Everything about Prime Minister Of Canada totally explained
The
Prime Minister of Canada (
French:
Premier ministre du Canada) is the primary
Minister of the Crown, chairman of the
Cabinet, and thus
head of government of
Canada. The office isn't outlined in any of the documents that constitute the written portion of the
constitution of Canada;
executive authority is formally vested in the
Canadian sovereign and exercised on his or her behalf by the
Governor General. The prime ministership is part of Canada's
constitutional convention tradition. The office was initially modelled after the job as it existed in Britain at time of Confederation in 1867. The
British prime ministership, although fully developed by 1867, wasn't formally integrated into the
British constitution until 1905 — hence, its absence from
Constitution Act, 1867.
The
Prime Minister is almost invariably the leader of the
political party that holds the largest number of seats in the
House of Commons. According to protocol, all prime ministers are
styled Right Honourable (in French:
Très Honorable) for life.
Stephen Harper is the current Prime Minister, appointed by
Governor General Michaëlle Jean as the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada, on
February 6,
2006. He is the leader of the
Conservative Party, which won 124 of 308 seats in the
last federal election. Of the total 308 seats, 124 is a plurality (a majority would be 155 seats) so Prime Minister Harper leads a
minority government; that is, the total number of seats held by all the other political parties is greater than the number of seats held by the Conservatives.
Qualifications and selection
The Prime Minister, along with the other ministers of the Cabinet, are formally appointed by the Governor General on behalf of the Queen. However, by constitutional convention designed to maintain stability in government, the Governor General will almost always call on the leader of the party which holds the most seats in the House of Commons to form a government.
The Prime Minister may be any
Canadian Citizen of
voting age (18 years). It is customary for the Prime Minister also to be a sitting member of the House of Commons, although two Prime Ministers have governed from the
Senate: Sir
John Joseph Caldwell Abbott and Sir
Mackenzie Bowell. (Both men, in their roles as Government Leader in the Senate, succeeded Prime Ministers who died in office in the 1890s; Canadian convention has since evolved toward the appointment of an
interim leader in such a scenario.) One Prime Minister,
William Lyon Mackenzie King, having lost his own seat in a general election while his party retained a plurality in the House of Commons, briefly governed from the hallway, until he won a by-election a few weeks later.
If the prime minister should fail to win his or her seat, a junior
Member of Parliament in a safe seat would typically resign to permit a by-election to elect that leader to a seat. However, if the leader of the governing party is changed shortly before an election is due and the new leader isn't a Member of Parliament, he or she'll normally await the general election before running for a seat. For example,
John Turner was briefly prime minister in 1984 without being a member of the House of Commons; he'd ironically win his seat in the general election that swept his party from power. The official residence of the prime minister is
24 Sussex Drive in
Ottawa,
Ontario. All prime ministers (with the exception of
Kim Campbell) have lived there since
Louis St. Laurent in 1951. The prime minister also has a secondary residence at
Harrington Lake in
Gatineau Park near
Ottawa.
In earlier years, it was tradition that the Sovereign bestow a
knighthood on each new Canadian prime minister. As such, several carry the prefix "Sir" before their name (of the first eight prime ministers, only
Alexander Mackenzie refused knighthood). After the
Nickle Resolution debate of 1919, it was against policy for the Sovereign to grant titles to Canadians; the last prime minister knighted was Sir
Robert Laird Borden, who was in power when the Nickle Resolution was debated. (Being only a Commons resolution, it has never been binding.) In addition one prime minister,
Richard Bennett, was created a
viscount after his retirement and the
widow of Sir John A. Macdonald was created a
baroness.
Mandate
A prime minister doesn't have a fixed term of office. The
Constitution of Canada limits the lifespan of each Parliament to five years after which a
general election for every seat in the House of Commons must be called; the time limit may be exceeded only in case of war or
insurrection. The Prime Minister has typically asked the Governor General to issue a
writ of election during the government's fourth year in office.
Amendments to the
Canada Elections Act passed in 2007 during the first session of the
39th Parliament have brought about legal changes which are designed to constrain when the Prime Minister can request a
dissolution of Parliament. Under the revised act, a general election must occur on the third Monday in October every four years starting in 2009. Other than cases of war or insurrection, the only exceptions provided for under the Act are when the government is defeated by a
vote of no confidence (discussed below) or otherwise "prevented from governing." The Canada Elections Act isn't a part of the constitution and can be further amended or repealed by Parliament.
Otherwise, by constitutional convention, the Governor General can't refuse a request to issue the writs of election, issue writs in the absence of a request or dismiss the Prime Minister and his government without having been offered their resignations unless acting contrary to the Prime Minister's wishes is necessary to avoid contravention of either the Constitution or (possibly) an
Act of Parliament (including as the aforementioned Canada Elections Act). The only time since Confederation time it was deemed necessary to refuse the prime minister's request to call an election was 1926 (see the
King-Byng Affair). A Canadian vice-regal's presumed right and obligation to refuse to grant a dissolution where the dissolution would only violate an Act of Parliament hasn't yet been tested either at the federal level or in those provinces that have enacted similar "fixed election date" legislation.
In general, a
majority government is in power three to five years before a new general election is called. A
minority government typically calls a new general election at the first opportunity when it appears able to win a majority of seats. Otherwise, it's unusual for minority governments to last more than two years owing to their vulnerability to votes of non-confidence. For example, in 1979–1980,
Joe Clark was prime minister in a minority Progressive Conservative government only six months before his government lost a motion of non-confidence and had to call another election. The new Liberal majority government took office in 1980 just nine months after the Clark government had taken office in 1979.
A prime minister is required to resign only when an opposition party wins a
majority of seats in the House. If the prime minister's party wins a plurality, he or she normally stays in office. (A prime minister may resign in this circumstance, but there's no requirement to do so.) If the prime minister's party wins a minority while an opposition party wins a plurality (for example, more seats than any other party but less than a majority), the prime minister can attempt to remain in office by forming a coalition with other minority parties. This, however, is almost never done in Canada.
If a governing party loses a
motion of non-confidence, the prime minister — and, thus, the government — may resign, thereby allowing another party to form the government. But as this is practical only if no party in the House has a majority, the convention in Canada is to immediately ask the governor general to call a general election.
If a general election gives an opposition party a
plurality of seats, the incumbent prime minister can continue to try to form the government, but this hasn't been done at the federal level since 1925, although it remains an option under the constitution. The normal practice in this situation is for the prime minister to resign and for the governor general to appoint as prime minister the leader of the new largest party in the House of Commons.
Role and authority
Since the prime minister is, in practice, the most powerful member of the Canadian government, he or she's sometimes erroneously referred to as Canada's
head of state. The Canadian head of state is
Elizabeth II,
Queen of Canada, who is represented by the
Governor General of Canada. The prime minister is the
head of government. The office of Prime Minister of Canada isn't mentioned in the
Canadian Constitution. In modern-day Canada, however, his/her prerogatives are largely the duties to which the constitution refers to as the job of the Governor General (who acts mostly as a
figurehead). The function, duties, responsibilities, and powers of the Prime Minister of Canada were established at Confederation, modeled upon the existing office of the
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Over time, the role of the Prime Minister of Canada has evolved, mainly gaining power over the years.
The prime minister plays a prominent role in most legislation passed by the Canadian Parliament. The majority of Canadian legislation originates in the Cabinet of Canada, which is a body selected by the prime minister, and appointed by the Governor General, largely from the ranks of his party's MPs. The Cabinet must have "unanimous" consent on all decisions they make, but in practice whether or not unanimity has been achieved is decided by the prime minister.
As the monarch or Governor General almost always follows the advice of his or her ministers, the Prime Minister (and the PMO) essentially controls the appointments of the following positions:
As to the Prime Minister's broad
de facto authority over the Canadian military, see
Canadian Forces.
Former Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau is credited with consolidating power in the
Office of the Prime Minister (PMO), although the evolution can be seen throughout Canadian history. The PMO consists of the Prime Minister's political and administrative staff hired solely at the PM's discretion. By coordinating communication with the other agents in policy arenas, as well as with the central party apparatus, the PMO can wield considerable influence. This may have the positive effect of a productive parliament, which in turn provides a valid criticism of centralized power in majority governments and the PMO.
There are checks on the prime minister's power.
Cabinet or caucus revolts will bring down a sitting prime minister quickly, and even the threat of caucus revolts can persuade and/or compel a prime minister to resign the office as happened to Jean Chrétien in 2003. The prime minister is also restricted by the effectively anemic Senate. The Senate can delay and impede legislation, which occurred when
Brian Mulroney introduced the
Goods and Services Tax (GST). In many cases, the conflicts arose primarily because the Senate was dominated by members appointed by previous governments. The aforementioned Prime Ministers proceeded to shift the Senate in their favour with a flurry of senate appointments to ensure the smooth passage of legislation. Furthermore, as Canada is a federal system, the action of the federal government (and thus the Prime Minister) is limited to areas of federal jurisdiction. In practice, however, provincial and federal actions are intertwined in most areas, and so the Prime Minister's power can also be thwarted by concerted opposition from provincial governments.
As well, as executive power is formally vested in the
Canadian Monarch and "exercised" by the
Governor General as the
vice-regal, either body has the power to oppose a Prime Minister's will. Senator and constitutional expert
Eugene Forsey stated that a "Governor General must take all steps necessary to thwart the will of a ruthless prime minister." This power of the Governor General was last used by
Lord Byng against Prime Minister
William Lyon Mackenzie King in what is known as the
King-Byng Affair of 1926. Some, such as the
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's
Larry Zolf, also speculated whether (former) Governor General
Adrienne Clarkson would refuse a recommendation from Prime Minister
Jean Chrétien to dissolve Parliament in 2002. Near the end of her time as Governor General, Clarkson stated: "My constitutional role has lain in what are called 'reserve powers:' making sure that there's a prime minister and a government in place, and exercising the right 'to encourage, to advise, and to warn' [...] Without really revealing any secrets, I can tell you that I've done all three."
Salary
According to the CBC, in 2004, the Prime Minister of Canada had an aggregate annual salary in excess of $280,000 (CAD). Although this sum is several times the national average, it's only a fraction of the pay of some of Canada's top corporate executives. About half of the Prime Minister's salary is because he/she is a Member of Parliament, and the other half is because he/she is Prime Minister. After
exchange rates are considered, the Canadian Prime Minister's salary is roughly three quarters the equivalent salaries of the
British Prime Minister and
U.S. President.
All Prime Ministers to date have become at least reasonably prosperous prior to entering politics and have not been very dependent on their salaries.
Criticisms of the Prime Minister's Office
In recent times, a few Canadians and some members of
Parliament have begun to question the powers the Canadian Constitution confers on the prime minister. In particular, their goal is to find ways to change the decayed role of elected members of the House of Commons, to create a Parliamentary committee to review appointments to the
Supreme Court, and the need to abolish or radically restructure the appointed Senate. A 2001 book,
The Friendly Dictatorship, by national affairs columnist
Jeffrey Simpson, pointed out the potential dangers by detailing what he argues to be near absolute power vested in the prime minister.
The main case given in favour of Prime Ministerial power has to do with the federal structure of the nation. Canada is one of the most decentralized of the world's federations, and provincial premiers have a great deal of power. Constitutional changes must be approved by the provincial premiers, and they must be consulted for any new initiatives in their areas of responsibility, which include many important sectors such as health care and education. In light of regional forces such as the
Quebec sovereignty movement, some have argued there's a need for a national counterbalance to these pressures.
List of Canadian Prime Ministers
Living former Prime Ministers
There are six living former Prime Ministers of Canada. In order from most recent they are:
Paul Martin
Jean Chrétien
Kim Campbell
Brian Mulroney
John Turner
Joe Clark
Prime Ministers in popular culture
Real
John A. Macdonald: in 1979 TV movie Riel, played by Christopher Plummer (Note: Plummer is a great-grandson of John Abbott)
Pierre Trudeau: in the 1980 film The Kidnapping of the President, played by Aubert Pallascio
In the 2002 CBC mini series Trudeau, four Prime Ministers were portrayed
Pierre Trudeau: in 2005 CBC mini series Trudeau II: Maverick in the Making, played by Stéphane Demers
In the 2006 CBC mini series Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story, two Prime Ministers were portrayed
John Diefenbaker, in the 1997 CBC miniseries The Arrow played by Robert Haley
Fictional
Stewart Collingwood: in 2004 sitcom Rideau Hall, played by Barry Flatman
Clark MacDonald: in 1995 film Canadian Bacon, played by American actor Wallace Shawn
Tom McLaughlin: in 2004 TV movie H2O, played by Paul Gross
(unknown name) simply called "the Prime Minister": in 1992 film Buried on Sunday, played by Louis Del Grande
Saddam Hussein in the episode of South Park "It's Christmas in Canada" from 2003.
Prime Minister Dallaire in The West Wing (episode 7.19). Unseen. (Possible reference to Senator Roméo Dallaire.)
Literature
Fictional
Jean-Jacques Charles: A Very Political Lady (1979) by Judy LaMarsh, said to be based on Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
Ross Hamilton: Party Favours (1997) by Jean Doe, said to be based on Brian Mulroney
Bobby Laurier: Party Favours (1997) by Jean Doe, said to be based on Jean Chrétien
Sir Henry Marwood: Pour la patrie (1895) by Jean-Paul Tardival, said to be based on Sir John A. Macdonald.
Barton McGarvie: Scribes and Scoundrels (1997) by George Galt, said to be based on Brian Mulroney.
Huntley McQueen: Two Solitudes (1945) by Hugh MacLennan, said to be based on William Lyon Mackenzie King.
April McTavish: Party Favours(1997) by Jean Doe, said to be based on Kim Campbell.
Perry Pleaser: Jacob Two Two and the Dinosaur (1987) by Mordecai Richler
The Prime Minister: S: Portrait of a Spy (1977) by Ian Adams, said to be based on Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
Jean Rioux: Party Favours (1997) by Jean Doe, said to be based on Paul Martin.
Carter Warden: A Very Political Lady (1979) by Judy LaMarsh, said to be based on John Turner.
As themselves
As of 2008 two sitting prime ministers have appeared as themselves on the CTV sitcom Corner Gas:
Paul Martin in the third-season episode "Fun Run"
Stephen Harper in the fourth season episode "Gopher It"
Several sitting prime ministers have also appeared as themselves on the CBC sketch comedy series Royal Canadian Air Farce, while Harper appeared in an instalment of the CBC satirical series The Rick Mercer Report.
Prime Minister impersonators
Radio and TV parodies
Royal Canadian Air Farce has portrayed several Prime Ministers
- Pierre Trudeau, played by Don Ferguson
- Joe Clark, played by Don Ferguson
- Brian Mulroney, played by Don Ferguson
- Kim Campbell, played by Luba Goy
- Jean Chrétien, played by Roger Abbott
- Paul Martin, played by Don Ferguson
- Stephen Harper, played by Craig Lauzon
Double Exposure has portrayed several Prime Ministers
- Joe Clark, played by Bob Robertson
- Jean Chrétien, played by Bob Robertson
- Pierre Trudeau, played by Bob Robertson
- Brian Mulroney, played by Bob Robertson
- Kim Campbell, played by Linda Cullen
Max Ferguson has portrayed several Prime Ministers on his radio shows
- Pierre Trudeau: on CBC Radio's Max Ferguson Show
- Lester Pearson: on CBC Radio's Rawhide and the Max Ferguson Show
- John Diefenbaker: on CBC Radio's Rawhide and the Max Ferguson Show
Further Information
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