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.