8th Canadian Ministry

The Eighth Canadian Ministry was the cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier. It governed Canada from 11 July 1896 to 5 October 1911, including all of the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th Canadian Parliaments. The government was formed by the Liberal Party of Canada.

The Cabinet

• Prime Minister 11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: Sir Wilfrid Laurier
• Minister of Agriculture 11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: Sydney Arthur Fisher
• Minister of Customs 30 June 1897 – 10 October 1911: William Paterson
• Secretary of State for External Affairs 19 May 1909 – 10 October 1911: Charles Murphy
• Minister of Finance 11 July 1896 – 20 July 1896: Vacant (John Mortimer Courtney was acting) 20 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: William Stevens Fielding
• Receiver General of Canada 11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: The Minister of Finance (Ex officio) 11 July 1896 – 20 July 1896: Vacant (John Mortimer Courtney was acting) 20 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: William Stevens Fielding
• Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs 11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: The Minister of the Interior (Ex officio) 11 July 1896 – 17 July 1896: Vacant (Hayter Reed was acting) 17 July 1896 – 17 November 1896: Richard William Scott (acting) 17 November 1896 – 28 February 1905: Clifford Sifton 28 February 1905 – 13 March 1905: Vacant (Francis Pedley was acting) 13 March 1905 – 8 April 1905: Sir Wilfrid Laurier 8 April 1905 – 10 October 1911: Frank Oliver
• Minister of Inland Revenue 30 June 1897 – 22 June 1900: Sir Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière 22 June 1900 – 19 January 1904: Michel-Esdras Bernier 19 January 1904 – 6 February 1906: Louis-Philippe Brodeur 6 February 1906 – 10 October 1911: William Templeman
• Minister of the Interior 11 July 1896 – 17 July 1896: Vacant (Alexander Mackinnon Burgess was acting) 17 July 1896 – 17 November 1896: Richard William Scott (acting) 17 November 1896 – 28 February 1905: Clifford Sifton 28 February 1905 – 13 March 1905: Vacant (William Wallace Cory was acting) 13 March 1905 – 8 April 1905: Sir Wilfrid Laurier 8 April 1905 – 10 October 1911: Frank Oliver
• Minister of Justice 11 July 1896 – 18 November 1897: Sir Oliver Mowat 18 November 1897 – 8 February 1902: David Mills 8 February 1902 – 4 June 1906: Charles Fitzpatrick 4 June 1906 – 10 October 1911: Sir Allen Bristol Aylesworth
• Attorney General of Canada 11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: The Minister of Justice (Ex officio) 11 July 1896 – 18 November 1897: Sir Oliver Mowat 18 November 1897 – 8 February 1902: David Mills 8 February 1902 – 4 June 1906: Charles Fitzpatrick 4 June 1906 – 10 October 1911: Allen Bristol Aylesworth
• Minister of Labour 19 May 1909 – 2 June 1909: Vacant (William Lyon Mackenzie King was acting) 2 June 1909 – 10 October 1911: William Lyon Mackenzie King
• Leader of the Government in the Senate 11 July 1896 – 18 November 1897: Sir Oliver Mowat 18 November 1897 – 7 February 1902: David Mills 7 February 1902 – 20 January 1909: Richard William Scott 20 January 1909 – 10 October 1911: Richard John Cartwright
• Minister of Marine and Fisheries 11 July 1896 – 25 September 1901: Sir Louis Henry Davies 25 September 1901 – 15 January 1902: Vacant (François Frédéric Gourdeau was acting) 15 January 1902 – 11 November 1902: James Sutherland 11 November 1902 – 26 December 1905: Raymond Préfontaine 26 December 1905 – 6 January 1906: Vacant (François Frédéric Gourdeau was acting) 6 January 1906 – 6 February 1906: Sir Wilfrid Laurier 6 February 1906 – 11 August 1911: Louis-Philippe Brodeur 11 August 1911 – 10 October 1911: Rodolphe Lemieux
• Minister of Militia and Defence 11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: Sir Frederick William Borden
• Minister of Mines 27 April 1907 – 3 May 1907: Vacant (Albert Peter Low was acting) 3 May 1907 – 10 October 1911: William Templeman
• Minister of the Naval Service 4 May 1910 – 11 August 1911: Louis-Philippe Brodeur 11 August 1911 – 10 October 1911: Rodolphe Lemieux
• Postmaster General 11 July 1896 – 16 October 1905: Sir William Mulock 16 October 1905 – 4 June 1906: Allen Bristol Aylesworth 4 June 1906 – 19 August 1911: Rodolphe Lemieux 19 August 1911 – 10 October 1911: Henri Sévérin Béland
• President of the Privy Council 11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: Sir Wilfrid Laurier
• Minister of Public Works 11 July 1896 – 22 October 1902: Joseph-Israël Tarte 22 October 1902 – 11 November 1902: Vacant (Sir Wilfrid Laurier was acting) 11 November 1902 – 4 May 1905: James Sutherland 4 May 1905 – 22 May 1905: Vacant (Sir Wilfrid Laurier was acting) 22 May 1905 – 30 August 1907: Charles Smith Hyman 30 August 1907 – 10 October 1911: William Pugsley
• Minister of Railways and Canals 11 July 1896 – 20 July 1896: Vacant (Collingwood Schreiber was acting) 20 July 1896 – 21 July 1903: Andrew George Blair 21 July 1903 – 15 January 1904: William Stevens Fielding 15 January 1904 – 3 April 1907: Henry Emmerson 3 April 1907 – 9 April 1907: Vacant (Matthew Joseph Butler was acting) 9 April 1907 – 10 October 1911: George Perry Graham
• Secretary of State of Canada 11 July 1896 – 9 October 1908: Richard William Scott 9 October 1908 – 10 October 1911: Charles Murphy
• Registrar General of Canada 11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: The Secretary of State of Canada (Ex officio) 11 July 1896 – 9 October 1908: Richard William Scott 9 October 1908 – 10 October 1911: Charles Murphy
• Minister of Trade and Commerce 11 July 1896 – 10 October 1911: Sir Richard John Cartwright
• Minister without Portfolio 11 July 1896 – 12 January 1902: Richard Reid Dobell 21 August 1896 – 19 July 1899: Christophe-Alphonse Geoffrion 30 September 1899 – 15 January 1902: James Sutherland 25 February 1902 – 6 February 1906: Charles Smith Hyman 5 February 1904 – 22 May 1905: William Templeman

Offices not of the Cabinet

Controller of Customs

• 11 July 1896 – 30 June 1897: William Paterson

Controller of Inland Revenue

• 11 July 1896 – 30 June 1897: Sir Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière

Solicitor General of Canada

• 11 July 1896 – 10 February 1902: Charles Fitzpatrick
• 10 February 1902 – 29 January 1904: Henry George Carroll
• 29 January 1904 – 4 June 1906: Rodolphe Lemieux
• 4 June 1906 – 14 February 1907: Vacant
• 14 February 1907 – 10 October 1911: Jacques Bureau

• Government of Canada. . Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation. Privy Council Office. Archived from on 1 May 2017.

Succession