Ralph Goodale
Ralph Edward Goodale (born 1949) is Canada's current Minister of Finance.Goodale was raised on a farm near Wilcox, Saskatchewan and had stayed in the province for his entire life, attending the University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan.
Active in politics from a young age he was first elected to parliament in 1974 at the age of twenty-four. He served as back bench MP until 1981 when he moved to provincial politics to become leader of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party which he remained until 1988. After a failed attempt to win a federal seat in the 1988 election Goodale spent five years in the private sector before returning to the federal parliament in 1993. As a member of the new Chretien government Goodale was entered into the Cabinet becoming Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. In 1997 he became the Minister of Natural Resources. Goodale maintained a squeaky clean reputation and in 2002 he was sent to the scandal plagued portfolio of Minister of Public Works and Government Services.
Long a close ally of Paul Martin, Goodale was rewarded with the extremely important role of Finance Minister when Martin became Prime Minister on December 12, 2003.
| 27th Ministry - Government of Paul Martin | |||
| Cabinet Posts (1) | |||
| Preceded by: John Manley | Minister of Finance (2003-) | Succeeded by: (incumbent) | |
| 26th Ministry - Government of Jean Chrétien | |||
| Cabinet Posts (4) | |||
| Preceded by: Don Boudria | Minister of Public Works and Government Services (2002-2003) | Succeeded by: Stephen Owen | |
| Minister of State (2002) NB: no portfolio specified (while House Leader) | |||
| Preceded by: Anne McLellan | Minister of Natural Resources (1997-2002) | Succeeded by: Herb Dhaliwal | |
| Preceded by: Charlie Mayer | Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (1993-1997) NB: "Minister of Agriculture" before 1995 | Succeeded by: Lyle Vanclief | |
| Special Cabinet Responsibilities | |||
| Preceded by: Position created | Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board (1997-2003) | Succeeded by: Reg Alcock | |
| Preceded by: Position created | Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians (1997-2003) | Succeeded by: Denis Coderre | |
| Special Parliamentary Responsibilities | |||
| Preceded by: Don Boudria | Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (2002) | Succeeded by: Don Boudria | |