Deputy Prime Minister of Canada
1977 to Date
The designation, Deputy Prime Minister, is strictly an honorary title conferred at the discretion of the Prime Minister on a member of the Cabinet. It has no standing in law, and does not carry any formal duties or tasks, though the Prime Minister may negotiate or assign specific tasks in conjunction with the title.
The title originates with Prime Minister Trudeau who first coined it when he designated the Hon. Allan J. MacEachen Deputy Prime Minister as well as Government House leader in an interview with the press subsequent to the nomination of his Cabinet, September 16th, 1977. Since then there has been only the Rt. Hon. Joe Clark who has never named a Deputy Prime Minister.
From the Hon. Erik Nielsen's designation as Deputy Prime Minister, current practice holds that this title be assigned by "instrument of advice". An instrument of advice is essentially a private letter addressed to the Crown or its duly appointed representative, the Governor General, by the Prime Minister directly. Instruments of advice are usually used when the Prime Minister wishes to inform or solicit the Crown in matters related to the Royal Prerogative. In Canada, there are in general 5 instances where this applies: 1. Dissolution of Parliament - recommendation and request of consent; 2. Nominations to the Cabinet and Senate; 3. Appointment of a Governor General; 4. Grants under the Queen's own personal fund; 5. Changes to the Crowns prerogative - e.g. garnishment of civil servants wages.
Instruments are not public and are not gazetted, though they may lead to a notice which is gazetted. At present, PCO retains all instruments from 1953 on. Instruments prior to this period have been transferred to the Public Archives where they may be consulted.
SOURCES:
- House of Commons Debates and Journals;
- Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation, July 1, 1867 - February 1, 1982;
- Supplement to Guide to Canadian Ministries, 1980 to date;
- press releases and press clippings.
28th Ministry
- HARPER, Stephen Joseph
27th Ministry
- MARTIN, Paul Edgar Philippe
MCLELLAN, A. Anne |
Written into instrument of advice |
2003.12.12 - 2006.02.05 |
Other portfolios:
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
26th Ministry
- CHRÉTIEN, Joseph Jacques Jean
MANLEY, John Paul |
Written into instrument of advice |
2002.01.15 - 2003.12.11 |
Other portfolios:
Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations
Minister with political responsibility for Ontario
Minister of Finance
Minister of Infrastructure
GRAY, Herbert Eser (Herb) |
Written into instrument of advice |
1997.06.11 - 2002.01.14 |
Other portfolios:
Minister responsible for the Millenium Bureau of Canada
COPPS, Sheila Maureen |
Written into instrument of advice |
1996.06.19 - 1997.06.10 |
Other portfolios:
Minister of Communications
Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship
Minister of Canadian Heritage
COPPS, Sheila Maureen |
Written into instrument of advice |
1993.11.04 - 1996.04.30 |
Other portfolios:
Minister of the Environment
Minister of Communications
Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship
25th Ministry
- CAMPBELL, A. Kim
CHAREST, Jean J. |
Written into instrument of advice |
1993.06.25 - 1993.11.03 |
Other portfolios:
Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs
Minister of Industry, Science and Technology
Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development - Quebec
24th Ministry
- MULRONEY, Martin Brian
MAZANKOWSKI, Donald Frank |
Written into instrument of advice |
1986.06.30 - 1993.06.24 |
Other portfolios:
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
President of the Privy Council
Progressive Conservative Party House Leader
Minister responsible for Privatization and Regulatory Affairs
President of the Treasury Board
Minister of Agriculture
Minister of Finance
NIELSEN, Erik |
Written into instrument of advice |
1984.09.17 - 1986.06.29 |
Other portfolios:
President of the Privy Council
Minister of National Defence
Acting Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
23rd Ministry
- TURNER, John Napier
CHRÉTIEN, Joseph Jacques Jean |
|
1984.06.30 - 1984.09.16 |
Other portfolios:
Minister responsible for La Francophonie
Secretary of State for External Affairs
22nd Ministry
- TRUDEAU, Pierre Elliott
MACEACHEN, Allan Joseph |
|
1980.03.03 - 1984.06.29 |
Other portfolios:
Minister of Finance
Secretary of State for External Affairs
21st Ministry
- CLARK, Charles Joseph (Joe)
20th Ministry
- TRUDEAU, Pierre Elliott
MACEACHEN, Allan Joseph |
|
1977.09.16 - 1979.06.03 |
Other portfolios:
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Liberal Party House Leader
President of the Privy Council
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