The Queen’s Privy Council for Canada is a body of advisors to the Canadian sovereign, as set out by section 11 of the Constitution Act, 1867. The Queen’s Privy Council is composed of members appointed by the Governor General of Canada (and the Governor General may also remove members per the same section). Most of the Governor General’s functions are exercised only on the advice of the Queen’s Privy Council — per the principles of responsible government, however, normally only the advice of members of the Cabinet is considered (the Cabinet is actually just a committee of the Queen’s Privy Council).
Most appointments to the Queen’s Privy Council are routine, and go hand-in-hand with appointments to various positions in government; some of these positions include the Chief Justice of Canada, ministers, ministers of State, parliamentary secretaries, and a governor general at the end of a term. As the normally-sole constitutional advisor to the Governor General, the prime minister does of course have the discretion to select other eminent Canadians to recommend for appointment to the Queen’s Privy Council; these discretionery appointments can be used to grant access to sensitive Government documents (as many documents are accessible only to Privy Councillors), or simply as an honorary distinction.
Yesterday, on the advice of The Right Honourable Stephen Harper P.C., M.P. (Calgary Southwest), the Prime Minister, the Governor General appointed The Honourable Michael Ignatieff P.C., M.P. (Etobicoke Lakeshore), the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, to the Queen’s Privy Council, so as to enhance the Opposition Leader’s access to sensitive Government documents and more secretive Government briefings, as needed. As a Privy Councillor, he would be bound to keep any information received at such meetings secret.
Recent years have seen the appointments of a few opposition party leaders, including Stephen Harper (as he was appointed to the Queen’s Privy Council on the recommendation of The Right Honourable Stephen Harper P.C., the 21st Prime Minister, well before his accession to the prime ministership), and The Honourable Jack Layton P.C., M.P. (Toronto—Danforth), the Leader of the New Democratic Party, was also appointed on the advice of Paul Martin. A recommendation was suggested for Mr. Gilles Duceppe M.P. (Laurier—Sainte-Marie), the Leader of the Bloc Québécois, but the Bloc leader rejected the appointment because he opposes Canada’s constitutional monarchy.
Having been appointed to the Queen’s Privy Council and becoming a Privy Councillor, Mr. Ignatieff is now styled “The Honourable” permanently, and may use the post-nominals “P.C.” (standing for “Privy Councillor”) with his name on any correspondence. Decades ago, Privy Councillors also received precedence when catching the Speaker’s eye to speak in either House, but this practice has since been discontinued.
Most appointments to the Queen’s Privy Council are routine, and go hand-in-hand with appointments to various positions in government; some of these positions include the Chief Justice of Canada, ministers, ministers of State, parliamentary secretaries, and a governor general at the end of a term. As the normally-sole constitutional advisor to the Governor General, the prime minister does of course have the discretion to select other eminent Canadians to recommend for appointment to the Queen’s Privy Council; these discretionery appointments can be used to grant access to sensitive Government documents (as many documents are accessible only to Privy Councillors), or simply as an honorary distinction.
Yesterday, on the advice of The Right Honourable Stephen Harper P.C., M.P. (Calgary Southwest), the Prime Minister, the Governor General appointed The Honourable Michael Ignatieff P.C., M.P. (Etobicoke Lakeshore), the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, to the Queen’s Privy Council, so as to enhance the Opposition Leader’s access to sensitive Government documents and more secretive Government briefings, as needed. As a Privy Councillor, he would be bound to keep any information received at such meetings secret.
Recent years have seen the appointments of a few opposition party leaders, including Stephen Harper (as he was appointed to the Queen’s Privy Council on the recommendation of The Right Honourable Stephen Harper P.C., the 21st Prime Minister, well before his accession to the prime ministership), and The Honourable Jack Layton P.C., M.P. (Toronto—Danforth), the Leader of the New Democratic Party, was also appointed on the advice of Paul Martin. A recommendation was suggested for Mr. Gilles Duceppe M.P. (Laurier—Sainte-Marie), the Leader of the Bloc Québécois, but the Bloc leader rejected the appointment because he opposes Canada’s constitutional monarchy.
Having been appointed to the Queen’s Privy Council and becoming a Privy Councillor, Mr. Ignatieff is now styled “The Honourable” permanently, and may use the post-nominals “P.C.” (standing for “Privy Councillor”) with his name on any correspondence. Decades ago, Privy Councillors also received precedence when catching the Speaker’s eye to speak in either House, but this practice has since been discontinued.
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