# Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

The Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (formally known as Ministry of Economic Development and Growth) in the Canadian province of Ontario is responsible for programs to attract and retain business and economic development in the province. This is pursued through research and development funding, business advisory services, career exploration opportunities and business startup programs for youth, skills development and marketing Ontario to potential international business investors.
It was previously responsible for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, though this responsibility has been shifted to the Ministry of Government Services.

## Ministry Agencies

According to the Public Appointments Secretariat, As of January 5, 2025 the Ministry is affiliated with the following Agencies:
* Agent-General
* Invest Ontario
* Ontario Centre of Innovation Inc.
* Ontario's Representative in Washington D. C.
* Special Advisor - PowerCO Sub Investment
* Venture Ontario

## History

Responsibilities for economic development in the Ontario government shifted over time as the province's economy evolved.
Prior to confederation, the Bureau of Agriculture of the Province of Canada was responsible for collecting facts and statistics relating to the agricultural, mechanical and manufacturing interests.
On March 4, 1868, the Act for the Encouragement of Agriculture, Horticulture, Arts, and Manufactures received royal assent, establishing the Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works. "Arts", at the time, referred to the practical application of an industrial, manufacturing, or scientific pursuit, rather than to its current meaning. In 1877, the department was renamed the Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Arts. The industrial, or "arts", functions of the department were carried out through the Bureau of Agriculture and Arts from 1877 until 1882, and the Bureau of Industries from 1882. Although the Bureau was under the general direction of the Commissioner of Agriculture (or the Minister of Agriculture after 1888), the day to day operations were carried out by a small staff under the direction of the Secretary of the Bureau of Industries. From 1880 on however, the focus of that bureau was agricultural in nature. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the responsibilities for various manufacturing industrial matters were carried out at various times by the Department of the Provincial Secretary, Department of Education, and the Bureau of Labour among others.
The Department of Planning and Development was established in 1944. Initially, its mandate was focused in postwar rehabilitation efforts. Over time, the department was mandated to work with agricultural, industrial, labour, mining, trade and other associations and organisations and with public and private sector enterprises in order to create and maintain productive employment and to develop the human and material resources of the province. In addition to trade and industry, the department at various times also had responsibilities over immigration, community planning, conservation, civil defence/emergency management.
For most of 1961, the department was briefly renamed the Department of Commerce and Development. In December 1961, the department took over certain functions of the Department of Economics and Federal and Provincial Relations (predecessor of the Ministry of Finance) and was renamed the Department of Economics and Development.
In 1968, the department was renamed the Department of Trade and Development. In April 1972, the department merged with the Department of Tourism and Information to form the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.
A standalone economic portfolio was recreated in 1982, named Ministry of Industry and Trade. The ministry subsequently went through frequent name changes in the following decades, reflecting shifting economic and political priorities of the governments of the day. For example in 1985, it was renamed Ministry of Industry, Trade and Technology to reflect the growing importance of technology in Ontario's economy.
Since 1993, the department was mostly named the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade or some similar variations, except between 2002 and 2003 when it was briefly named Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation.
A related Ministry of Research and Innovation, and later Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science, existed between 2005 and 2018. While politically a standalone ministry, it shared a deputy minister (civil service head) with the main economic development ministry, and was supported by civil servants of the economic development ministry.
A related Ministry of International Trade existed between 2008 and 2009, and again from 2016 and 2018.

### List of ministers

| Principal Ministers | Term of office | Term of office | Other Ministers | Political party (Ministry) |
| Minister of Planning and Development | Minister of Planning and Development | Minister of Planning and Development | | PC (Drew) |
| Dana Porter | May 8, 1944 | October 19, 1948 | | |
| Art Welsh | October 19, 1948 | May 4, 1949 | | PC (Kennedy) |
| William Griesinger | May 4, 1949 | January 20, 1953 | | PC (Frost) |
| Bill Warrender | January 20, 1953 | August 17, 1955 | | |
| William Nickle | August 17, 1955 | November 8, 1961 | | |
| Minister of Commerce and Development | Minister of Commerce and Development | Minister of Commerce and Development | | PC (Robarts) |
| Robert Macaulay | November 8, 1961 | December 15, 1961 | | |
| Minister of Economics and Development | Minister of Economics and Development | Minister of Economics and Development | | |
| Robert Macaulay | December 15, 1961 | October 16, 1963 | | |
| James Allan | October 16, 1963 | November 8, 1963 | | |
| Stan Randall | November 8, 1963 | April 11, 1968 | | |
| Minister of Trade and Development | Minister of Trade and Development | Minister of Trade and Development | | |
| Stan Randall | April 11, 1968 | March 1, 1971 | | |
| Allan Grossman | March 1, 1971 | February 2, 1972 | | PC (Davis) |
| John White | February 2, 1972 | April 7, 1972 | | |
| Minister of Industry and Tourism | Minister of Industry and Tourism | Minister of Industry and Tourism | | |
| John White | April 10, 1972 | January 15, 1973 | | |
| Claude Bennett | January 15, 1973 | January 21, 1978 | | |
| John Reginald Rhodes | January 21, 1978 | September 25, 1978 | | |
| Larry Grossman | October 18, 1978 | February 13, 1982 | | |
| Minister of Industry and Trade Development | Minister of Industry and Trade Development | Minister of Industry and Trade Development | | |
| Gordon Walker | February 13, 1982 | July 6, 1983 | | |
| Frank Miller | July 6, 1983 | February 8, 1985 | | Elected leader of the Progressive Conservatives and became Premier while minister |
| Minister of Industry and Trade | Minister of Industry and Trade | Minister of Industry and Trade | | PC (Miller) |
| Andy Brandt | February 8, 1985 | June 26, 1985 | | |
| Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology | Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology | Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology | | Liberal (Peterson) |
| Hugh O'Neil | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 | | |
| Monte Kwinter | September 29, 1987 | October 1, 1990 | | |
| Allan Pilkey | October 1, 1990 | July 31, 1991 | | NDP (Rae) |
| Ed Philip | July 31, 1991 | February 3, 1993 | | |
| Minister of Economic Development and Trade | Minister of Economic Development and Trade | Minister of Economic Development and Trade | | |
| Frances Lankin | February 3, 1993 | June 26, 1995 | | |
| Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism | Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism | Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism | | PC (Harris) |
| Bill Saunderson | June 26, 1995 | October 10, 1997 | | |
| Al Palladini | October 10, 1997 | June 17, 1999 | Minister of Energy, Science and Technology Jim Wilson (October 10, 1997 to April 14, 2002) | |
| Minister of Economic Development and Trade | Minister of Economic Development and Trade | Minister of Economic Development and Trade | |
| Al Palladini | June 17, 1999 | February 7, 2001 | Resigned for personal reasons, died in office a month later. |
| Bob Runciman | February 8, 2001 | April 14, 2002 | |
| Minister of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation | Minister of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation | Minister of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation | | PC (Eves) |
| Jim Flaherty | April 15, 2002 | October 22, 2003 | Associate Minister David Turnbull (April 15, 2002 to October 22, 2003) | |
| Minister of Economic Development and Trade | Minister of Economic Development and Trade | Minister of Economic Development and Trade | | Liberal (McGuinty) |
| Joseph Cordiano | October 23, 2003 | September 18, 2006 | Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton McGuinty (June 29, 2005 to October 15, 2007) John Wilkinson (October 30, 2007 to June 24, 2009) John Milloy (June 24, 2009 to August 18, 2010) Glen Murray (August 18, 2010 to February 11, 2013) Minister of International Trade and Investment Sandra Pupatello (September 18, 2008 to June 24, 2009) | Resigned from cabinet and legislature |
| Sandra Pupatello | September 16, 2006 | September 18, 2008 | Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton McGuinty (June 29, 2005 to October 15, 2007) John Wilkinson (October 30, 2007 to June 24, 2009) John Milloy (June 24, 2009 to August 18, 2010) Glen Murray (August 18, 2010 to February 11, 2013) Minister of International Trade and Investment Sandra Pupatello (September 18, 2008 to June 24, 2009) | |
| Minister of Economic Development | Minister of Economic Development | Minister of Economic Development | Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton McGuinty (June 29, 2005 to October 15, 2007) John Wilkinson (October 30, 2007 to June 24, 2009) John Milloy (June 24, 2009 to August 18, 2010) Glen Murray (August 18, 2010 to February 11, 2013) Minister of International Trade and Investment Sandra Pupatello (September 18, 2008 to June 24, 2009) | |
| Michael Bryant | September 18, 2008 | May 25, 2009 | Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton McGuinty (June 29, 2005 to October 15, 2007) John Wilkinson (October 30, 2007 to June 24, 2009) John Milloy (June 24, 2009 to August 18, 2010) Glen Murray (August 18, 2010 to February 11, 2013) Minister of International Trade and Investment Sandra Pupatello (September 18, 2008 to June 24, 2009) | Resigned to become CEO of Invest Toronto |
| Dalton McGuinty | May 25, 2009 | June 24, 2009 | Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton McGuinty (June 29, 2005 to October 15, 2007) John Wilkinson (October 30, 2007 to June 24, 2009) John Milloy (June 24, 2009 to August 18, 2010) Glen Murray (August 18, 2010 to February 11, 2013) Minister of International Trade and Investment Sandra Pupatello (September 18, 2008 to June 24, 2009) | Interim Minister while Premier |
| Minister of Economic Development and Trade | Minister of Economic Development and Trade | Minister of Economic Development and Trade | Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton McGuinty (June 29, 2005 to October 15, 2007) John Wilkinson (October 30, 2007 to June 24, 2009) John Milloy (June 24, 2009 to August 18, 2010) Glen Murray (August 18, 2010 to February 11, 2013) Minister of International Trade and Investment Sandra Pupatello (September 18, 2008 to June 24, 2009) | |
| Sandra Pupatello | June 24, 2009 | October 20, 2011 | Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton McGuinty (June 29, 2005 to October 15, 2007) John Wilkinson (October 30, 2007 to June 24, 2009) John Milloy (June 24, 2009 to August 18, 2010) Glen Murray (August 18, 2010 to February 11, 2013) Minister of International Trade and Investment Sandra Pupatello (September 18, 2008 to June 24, 2009) | Did not seek re-election |
| Minister of Economic Development and Innovation | Minister of Economic Development and Innovation | Minister of Economic Development and Innovation | Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton McGuinty (June 29, 2005 to October 15, 2007) John Wilkinson (October 30, 2007 to June 24, 2009) John Milloy (June 24, 2009 to August 18, 2010) Glen Murray (August 18, 2010 to February 11, 2013) Minister of International Trade and Investment Sandra Pupatello (September 18, 2008 to June 24, 2009) | |
| Brad Duguid | October 20, 2011 | February 11, 2013 | Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton McGuinty (June 29, 2005 to October 15, 2007) John Wilkinson (October 30, 2007 to June 24, 2009) John Milloy (June 24, 2009 to August 18, 2010) Glen Murray (August 18, 2010 to February 11, 2013) Minister of International Trade and Investment Sandra Pupatello (September 18, 2008 to June 24, 2009) | |
| Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment | Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment | Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment | | Liberal (Wynne) |
| Eric Hoskins | February 11, 2013 | June 24, 2014 | Minister of Research and Innovation Reza Moridi (February 11, 2013 to June 13, 2016) | |
| Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure | Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure | Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure | Minister of Research and Innovation Reza Moridi (February 11, 2013 to June 13, 2016) | |
| Brad Duguid | June 24, 2014 | June 13, 2016 | Minister of Research and Innovation Reza Moridi (February 11, 2013 to June 13, 2016) | |
| Minister of Economic Development and Growth | Minister of Economic Development and Growth | Minister of Economic Development and Growth | | |
| Brad Duguid | June 13, 2016 | January 17, 2018 | Minister of Research, Innovation and Science Reza Moridi (June 13, 2016 to June 2, 2018) Minister of International Trade Michael Chan (June 13, 2016 to June 29, 2018) Minister Responsible for Small Business Jeff Leal (January 12, 2017 – June 29, 2018) | |
| Steven Del Duca | January 17, 2018 | June 29, 2018 | Minister of Research, Innovation and Science Reza Moridi (June 13, 2016 to June 2, 2018) Minister of International Trade Michael Chan (June 13, 2016 to June 29, 2018) Minister Responsible for Small Business Jeff Leal (January 12, 2017 – June 29, 2018) | |
| Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade | Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade | Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade | | PC (Ford) |
| Jim Wilson | June 29, 2018 | November 2, 2018 | | |
| Todd Smith | November 2, 2018 | June 20, 2019 | | Interim minister prior to November 5, 2018 |
| Vic Fedeli | June 20, 2019 | present | Associate Minister for Small Business & Red Tape Reduction Prabmeet Sarkaria (June 20, 2019 – June 18, 2021) Nina Tangri (June 18, 2021 – June 24, 2022) Minister of Red Tape Reduction Parm Gill(June 24, 2022-January 25, 2024) Mike Harris Jr.(June 2024-Present) Associate Minister for Small Business Nina Tangri (September 4, 2023 to Present) | While Chair of Cabinet |