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Canada's Presidential Seat

An in-depth examination of the President of the King's Privy Council for Canada, detailing its role, history, and evolution within the governmental structure.

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The Role

The President's Mandate

The President of the King's Privy Council for Canada is a member of the Canadian Cabinet entrusted with the largely ceremonial duty of chairing meetings of the King's Privy Council. This body, distinct from the Cabinet, convenes for significant state affairs, such as the accession of a new monarch or royal marriages. Historically, the last such full meeting occurred in 2022 for the proclamation of King Charles III's accession in Canada.

Ministerial Support and Office

The President often concurrently holds another significant portfolio, frequently that of Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. This dual role is supported by the Privy Council Office (PCO), which provides administrative and policy advice. The position is appointed by the Crown upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Canada.

Historical Context and Evolution

The role is analogous to the Lord President of the Council in the United Kingdom. Historically, under Prime Ministers Pierre Trudeau and Joe Clark, the President of the Privy Council also served as the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons. However, since 1989, these roles have been distinct. The position has evolved to become a senior, often honorary, appointment within the Cabinet, frequently combined with other ministerial responsibilities.

Historical Trajectory

Origins and Early Years

Established on July 1, 1867, the inaugural holder was Adam Johnston Fergusson Blair. Initially, the role was not always held concurrently with other major portfolios, and its duties were more directly tied to the functioning of the Privy Council itself. The early years saw the position held by various parliamentarians and senators, reflecting the developing structure of Canadian governance.

Shifting Responsibilities

The position's significance has fluctuated. For instance, under Prime Ministers Pierre Trudeau and Joe Clark, it was synonymous with the Government House Leader. The separation of these roles in 1989 marked a shift, with the President of the Privy Council becoming more of a senior, often symbolic, appointment. Since 1993, it has frequently been held by the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, integrating it more closely with federal-provincial relations.

Modern Day and Salary

In contemporary Canadian politics, the role is often viewed as a senior cabinet position, with the holder managing specific policy files and parliamentary affairs. As of 2024, the salary for the position is CA$299,900. The current incumbent, Dominic LeBlanc, has held the role previously and concurrently serves as Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy, and was designated Minister for the Major Projects Office in 2025.

Officeholders

The following table details the individuals who have served as President of the King's Privy Council for Canada, their parliamentary affiliations, terms of office, and concurrent cabinet posts.

President of the Privy Council
Parliamentary seat while President (Party affiliation)
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Concurrent Cabinet Posts Ministry
Party
Term of ministry
Monarch
Reign
1 Adam Johnston Fergusson Blair
Senator for Ontario
(Liberal, from October 1867)
(1815–1867)
1 July 1867
30 December 1867
none
John A. Macdonald
(1st)
Conservative
(1867–1873)

Victoria
(1837–1901)
John A. Macdonald
MP for Kingston (Liberal-Conservative)
(1815–1891)
Acting President of the Privy Council
30 December 1867
30 January 1869
(acting)
2 Joseph Howe
MP for Hants (Liberal-Conservative)
(1804–1873)
30 January 1869
16 November 1869
none
3 Edward Kenny
Senator for Nova Scotia (Conservative)
(1800–1891)
16 November 1869
21 June 1870
none
4 Charles Tupper
MP for Cumberland (Conservative)
(1821–1915)
21 June 1870
2 July 1872
none
5 John O'Connor
MP for Essex (Conservative)
(1824–1887)
2 July 1872
4 March 1873
none
John A. Macdonald
MP for Kingston (Liberal-Conservative)
(1815–1891)
Acting President of the Privy Council
4 March 1873
14 June 1873
(acting)
6 Hugh McDonald
MP for Antigonish (Liberal-Conservative)
(1827–1899)
14 June 1873
1 July 1873
none
John A. Macdonald
MP for Kingston (Liberal-Conservative)
(1815–1891)
Acting President of the Privy Council
1 July 1873
7 November 1873
(acting)
Alexander Mackenzie
MP for Lambton (Liberal)
(1822–1892)
Acting President of the Privy Council
7 November 1873
20 January 1874
(acting)
Alexander Mackenzie
(2nd)
Liberal
(1873–1878)
7 Lucius Seth Huntington
MP for Shefford (Liberal)
(1827–1886)
20 January 1874
9 October 1875
none
Alexander Mackenzie
MP for Lambton (Liberal)
(1822–1892)
Acting President of the Privy Council
9 October 1875
7 December 1875
(acting)
8 Joseph-Édouard Cauchon
MP for Quebec-Centre (Conservative)
(1816–1885)
7 December 1875
8 June 1877
none
9 Edward Blake
MP for Bruce South (Liberal)
(1833–1912)
8 June 1877
17 January 1878
none
Alexander Mackenzie
MP for Lambton (Liberal)
(1822–1892)
Acting President of the Privy Council
18 January 1878
17 October 1878
(acting)
(5) John O'Connor
MP for Russell (Conservative)
(1824–1887)
17 October 1878
16 January 1880
none
Macdonald
(3rd)
Conservative
(1878–1891)
10 Louis-Rodrigue Masson
MP for Terrebonne (Conservative)
(1833–1903)
16 January 1880
1 August 1880
none
John A. Macdonald
MP for Victoria (Liberal-Conservative)
(1815–1891)
Acting President of the Privy Council
1 August 1880
8 November 1880
(acting)
11 Joseph-Alfred Mousseau
MP for Bagot (Conservative)
(1837–1886)
8 November 1880
20 May 1881
none
12 Archibald McLelan
MP for Colchester (Conservative)
(1824–1890)
20 May 1881
10 July 1882
none
13 John A. Macdonald
MP for Carleton (until 1887)
MP for Kingston (from 1887) (Liberal-Conservative)
(1815–1891)
Acting President of the Privy Council prior to 17 October 1883
17 October 1883
28 November 1889
Prime Minister

Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs (1878-87, 88)

14 Charles Carroll Colby
MP for Stanstead^ (Liberal-Conservative)
(1827–1907)
28 November 1889
1 May 1891
none
John A. Macdonald
MP for Kingston (Liberal-Conservative)
(1815–1891)
Acting President of the Privy Council
1 May 1891
16 June 1891
(acting)
15 John Abbott
Senator for Inkerman, Quebec (Liberal-Conservative)
(1821–1893)
16 June 1891
5 December 1892
Prime Minister
John Abbott
(4th)
Conservative
(1891–1892)
John Sparrow David Thompson
MP for Antigonish (Liberal-Conservative)
(1845–1894)
Acting President of the Privy Council
5 December 1892
7 December 1892
(acting)
John Sparrow David Thompson
(5th)
Conservative
(1892–1894)
16 William Bullock Ives
MP for Town of Sherbrooke (Conservative)
(1841–1899)
7 December 1892
12 December 1894
none
17 Mackenzie Bowell
Senator for Hastings, Ontario (Conservative)
(1823–1917)
21 December 1894
1 May 1896
Prime Minister
Mackenzie Bowell
(6th)
Conservative
(1894–1896)
18 Auguste-Réal Angers
Senator for De la Vallière, Quebec ^(Conservative)
(1837–1919)
1 May 1896
8 July 1896
none
Tupper
(7th)
Conservative
(1896)
19 Wilfrid Laurier
MP for Quebec East (Liberal)
(1841–1919)
11 July 1896
10 October 1911
Prime Minister
Wilfrid Laurier
(8th)
Liberal
(1896–1911)

Edward VII
(1901–1910)

George V
(1910–1936)
20 Robert Borden
MP for Halifax (Conservative, until 1917)

MP for Kings (Unionist, from 1917) (Conservative)
(1854–1937)
10 October 1911
12 October 1917
Prime Minister
Robert Borden
(9th)
Conservative
(1911–1917)
(10th)
Unionist
(1917-1920)
21 Newton Rowell
MP for Durham (Unionist)
(1867–1941)
12 October 1917
10 July 1920
Minister presiding Department of Health (1919-20)
22 James Alexander Calder
MP for Moose Jaw (Unionist)
(1868–1956)
10 July 1920
21 September 1921
Minister of Immigration and Colonization, Minister presiding Department of Health
Arthur Meighen
(11th)
Unionist
(1920–1921)
23 Louis-Philippe Normand
Candidate in Three Rivers and St. Maurice^ (Unionist)
(1863–1928)
21 September 1921
29 December 1921
none
24 William Lyon Mackenzie King
MP for York North until 1925
MP for Prince Albert from 1926 (Liberal)
(1874–1950)
29 December 1921
29 June 1926
Prime Minister, Secretary of State for External Affairs
William Lyon Mackenzie King
(12th)
Liberal
(1921–1926)
25 Arthur Meighen
MP for Portage la Prairie^ (Conservative)
(1874–1960)
29 June 1926
25 September 1926
Prime Minister, Secretary of State for External Affairs
Arthur Meighen
(13th)
Conservative
(1926)
(24) William Lyon Mackenzie King
MP for Prince Albert (Liberal)
(1874–1950)
25 September 1926
7 August 1930
Prime Minister, Secretary of State for External Affairs
William Lyon Mackenzie King
(14th)
Liberal
(1926–1930)
26 R. B. Bennett
MP for Calgary West (Conservative)
(1870–1947)
7 August 1930
23 October 1935
Prime Minister, Minister of Finance (until 1932), Secretary of State for External Affairs,
R. B. Bennett
(15th)
Conservative
(1930–1935)
(24) William Lyon Mackenzie King
MP for Prince Albert until 1945
MP for Glengarry from 1945 (Liberal)
(1874–1950)
23 October 1935
15 November 1948
Prime Minister, Secretary of State for External Affairs (until 1946)
William Lyon Mackenzie King
(16th)
Liberal
(1935–1948)

Edward VIII
(1936)

George VI
(1936–1952)
27 Louis St. Laurent
MP for Quebec East (Liberal)
(1882–1973)
15 November 1948
25 April 1957
Prime Minister
Louis St. Laurent
(17th)
Liberal
(1948–1957)

Elizabeth II
(since 1952)
28 Lionel Chevrier
MP for Laurier (Liberal)
(1903–1987)
25 April 1957
21 June 1957
none
29 John Diefenbaker
MP for Prince Albert (Progressive Conservative)
(1895–1979)
21 June 1957
28 December 1961
Prime Minister
John Diefenbaker
(18th)
Progressive
Conservative
(1957–1963)
30 Noël Dorion
MP for Bellechasse^ (Progressive Conservative)
(1904–1980)
28 December 1961
5 July 1962
none
(29) John Diefenbaker
MP for Prince Albert (Progressive Conservative)
(1895–1979)
Acting President of the Privy Council prior to 21 December 1962
5 July 1962
22 April 1963
Prime Minister
31 Maurice Lamontagne
MP for Outremont–Saint-Jean (Liberal)
(1917–1983)
22 April 1963
3 February 1964
none
Lester B. Pearson
(19th)
Liberal
(1963–1968)
32 George McIlraith
MP for Outremont–Saint-Jean (Liberal)
(1908–1992)
3 February 1964
7 July 1965
none
33 Guy Favreau
MP for Papineau (Liberal)
(1917–1967)
7 July 1965
4 April 1967
Registrar General (from 1966)
34 Walter L. Gordon
MP for Davenport (Liberal)
(1906–1987)
4 April 1967
11 March 1968
none
Pierre Trudeau
MP for Mount Royal (Liberal)
(1919–2000)
Acting President of the Privy Council
11 March 1968
2 May 1968
(acting)
P. Trudeau
(20th)
Liberal
(1968–1979)
Allan MacEachen
MP for Inverness—Richmond/Cape Breton Highlands—Canso (Liberal)
(1921–2017)
Acting President of the Privy Council
2 May 1968
6 July 1968
(acting)
35 Donald Stovel Macdonald
MP for Rosedale (Liberal)
(1932–2018)
6 July 1968
24 September 1970
Government House Leader
36 Allan MacEachen
MP for Cape Breton Highlands—Canso (Liberal)
(1921–2017)
24 September 1970
8 August 1974
Government House Leader
37 Mitchell Sharp
MP for Eglinton (Liberal)
(1911–2004)
8 August 1974
14 September 1976
Government House Leader
(36) Allan MacEachen
MP for Cape Breton Highlands—Canso (Liberal)
(1921–2017)
14 September 1976
4 June 1979
Government House Leader
38 Walter Baker
MP for Nepean—Carleton (Progressive Conservative)
(1930–1983)
4 June 1979
3 March 1980
Minister of National Revenue
Joe Clark
(21st)
Progressive
Conservative
(1979–1980)
39 Yvon Pinard
MP for Drummond (Liberal)
(born 1940)
3 March 1980
30 June 1984
Government House Leader
40 André Ouellet
MP for Papineau (Liberal)
(born 1939)
30 June 1984
17 September 1984
Minister of Labour
41 Erik Nielsen
MP for Yukon (Progressive Conservative)
(1924–2008)
17 September 1984
27 February 1985
Deputy Prime Minister
42 Ray Hnatyshyn
MP for Saskatoon West (Progressive Conservative)
(1934–2002)
27 February 1985
30 June 1986
Government House Leader
Brian Mulroney
(24th)
Progressive
Conservative
(1984–1993)
43 Don Mazankowski
MP for Vegreville (Progressive Conservative)
(1935–2020)
30 June 1986
21 April 1991
Deputy Prime Minister, Government House Leader
44 Joe Clark
MP for Yellowhead (Progressive Conservative)
(born 1939)
21 April 1991
25 June 1993
Minister responsible for Constitutional Affairs
45 Pierre Blais
MP for Bellechasse^ (Progressive Conservative)
(born 1948)
25 June 1993
4 November 1993
Minister of Justice and Attorney General
46 Marcel Massé
MP for Hull—Aylmer (Liberal)
(born 1940)
4 November 1993
25 January 1996
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Chrétien
(26th)
Liberal
(1993–2003)
47 Stéphane Dion
MP for Saint-Laurent—Cartierville (Liberal)
(born 1955)
25 January 1996
12 December 2003
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
48 Denis Coderre
MP for Bourassa (Liberal)
(born 1963)
12 December 2003
20 July 2004
Minister responsible for La Francophonie, for the Office of Indian Residential Schools Resolution, Federal interlocutor for Métis and non-status Indians
Martin
(27th)
Liberal
(2003–2006)
49 Lucienne Robillard
MP for Westmount—Ville-Marie (Liberal)
(born 1945)
20 July 2004
7 February 2006
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
50 Michael Chong
MP for Wellington—Halton Hills (Conservative)
(born 1971)
7 February 2006
27 November 2006
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister of State for Sport
Stephen Harper
(28th)
Conservative
(2006–2015)
51 Peter Van Loan
MP for York—Simcoe (Conservative)
(born 1963)
27 November 2006
4 January 2007
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
52 Rona Ambrose
MP for Edmonton—Spruce Grove (Conservative)
(born 1969)
4 January 2007
30 October 2008
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
53 Josée Verner
MP for Louis-Saint-Laurent^ (Conservative)
(born 1959)
30 October 2008
18 May 2011
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
54 Peter Penashue
MP for Labrador (Conservative)
(born 1964)
18 May 2011
14 March 2013
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
55 Denis Lebel
MP for Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean (Conservative)
(born 1954)
15 March 2013
4 November 2015
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister of Infrastructure
56 Maryam Monsef^^
MP for Peterborough—Kawartha (Liberal)
(born 1984)
4 November 2015
10 January 2017
Minister of Democratic Institutions
J. Trudeau
(29th)
Liberal
(2015–2025)
57 Karina Gould^
MP for Burlington (Liberal)
(born 1987)
10 January 2017
18 July 2018
Minister of Democratic Institutions
58 Dominic LeBlanc
MP for Beauséjour (Liberal)
(born 1967)
18 July 2018
26 October 2021
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Northern Affairs and Internal Trade
59 Bill Blair
MP for Scarborough Southwest (Liberal)
(born 1954)
26 October 2021
26 July 2023
Minister of Emergency Preparedness
Charles III
(since 2022)
60 Harjit Sajjan
MP for Vancouver South (Liberal)
(born 1970)
26 July 2023
14 March 2025
Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
(58) Dominic LeBlanc
MP for Beauséjour (Liberal)
(born 1967)
14 March 2025
Incumbent
Minister of Internal Trade, Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy
Carney
(30th)
Liberal
(since 2025)

Notes

Clarifications

The title "President of the King's Privy Council for Canada" is adapted to "President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada" during the reign of a female monarch. This designation reflects the Crown's role in the Canadian system of government.

References

Source Citations

  1. ^ "The Canadian Parliamentary system - Our Procedure - House of Commons". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  2. ^ "Review of the Responsibilities and Accountabilities of Ministers and Senior Officials" (PDF).
  3. ^ "Constitutional Duties". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  4. ^ "House of Commons Procedure and Practice - 1. Parliamentary Institutions - Canadian Parliamentary Institutions". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  5. ^ "Indemnities, Salaries and Allowances". April 1, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  6. ^ Official Report of Debates, House of Commons, vol. 174, Queen's Printer, 1926, p. 5237
  7. ^ Pike, Corinna; McCreery, Christopher (2011), Canadian Symbols of Authority: Maces, Chains, and Rods of Office, Dundurn, p. 258, ISBN 978-1-4597-0016-1
  8. ^ Branch, Legislative Services (2025-07-03). "Consolidated federal laws of Canada, Order Designating the President of the King's Privy Council for Canada as the Minister for the Purposes of the Building Canada Act". laws-lois.justice.gc.ca. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  9. ^ Tim Naumetz (November 9, 2015). "Youngest Cabinet minister Monsef also President of Queen's Privy Council". The Hill Times. "The Privy Council Office confirmed in response to questions from The Hill Times that Ms. Monsef had been designated as President of the Queen's Privy Council, but as of late Monday had not confirmed whether she was sworn into the office or exactly when she will be."
  10. ^ Parliament of Canada biography: Monsef is subsequently listed as having assumed the office on November 4, 2015.
  11. ^ Parliament of Canada biography: Monsef is subsequently listed as having assumed the office on November 4, 2015.
  12. ^ "ParlInfo Has Moved".
  1. ^ a b c d e f Defeated in general election prior to relinquishing office
  2. ^ Resigned from the Senate prior to reliquishing office

External Links

Official Resources

For further official information regarding the functions and responsibilities associated with the President of the King's Privy Council for Canada, please refer to the following resource:

  • Privy Council Office

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the President of the King's Privy Council for Canada Wikipedia page

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