The Minister of Social Development is the Minister of the Crown

Minister of the Crown

Minister of the Crown is the formal constitutional term used in the Commonwealth realms to describe a minister to the reigning sovereign. The term indicates that the minister serves at His/Her Majesty's pleasure, and advises the monarch, or viceroy, on how to exercise the Crown prerogatives...

 in the Canadian Cabinet

Cabinet of Canada

The Cabinet of Canada is a body of ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada...

 who is responsible for overseeing Social Development Canada

Social Development Canada

The Department of Social Development, also referred to as Social Development Canada, was from Dec. 2003 to Feb. 2006 the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for developing and implementing social policies involving families with children, disabled people, senior citizens and...

, the federal government's department concerned with the needs of seniors

Old age

Old age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle...

, children, families

Family

In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...

 and people with disabilities.

On February 6, 2006, Prime Minister

Prime Minister of Canada

The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...

 Stephen Harper

Stephen Harper

Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...

 merged the personnel and responsibilities of Social Development Canada

Social Development Canada

The Department of Social Development, also referred to as Social Development Canada, was from Dec. 2003 to Feb. 2006 the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for developing and implementing social policies involving families with children, disabled people, senior citizens and...

 into Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

The Department of Human Resources and Skills Development , operating under the FIP applied title Human Resources and Skills Development Canada , is the department of the Government of Canada responsible for developing, managing and delivering a variety of social programs and services...

 using an Order in Council, and did not name anybody to the post of Minister of Social Development. The post and department will remain legally in force, however, until such time as Parliament amends the body of legislation. The recombined department has been styled the Department of Human Resources and Social Development, and the minister was Diane Finley

Diane Finley

Diane Finley, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. She serves as Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development in the cabinet of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Of the 12 MPs in the Priorities and Planning Committee of cabinet , known as the inner cabinet, she is the only woman...

 until January 3, 2007. On January 4, 2007 Monte Solberg

Monte Solberg

Monte Kenton Solberg, PC is a former Canadian Member of Parliament, representing the riding of Medicine Hat in the Canadian House of Commons as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. He was the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development...

 was named Minister of Human Resources and Social Development.

Ministers

1.	Liza Frulla Liza Frulla Liza Frulla, PC , also formerly known as Liza Frulla-Hébert, is a former Canadian politician. She was a Quebec Liberal Party MNA in the National Assembly of Quebec from 1989 to 1998, and a Liberal Member of Parliament from 2002 to 2006.From 1974 to 1976, she worked for the public affairs service...	under Martin Paul Martin Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....	December 12, 2003 – July 19, 2004
2.	Ken Dryden Ken Dryden Kenneth Wayne Dryden, PC, is a Canadian politician, lawyer, businessman, author, and former NHL goaltender. Dryden is married with two children and four grandchildren and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame...	under Martin Paul Martin Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....	July 20, 2004 – February 5, 2006

Prior to 2003, responsibilities for this portfolio fell under the Minister of Human Resources Development

Minister of Human Resources Development (Canada)

The Minister of Human Resources Development is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government's human resources department, Human Resources Development Canada .-Ministers:Prior to 1996, the post was known as Minister of Employment and...

. As of February 6, 2006, the responsibilities are now held by the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

The Honourable Diane Finley is the current Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.