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Former Clerks of the Privy Council
The Privy Council Office was established in 1867 when the Governor General appointed the very first Clerk, William Henry Lee. Under the Constitution Act of 1867, however, the PCO was only responsible for preparing and registering orders in council. It was only in 1940 that the secretariat was formed when Arnold Heeney was appointed Secretary to the Cabinet. In 1992, the Clerk of the Privy Council was further recognized as the Head of the Public Service under the Public Service Employment Act.
Since 1867, there have been a total of 21 Clerks of the Privy Council. You can read more about each of the former Clerks below.
Clerk of the Privy Council, Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Public Service of Canada[more from Kevin G. Lynch]
March 2006 - to June 2009
Clerk of the Privy Council[more from Alex Himelfarb]
and Secretary to the Cabinet
May 13, 2002 to March 5, 2006
Clerk of the Privy Council[more from Mel Cappe]
and Secretary to the Cabinet
January 18, 1999 to May 12, 2002
The Honourable Jocelyne Bourgon, P.C., O.C.[more from Jocelyne Bourgon]
Clerk of the Privy Council and
Secretary to the Cabinet
March 28, 1994 to January 17, 1999
Appointed Member of the Queen's Privy Council, December 14, 1998
Clerk of the Privy Council and[more from Glen Scott Shortliffe]
Secretary to the Cabinet
July 1st, 1992 to March 27, 1994
The Honourable Paul M. Tellier, P.C., C.C.[more from Paul M. Tellier]
Clerk of the Privy Council and
Secretary to the Cabinet
August 12, 1985 to June 30, 1992
Appointed Member of the Queen's Privy Council, July 1, 1992
The Honourable Gordon Francis Joseph Osbaldeston, P.C., C.C.[more from Gordon Francis Joseph Osbaldeston]
Clerk of the Privy Council and
Secretary to the Cabinet
December 10, 1982 to August 11, 1985
Appointed Member of the Queen's Privy Council, February 13, 1986
The Honourable Marcel Massé, P.C., O.C., Q.C.[more from Marcel Massé]
Clerk of the Privy Council and
Secretary to the Cabinet
June 5, 1979 to March 10, 1980
Appointed Member of the Queen's Privy Council, November 4, 1993
The Honourable Peter Michael Pitfield, P.C., C.V.O, Q.C.[more from Peter Michael Pitfield]
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet
January 16, 1975 to June 4, 1979
March 11, 1980 to December 9, 1982
Appointed Member of the Queen's Privy Council, March 19, 1984
The Honourable Robert Gordon Robertson, P.C., C.C.[more from Robert Gordon Robertson]
Clerk of the Privy Council and
Secretary to the Cabinet
July 1, 1963 to January 15, 1975
Appointed Member of the Queen's Privy Council, March 2, 1982
The Honourable Robert Broughton Bryce, P.C., C.C.[more from Robert Broughton Bryce]
Clerk of the Privy Council and
Secretary to the Cabinet
January 1, 1954 to June 30, 1963
Appointed Member of the Queen's Privy Council, April 19, 1984
The Right Honourable John Witney Pickersgill, P.C., C.C.[more from John Witney Pickersgill]
Clerk of the Privy Council and
Secretary to the Cabinet
June 1, 1952 to June 1, 1953
Appointed Member of the Queen's Privy Council, June 12, 1953
Norman Alexander Robertson, C.C.[more from Norman Alexander Robertson]
Clerk of the Privy Council and
Secretary to the Cabinet
March 15, 1949 to May 31, 1952
Arnold Danford Patrick (A.D.P.) Heeney, C.C.[more from Arnold Danford Patrick Heeney]
Clerk of the Privy Council and
Secretary to the Cabinet
March 25, 1940 to March 14, 1949
Clerk of the Privy Council[more from Ernest Joseph Lemaire]
August 14, 1923 to January 1st, 1940
Clerk of the Privy Council[more from Rodolphe Boudreau]
May 6, 1907 to August 4, 1923
Clerk of the Queen's Privy Council[more from John Joseph McGee]
May 20, 1882 to May 5, 1907
Clerk of the Queen's Privy Council[more from Joseph Olivier Côté]
January 13, 1880 to April 24, 1882
Clerk of the Queen's Privy Council[more from William Alfred Himsworth]
July 1, 1872 to January 7, 1880
Clerk of the Queen's Privy Council[more from William Henry Lee]
July 1, 1867 to June 30, 1872