On Feb. 18, 1964, Georges Vanier’s throne speech opened the second session of Canada’s 26h Parliament. His remarks set out the government’s intentions under Prime Minister Lester Pearson.
The government outlined its plan to create a minister responsible for rural development to help the government “further its policy of giving increased attention to the needs of agriculture in both eastern and western Canada,” Vanier said.
On Oct. 1, 1966, Maurice Sauvé became Canada’s minister of forestry and rural development.
As of October 2020, Maryam Monsef is the federal minister of rural economic development.