Secretary of State for the Provinces
| Secretary of State for the Provinces | |
|---|---|
| Member of | Cabinet of Canada |
| Formation | July 1, 1867 |
| First holder | Adams George Archibald |
| Final holder | Thomas Nicholson Gibbs |
| Abolished | June 30, 1873 |
Secretary of State for the Provinces was an office in the Cabinet of Canada, active from 1867 to 1873. The office was superseded by the Minister of the Interior on May 3, 1873.[1]
The position was responsible for managing the responsibilities and inter-governmental links between the federal government and the provincial counterparts. The post replaced that of the Secretary of State for the Colonies in Britain and that of the Provincial Secretary or Colonial Secretary within the former British colonies of British North America (see Provincial Secretary of Upper Canada, Provincial Secretary of Lower Canada, United Provinces of Canada)
Ministers
| No. | Portrait | Name | Term of office | Political party | Ministry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sir Adams George Archibald | July 1, 1867 | April 30, 1868 | Liberal-Conservative | 1 (Macdonald) | |
| 2 | Joseph Howe | November 16, 1869 | May 6, 1873 | Liberal-Conservative | ||
| – | James Cox Aikins (Acting) |
May 7, 1873 | June 13, 1873 | Liberal-Conservative | ||
| 3 | Thomas Nicholson Gibbs | June 14, 1873 | June 30, 1873 | Liberal-Conservative | ||
References
- ^ "First Ministry". Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation: The Ministries. Government of Canada. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
Footnote 10: The office of Secretary of State for the Provinces was abolished and the office of Minister of the Interior created by Statute 36 Vict., c. 4, assented to on May 3, 1873, and proclaimed in force on July 1, 1873. By this Act the Minister was to be ex officio the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs.