President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada

"President of the Privy Council" redirects here. For the position in the United Kingdom, see Lord President of the Council.
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In the Canadian cabinet, the President of The Queen's Privy Council for Canada (French: President du Conseil privé de la Reine pour le Canada) is nominally in charge of the Privy Council Office. The President of the Privy Council also has the largely ceremonial duty of presiding over meetings of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, a body which only convenes in full for affairs of state such as the accession of a new Sovereign or the marriage of the Prince of Wales or heir presumptive to the Throne (see Monarchy in Canada). Accordingly the last time the President of the Privy Council had to preside over a meeting of the Privy Council was in 1981 on the occasion of The Prince of Wales' engagement to Lady Diana Spencer. It is the equivalent of the office of Lord President of the Council in the United Kingdom.

Under Prime Ministers Pierre Trudeau and Joe Clark the position was synonymous with that of Government House Leader. In 1989 the Government House Leader became a separate position and the President of the Privy Council became a largely honorary title (not unlike that of Deputy Prime Minister of Canada) given to a senior minister in addition to other portfolios. From 1993 to present, with the exception of a brief period from December 12, 2003 to July 19, 2004, it has been held by whoever holds the portfolio of Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. In the past decade the position has generally been seen to be the closest thing to a sinecure posting within the Cabinet.

Presidents of the Privy Council

1.Adam Johnston Fergusson Blairunder MacdonaldJuly 1, 1867 – December 29, 1867
 vacantunder MacdonaldDecember 30, 1867 – January 29, 1869
2.Joseph Howeunder MacdonaldJanuary 30, 1869 – November 15, 1869
3.Edward Kennyunder MacdonaldNovember 16, 1869 – June 20, 1870
4.Charles Tupperunder MacdonaldJune 21, 1870 – July 1, 1872
5.John O'Connorunder Macdonald July 2, 1872 – March 3, 1873
6.Hugh McDonald (politician)under Macdonald June 14, 1873 – June 30, 1873
7.Lucius Seth Huntingtonunder MackenzieJanuary 20, 1874 – October 8, 1875
8.Joseph Édouard Cauchonunder Mackenzie December 7, 1875 – June 7, 1877
9.Edward Blakeunder MackenzieJune 8, 1877 – January 17, 1878
10.John O'Connorunder MacdonaldOctober 17, 1878 – January 15, 1880
11.Louis François Rodrigue Massonunder MacdonaldJanuary 16, 1880 – July 31, 1880
12.Joseph-Alfred Mousseauunder MacdonaldNovember 8, 1880 – May 19, 1881
13.Archibald Woodbury McLelanunder MacdonaldMay 20, 1881 – July 9, 1882
14.John A. Macdonaldas PMOctober 17, 1883 – November 27, 1889
15.Charles Carrol Colbyunder MacdonaldNovember 28, 1889 – April 30, 1891
16.John Abbottas PM June 16, 1891 – November 24, 1892
17.William Bullock Ivesunder ThompsonDecember 7, 1892 – December 12, 1894
18.Mackenzie Bowellas PM December 21, 1894 – April 27, 1896
19.Auguste Réal Angersunder Tupper May 1, 1896 – July 8, 1896
20.Wilfrid Laurieras PM July 13, 1896 – October 6, 1911
21.Robert Laird Bordenas PM October 10, 1911 – October 12, 1917
22.Newton Wesley Rowellunder Borden October 12, 1917 – July 10, 1920
23.James Alexander Calderunder Meighen July 10, 1920 – September 20, 1921
24.Louis-Philippe Normandunder MeighenOctober 4, 1921 – December 28, 1921
25.William Lyon Mackenzie Kingas PMDecember 29, 1921 – June 28, 1926
26.Arthur Meighenas PMJune 29, 1926 – July 12, 1926
 William Lyon Mackenzie King (2nd time)as PMSeptember 25, 1926 – August 6, 1930
27.Richard Bedford Bennettas PMAugust 7, 1930 – October 22, 1935
 William Lyon Mackenzie King (3rd time)as PMOctober 23, 1935 – November 14, 1948
28.Louis Saint-Laurentas PMNovember 15, 1948 – April 24, 1957
29.Lionel Chevrierunder St-LaurentApril 25, 1957 – June 20, 1957
 vacantunder DiefenbakerJune 21, 1957 – December 27, 1961
30.Noël Dorionunder DiefenbakerDecember 28, 1961 – July 5, 1962
31.John George Diefenbakeras PMDecember 21, 1962 – April 22, 1963
32.Maurice Lamontagneunder PearsonApril 22, 1963 – February 2, 1964
33.George James McIlraithunder PearsonFebruary 3, 1964 – July 6, 1965
34.Guy Favreauunder PearsonJuly 7, 1965 – April 3, 1967
35.Walter L. Gordonunder PearsonApril 4, 1967 – March 10, 1968
*Pierre Trudeau (Acting)under PearsonMarch 11, 1968 – April 20, 1968
*Pierre Trudeau (Acting) (cont'd)as PMApril 20, 1968 – May 1, 1968
*Allan MacEachen (Acting)under TrudeauMay 2, 1968 – July 5, 1968
36.Donald Stovel Macdonaldunder TrudeauJuly 6, 1968 – September 23, 1970
37.Allan MacEachenunder TrudeauSeptember 24, 1970 – August 7, 1974
38.Mitchell Sharp under TrudeauAugust 8, 1974 – September 13, 1976
 Allan MacEachen (2nd time)under TrudeauSeptember 14, 1976 – June 3, 1979
39.Walter David Baker under ClarkJune 4, 1979 – March 2, 1980
40.Yvon Pinard under TrudeauMarch 3, 1980 – June 29, 1984
41.André Ouellet under TurnerJune 30, 1984 – September 6, 1984
42.Erik Nielsen under MulroneySeptember 7, 1984 – February 26, 1985
43.Ramon John Hnatyshyn under Mulroney February 27, 1985 – June 29, 1986
44.Don Mazankowski under Mulroney June 30, 1986 – April 20, 1991
45.Joe Clark under Mulroney April 21, 1991 – June 24, 1993
46.Pierre Blais under Campbell June 25, 1993 – November 3, 1993
47.Marcel Massé under Chrétien November 4, 1993 – January 24, 1996
48.Stéphane Dion under Chrétien January 25, 1996 – December 11, 2003
49.Denis Coderre under Martin December 12, 2003 – July 19, 2004
50.Lucienne Robillard under MartinJuly 20, 2004 – February 5, 2006
51.Michael Chong under HarperFebruary 6, 2006 – November 27, 2006
52.Peter Van Loan under HarperNovember 27, 2006 – January 3, 2007
53.Rona Ambrose under HarperJanuary 4, 2007 – October 30, 2008
54.Josée Vernerunder HarperOctober 30, 2008 – May 18, 2011
55.Peter Penashueunder HarperMay 18, 2011- March 14, 2013
56.Denis Lebelunder HarperMarch 15, 2013 -

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