The Ministry of Indian Affairs is no more

May 17, 2011 - Ottawa, ON

The Ministry of Indian Affairs and Northern Development is no more... it has been renamed Aboriginal and Northern Development.

John Duncan will remain minister of the newly renamed department.

Read our editorial take on this development
 

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the appointment of a new federal Ministry that will lead the way in keeping Canada moving toward greater security and stability.

“With a renewed mandate and a national majority, Canadians can count on this Government to pursue measures that create jobs and growth, support seniors, protect our health-care system, fight against crime and reduce and eliminate the deficit,” said the Prime Minister.

“Our low-tax plan for jobs and growth will strengthen the financial security of hard-wording Canadians and help ensure Canadacontinues to be one of the top-performing advanced economies in the world,” the Prime Minister said.

Biography: Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

Vancouver Island North (British Columbia)

John Duncan was first elected to the House of Commons in 1993 and re-elected in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2011. From 2006 to 2007, Mr. Duncan was Pacific Region Advisor to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. From 2008 to 2010, he was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. In August 2010, Mr. Duncan was appointed Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

Mr. Duncan previously held a number of opposition critic positions, including Indian Affairs and Northern Development, International Trade and Natural Resources.

From 1972 until his election to Parliament in 1993, he worked in the coastal B.C. forest industry.

Mr. Duncan attended the University of British Columbia and graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the Faculty of Forestry in 1972.