative (historical)}};"7CAConservative (historical)}};"8CAConservative (historical)}};"9CAConservative (historical)}};"–CAConservative (historical)}};"10CALiberal}}; color:white"11CALiberal}}; color:white"12CALiberal}}; color:white"13CALiberal}}; color:white"14CAConservative (historical)}};"15CAConservative (historical)}};"16CALiberal}}; color:white"17CALiberal}}; color:white"18CAConservative (historical)}};"–CAConservative (historical)}};"19CALiberal}}; color:white"(18)CAConservative (historical)}};"20CAConservative (historical)}};"21CALiberal}}; color:white"(18)CALiberal}}; color:white"–CALiberal}}; color:white"22CALiberal}}; color:white"23CALiberal}}; color:white"(22)CALiberal}}; color:white"24CAConservative (historical)}};"25CAConservative (historical)}};"26CALiberal}}; color:white"27CALiberal}}; color:white"28CALiberal}}; color:white"–CALiberal}}; color:white"29CALiberal}}; color:white"30CALiberal}}; color:white"31CALiberal}}; color:white"32CALiberal}}; color:white"33CALiberal}}; color:white"(32)CALiberal}}; color:white"34CAConservative (historical)}};"35CALiberal}}; color:white"36CALiberal}}; color:white"37CALiberal}}; color:white"38CAConservative (historical)}};"39CAConservative (historical)}};"40CAConservative (historical)}};"–CAConservative (historical)}};"41CAConservative (historical)}};"42CAConservative (historical)}};"43CALiberal}}; color:white"44CALiberal}}; color:white"45CALiberal}}; color:white"46CALiberal}}; color:white"47CAConservative}}"48CAConservative}};"49CAConservative}};"50CALiberal}}; color:white"51CALiberal}}; color:white"52CALiberal}}; color:white"53CALiberal}}; color:white"54CALiberal}}; color:white"55
[[Image:Brady-Handy John A Macdonald - cropped.jpg50px]]Sir John A. MacdonaldJuly 1, 1867November 5, 1873Liberal-Conservative1 (Macdonald)
[[Image:AntoineAimeDorion23.jpg50px]]Antoine-Aimé DorionNovember 7, 1873May 31, 1874Liberal2 (Mackenzie)
[[Image:Albert James Smith.jpg50px]]Sir Albert James Smith
(Acting)June 1, 1874July 7, 1874Liberal
[[Image:Télesphore Fournier.jpg50px]]Télesphore FournierJuly 8, 1874May 18, 1875Liberal
[[Image:Edward Blake.jpg50px]]Edward BlakeMay 19, 1875June 7, 1877Liberal
[[Image:Rodolphe Laflamme.jpg50px]]Rodolphe LaflammeJune 8, 1877October 8, 1878Liberal
[[Image:Hon James McDonald.jpg50px]]James McDonaldOctober 17, 1878May 18, 1881Conservative (historical)3 (Macdonald)
[[Image:Sir Alexander Campbell.jpg50px]]Alexander CampbellMay 20, 1881September 24, 1885Conservative (historical)
[[Image:John Thompson.jpg50px]]Sir John ThompsonSeptember 26, 1885June 6, 1891Conservative (historical)
June 16, 1891November 24, 18924 (Abbott)
December 5, 1892December 12, 18945 (Thompson)
[[Image:Sir Charles Hibbert Tupper.jpg50px]]Sir Charles Hibbert TupperDecember 21, 1894January 5, 1896Conservative (historical)6 (Bowell)
[[Image:ThomasMayneDaly23.jpg50px]]Thomas Mayne Daly
(Acting)January 6, 1896January 14, 1896Liberal-Conservative
[[Image:Arthur Rupert Dickey.jpg50px]]Arthur Rupert DickeyJanuary 15, 1896April 27, 1896Conservative (historical)
May 1, 1896July 8, 18967 (Tupper)
[[Image:Oliver Mowat.jpg50px]]Sir Oliver MowatJuly 13, 1896November 17, 1897Liberal8 (Laurier)
[[Image:David Mills (Canada).jpg50px]]David MillsNovember 18, 1897February 7, 1902Liberal
[[Image:Charles Fitzpatrick 2.jpg50px]]Charles FitzpatrickFebruary 11, 1902June 3, 1906Liberal
[[Image:Allen Bristol Aylesworth.jpg50px]]Sir Allen AylesworthJune 4, 1906October 6, 1911Liberal
[[Image:Charles Joseph Doherty.jpg50px]]Charles DohertyOctober 10, 1911July 9, 1920Conservative (historical)9•10 (Borden)
July 10, 1920September 20, 192111 (Meighen)
[[Image:Richard Bedford Bennett.jpg50px]]R. B. BennettOctober 4, 1921December 28, 1921Conservative (historical)
[[Image:Lomer Gouin, 2nd in 1910.png50px]]Lomer GouinDecember 29, 1921January 3, 1924Liberal12 (King)
[[File:ErnestLapointe.jpg50px]]Ernest Lapointe
(1st time)January 4, 1924
(Acting until Jan.30)June 28, 1926Liberal
[[Image:Hugh Guthrie.jpg50px]]Hugh Guthrie
(Acting)June 29, 1926July 12, 1926Conservative (historical)13 (Meighen)
[[Image:Esioff-Léon Patenaude.png50px]]Esioff-Léon PatenaudeJuly 13, 1926September 24, 1926Conservative (historical)
[[File:ErnestLapointe.jpg50px]]Ernest Lapointe
(2nd time)September 25, 1926August 6, 1930Liberal14 (King)
[[Image:Hugh Guthrie.jpg50px]]Hugh GuthrieAugust 7, 1930August 11, 1935Conservative (historical)15 (Bennett)
[[File:G. R. Geary, Mayor of Toronto Ontario Canada, 1910-1912.jpg50px]]George Reginald GearyAugust 14, 1935October 22, 1935Conservative (historical)
[[File:ErnestLapointe.jpg50px]]Ernest Lapointe
(3rd time)October 23, 1935November 26, 1941Liberal16 (King)
[[Image:Joseph Enoil Michaud.jpg50px]]Joseph-Enoil Michaud
(Acting)November 27, 1941December 9, 1941Liberal
[[Image:Louisstlaurent.jpg50px]]Louis St. Laurent
(1st time)December 10, 1941December 9, 1946Liberal
[[File:James Lorimer Ilsley1.jpg50px]]James Lorimer IlsleyDecember 10, 1946June 30, 1948Liberal
[[Image:Louisstlaurent.jpg50px]]Louis St. Laurent
(2nd time)July 1, 1948
(Acting until Sep.10)November 14, 1948Liberal
[[Image:Stuart Garson.jpg50px]]Stuart GarsonNovember 15, 1948June 20, 1957Liberal17 (St. Laurent)
[[Image:EdmundDavieFulton-1916.jpg50px]]Davie FultonJune 21, 1957August 8, 1962Progressive Conservative18 (Diefenbaker)
[[File:Donald Fleming.jpg50px]]Donald FlemingAugust 9, 1962April 21, 1963Progressive Conservative
[[Image:Lionel Chevrier.jpg50px]]Lionel ChevrierApril 22, 1963February 2, 1964Liberal19 (Pearson)
[[Image:Guy Favreau portrait 1966.jpg50px]]Guy FavreauFebruary 3, 1964June 29, 1965Liberal
[[Image:George James McIlraith a047411-v8.jpg50px]]George McIlraith
(Acting)June 30, 1965July 6, 1965Liberal
[[Image:Lucien Cardin portrait 1966.jpg50px]]Lucien CardinJuly 7, 1965April 3, 1967Liberal
[[Image:Pierre Elliot Trudeau-2.jpg50px]]Pierre TrudeauApril 4, 1967April 19, 1968Liberal
April 20, 1968July 5, 196820 (P. E. Trudeau)
[[Image:Finance Minister John Turner speaks to reporters 1975 (cropped).jpg50px]]John TurnerJuly 6, 1968January 27, 1972Liberal
[[Image:No image.svg50px]]Otto Lang
(1st time)January 28, 1972September 25, 1975Liberal
[[Image:No image.svg50px]]Ron BasfordSeptember 26, 1975August 2, 1978Liberal
[[Image:No image.svg50px]]Otto Lang
(2nd time)August 3, 1978
(Acting until Aug.9)November 23, 1978Liberal
[[Image:No image.svg50px]]Marc LalondeNovember 24, 1978June 3, 1979Liberal
[[Image:No image.svg50px]]Jacques FlynnJune 4, 1979March 2, 1980Progressive Conservative21 (Clark)
[[Image:Jean Chrétien1.jpg50px]]Jean ChrétienMarch 3, 1980September 9, 1982Liberal22 (P. E. Trudeau)
[[Image:No image.svg50px]]Mark MacGuiganSeptember 10, 1982June 29, 1984Liberal
[[Image:Don Johnston.jpg50px]]Donald JohnstonJune 30, 1984September 16, 1984Liberal23 (Turner)
[[Image:Crosbie 1983-2 crop.jpg50px]]John CrosbieSeptember 17, 1984June 29, 1986Progressive Conservative24 (Mulroney)
Ray HnatyshynJune 30, 1986December 7, 1988Progressive Conservative
[[Image:JoeClark.jpg50px]]Joe Clark
(Acting)December 8, 1988January 29, 1989Progressive Conservative
[[Image:No image.svg50px]]Doug LewisJanuary 30, 1989February 22, 1990Progressive Conservative
[[Image:KimCampbell.jpg50px]]Kim CampbellFebruary 23, 1990January 3, 1993Progressive Conservative
[[Image:No image.svg50px]]Pierre BlaisJanuary 4, 1993June 24, 1993Progressive Conservative
June 25, 1993November 3, 199325 (Campbell)
[[Image:Allan-rock-wLKc.jpg50px]]Allan RockNovember 4, 1993June 10, 1997Liberal26 (Chrétien)
[[Image:FEMA - 14172 Anne McLellan cropped.jpg50px]]Anne McLellanJune 11, 1997January 14, 2002Liberal
[[Image:Martin Cauchon.PNG50px]]Martin CauchonJanuary 15, 2002December 11, 2003Liberal
[[Image:Irwin Cotler.jpg50px]]Irwin CotlerDecember 12, 2003February 5, 2006Liberal27 (Martin)
[[Image:Vic Toews.jpg50px]]Vic ToewsFebruary 6, 2006January 3, 2007Conservative28 (Harper)
[[Image:Rob Nicholson infobox.jpg50px]]Rob NicholsonJanuary 4, 2007July 13, 2013Conservative
[[File:Peter MacKay 2014.jpg50px]]Peter MacKayJuly 13, 2013November 4, 2015Conservative
[[File:Jody Wilson-Raybould.jpg50px]]Jody Wilson-RaybouldNovember 4, 2015January 14, 2019Liberal29 (J. Trudeau)
[[File:David Lametti 2023-02-17.jpg50px]]David LamettiJanuary 14, 2019July 26, 2023Liberal
[[File:Arif Virani 2.jpg50px]]Arif ViraniJuly 26, 2023March 14, 2025Liberal
[[File:2025 Gary Anandasangaree - (cropped).jpg50px]]Gary AnandasangareeMarch 14, 2025May 13, 2025Liberal30 (Carney)
[[File:Sean Fraser - Collision 2023 - Centre Stage VR3 8228 (cropped).jpg50px]]Sean FraserMay 13, 2025IncumbentLiberal

References

References

  1. "The Canadian Parliamentary system - Our Procedure - House of Commons".
  2. "Review of the Responsibilities and Accountabilities of Ministers and Senior Officials".
  3. "Constitutional Duties".
  4. "House of Commons Procedure and Practice - 1. Parliamentary Institutions - Canadian Parliamentary Institutions".
  5. (April 1, 2024). "Indemnities, Salaries and Allowances".
  6. Canada, Department of Justice. (2017-03-20). "Patriation, the Recognition of Rights and Reconciliation".
  7. International, Radio Canada. (2019-03-04). "Political scandal Canada: dual office of Justice Minister and Attorney-General, a concern?".
  8. Government of Canada, Department of Justice. (2016-04-15). "Roles and Responsibilities of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada - Department of Justice Canada Minister's Transition Book".
  9. Branch, Legislative Services. (2019-04-01). "Consolidated federal laws of Canada, An Act respecting the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions".
  10. McLellan, Anne. (August 14, 2019). "Review of the Roles of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada".
  11. Gollom, Mark. (August 14, 2019). "McLellan advises against splitting roles of attorney general, justice minister".
  12. "ARCHIVED - Clark-Biography-First Among Equals".
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

ministerial-offices-in-canada attorneys-general-of-canada department-of-justice-(canada)
Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report