Minister of National Defence (Canada)
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| Minister of National Defence | |
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| Incumbent: Peter MacKay |
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| Style: | The Honourable |
| Appointed by: | Michaëlle Jean as Governor General of Canada |
| First : | George Perry Graham |
| Formation: | January 1, 1923 |
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The Minister of National Defence (French: Ministre de la Défense nationale) is a Minister of the Crown; the Canadian politician within the Cabinet of Canada responsible for the Department of National Defence which oversees the Canadian Forces.
The position was pre-dated by the Minister of Militia and Defence. During World War II, the Minister of National Defence was assisted by two subordinate ministers, the Minister of National Defence for Air and Minister of National Defence for Naval Services. The portfolio was merged into a single ministry following the end of the war.
The current Minister of National Defence is The Honourable Peter MacKay.
The highest ranking officer reporting to the Minister is the Chief of the Defence Staff. Although the Governor General of Canada is the Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces, the ultimate responsibility resides with the Minister of National Defence.
The Minister of National Defence is also the designated Lead Minister for Search and Rescue (LMSAR) within the federal government.
The Defence portfolio for the Minister of National Defence also includes:
- Defence Research and Development Canada
- Communications Security Establishment
- Canadian Forces Housing Agency
- Judge Advocate General
- Military Police Complaints Commission
- Canadian Forces Grievance Board
- Office of the Chief Military Judge
- Office of the National Defence and Canadian Forces Ombudsman
- Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency
- Cadets Canada and Junior Canadian Rangers
- National Search and Rescue Secretariat
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[edit] Ministers
[edit] Ministers with military experience
- Colonel James Ralston, Canadian Army; commander (Lieutenant Colonel) of the 85th (Nova Scotia Highlanders) Battalion, CEF
- General Andrew McNaughton, 5th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles, Canadian Expeditionary Force, commander of the Canadian Corps, Canadian Militia/Permanent Active Militia and Canadian Army
- Battery Sergeant-Major Brooke Claxton, Victoria Rifles of Canada
- Major General George Pearkes, Canadian Expeditionary Force, commander of the Canadian Corps, Canadian Militia and Canadian Army
- Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Harkness, Royal Canadian Artillery, Canadian Army
- Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Churchill, Vickers Machine Gunner, Canadian Expeditionary Force; commander of the Fort Garry Horse and commanding officer of the 1st Canadian Carrier Regiment (Canada Corps)
- Brigadier General Charles Drury, commanding officer 4th Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery, General Staff Officer of the 2nd Canadian Division and acting commander of the Royal Artillery 4th Canadian Division (Canadian Army)
- Lieutenant Barney Danson, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
- Pilot Officer James Armstrong Richardson, Liberator anti-submarine patrol squadron of the RCAF
- Major Allan Bruce McKinnon, Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery and Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
- Flight Lieutenant Gilles Lamontagne, bomber pilot RCAF
- Brigadier General Gordon O'Connor, Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, Canadian Forces
