Prime Minister of Canada | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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minister."},{"filename":"ffcad153-bc06-4c51-b9a1-de66b2b6cc7b","title":"William Lyon Mackenzie King, politician and prime minister","alt":"William Lyon Mackenzie King, politician and prime minister","source":"(courtesy Library and Archives Canada\/PA-13886)","creator":"","caption":"W.L.M. King during the election campaign of 1926."},{"filename":"b986c81a-40a2-47a7-b7a1-4665377e2f5f","title":"Sir Wilfrid Laurier Campaigning","alt":"Sir Wilfrid Laurier Campaigning","source":"(courtesy Library and Archives Canada\/C-5598)","creator":"","caption":"Laurier ran successful campaigns for prime minister in 1896, 1900, 1904 and 1908."},{"filename":"3217b36a-f0cf-4108-91d7-0d45276492fc","title":"Political Debate","alt":"Political Debate","source":"(photo by Fred Chartrand)","creator":null,"caption":"John Turner and Brian Mulroney during their acrimonious television debate."},{"filename":"b31ca29f-26f7-4622-a011-31d66b4c1d33","title":"Richard Bedford Bennett, politician","alt":"Richard Bedford Bennett, politician","source":"(courtesy Library and Archives Canada\/e000009295)","creator":"","caption":"By 1933, the nadir of the Depression, R.B. Bennett seemed indecisive and ineffective. He became the butt of endless jokes."},{"filename":"434669d3-2631-4da9-8bd7-e2267bcb8132","title":null,"alt":null,"source":null,"creator":null,"caption":null},{"filename":"d1511017-0a1e-490f-ab6e-1309ab5009d6","title":"Joe Clark, politician","alt":"Joe Clark, politician","source":"(photo by John de Visser)","creator":"","caption":"Joe Clark at the PC Convention at which he won his party's leadership."},{"filename":"8e3d9f10-33cf-495f-83a6-b96b3c73ecfc","title":"Sir Charles Tupper","alt":"Sir Charles Tupper","source":"Courtesy Library and Archives Canada\/C-10109","creator":"","caption":"Sir Charles Tupper was a delegate to all the Confederation conferences. He served the shortest tenure as prime minister in Canadian history."},{"filename":"e267e51e-7b20-4bdd-94f2-0270f8c586e1","title":"Pierre Trudeau","alt":"Pierre Trudeau","source":"(courtesy Canapress)","creator":"","caption":"Trudeau triumphant after the 1980 election, determined to bring the constitution home to Canada."},{"filename":"8e4e5eca-bd2f-4e2d-acec-3d6de93b9f09","title":"Sir Mackenzie Bowell","alt":"Sir Mackenzie Bowell","source":"(courtesy National Archives of Canada\/PA-27159)","creator":"","caption":"Bowell began his career with vigorous Orange prejudices, but by the 1880s his fighting spirit was subsumed within Conservative politics and his Orange positions had softened."},{"filename":"b8c2b09d-08cb-4cc6-9ab1-14fbf2004996","title":"Diefenbaker, John","alt":"Diefenbaker, John","source":"(photo by Louis Jacques, courtesy Library and Archives Canada\/C-080883)","creator":null,"caption":"John G. Diefenbaker MP, speaking in the House of Commons in 1948."},{"filename":"cda6731e-f084-4f56-906c-61f83388c82d","title":"Five Prime Ministers","alt":"Five Prime Ministers","source":"Photo by Paul Couvrette, courtesy Library and Archives Canada\/PA-197391","creator":"Paul Couvrette","caption":"In October 1994 the National Archives of Canada (now Library and Archives Canada) commissioned this portrait to commemorate the launch of an education kit on the theme of Canada's Prime Ministers. From Left to right are Pierre Trudeau, John Turner, Kim Campbell, Jean Chr\u00e9tien and Joe Clark. \r\n"},{"filename":"fd9ecb0a-3428-478d-82b9-9ee8adee2d13","title":"Swearing-In Ceremony","alt":"Swearing-In Ceremony","source":"(photo by Sgt Eric Jolin, courtesy Rideau Hall)","creator":null,"caption":"The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, left, was sworn in as Canada's 22nd Prime Minister at Rideau Hall on 6 February 2006.\r\r\r\r."},{"filename":"4c904e89-f9f2-4707-880d-4076ffc2a3ae","title":"Sir John A. Macdonald","alt":"Sir John A. Macdonald","source":"(photo by William James Topley, courtesy Library and Archives Canada\/c-10144)","creator":"","caption":"Sir John Alexander Macdonald, lawyer, businessman and the first prime minister of Canada."},{"filename":"0376150e-362a-4cb4-a0be-dc72f0d43179","title":"Meighen, Arthur","alt":"Meighen, Arthur","source":"(Library and Archives Canada \/ C-005799)","creator":null,"caption":"Meighen was unequalled as a parliamentary debater."},{"filename":"d67b130c-49d1-49cc-b96e-7a5d1e9c220a","title":"Jean Chr\u00e9tien","alt":"Jean Chr\u00e9tien","source":"(Portrait of Jean Chr\u00e9tien by Jean-Marc Carisse)","creator":"","caption":""},{"filename":"aa001b3e-65ca-45f5-a639-53900478c5c4","title":null,"alt":null,"source":null,"creator":null,"caption":null},{"filename":"5df52fa3-73b2-41b8-bee2-e20d15ed0875","title":"Justin Trudeau","alt":"Justin Trudeau","source":null,"creator":null,"caption":""},{"filename":"5ce5b590-ecca-4402-9f88-710b5f6f6dad","title":null,"alt":null,"source":null,"creator":null,"caption":null},{"filename":"26812cd3-cf59-4883-969f-4a33274d0ac8","title":null,"alt":null,"source":null,"creator":null,"caption":null},{"filename":"2fac9a24-cab6-4ed8-8bff-b29ca22bb5be","title":null,"alt":null,"source":null,"creator":null,"caption":null}]"> <main class="main-grid"> <article class="article main-grid__content"> <input type="hidden" id="isUserLogin" name="loginuser" value=""> <aside id="articlewidgets" class="article-widgets"> <input type="checkbox" class="menu-open" name="menu-open" id="menu-open"/> <label class="widget-open-button" for="menu-open"> <span class="dot--1"></span> <span class="dot--2"></span> <span class="dot--3"></span> </label> <button data-target="popup-citation" data-toggle="modal" class="widget-item articleNavPopupEvent"> <div class="widget-item__icon--citation"></div> <span class="widget-item__title">Citation</span> </button> <button data-toggle="modal" class="widget-item articleNavPopupEvent js-edit-submit"> <div class="widget-item__icon--edit"></div> <span class="widget-item__title">Suggest an Edit</span> </button> <button data-target="popup-translation" data-toggle="modal" class="widget-item articleNavPopupEvent js-translation"> <div class="widget-item__icon--translate"></div> <span class="widget-item__title">Request Translation</span> </button> <button id="popup-translation__original" class="widget-item hide-widget"> <div class="widget-item__icon--revert"></div> <span class="widget-item__title">Revert to original</span> </button> </aside> <div id="popup-translation" class="modal"> <div class="popup-wrapper"> <div class="popup-content"> <div class="popup-title"> <div role="heading">Request a Translation</div> <div> <a class="popup-close" data-dismiss="modal"></a> </div> </div> <div class="g-recaptcha" data-sitekey="'6LeIWwglAAAAANriZBXJ8HgScx2u6jGAx0gY0GKm'" data-callback="onSubmit" data-size="invisible"> </div> <div class="popup-body"> <div id="translation-language-picker"> <translation-select recaptcha-site-key="6LeIWwglAAAAANriZBXJ8HgScx2u6jGAx0gY0GKm" slug=prime-minister locale=en></translation-select> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="translation-rating-snackbar"> <translation-rating show-rating=0 slug=prime-minister></translation-rating> </div> <div id="popup-edit" class="modal"> <div class="popup-wrapper"> <div class="popup-content"> <div class="popup-title"> <div>Suggest an Edit</div> <div> <a class="popup-close" data-dismiss="modal"></a> </div> </div> <div class="popup-body"> <div class="contact-form edit-form"> <div class="form-error-list"> <ul></ul> </div> <form method="POST" action="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/submitArticle" accept-charset="UTF-8" class="form form-submit-edit form-main"><input name="_token" type="hidden" value="r1C1AFMp4AWfgK7fkmU7Ag6jRLZ1XtKWomtjv1uf"> <input name="aid" type="hidden" value="86043"> <input name="edit" type="hidden" value="true"> <div class="input-group "> <label for="description">Enter your suggested edit(s) to this article in the form field below</label> <textarea id="text-editor" class="form-control input input-fullSpan" placeholder="Write your message here..." name="description" cols="50" rows="10"></textarea> </div> <div class="btn-container"> <div> <input class="disabled js-submitedit-submit b b-md b-invert" type="submit" value="Submit"> </div> <div> <a href="#" data-dismiss="modal" class="js-popup-close b-link">Cancel</a> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="popup-citation" class="modal"> <div class="popup-wrapper"> <div class="popup-content"> <div class="popup-title"> <div> Citation </div> <div> <a class="popup-close" data-dismiss="modal"></a> </div> </div> <div class="popup-body"> <ul class="list"> <li> <ul class="citation-reference"> <input id="copy1" type="text" value="MLA 8TH EDITION | McIntosh, Andrew and W.A. 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Matheson</a> </span> </p> <p class="info-text">Updated by <span class="info-text__value"> Richard Foot, Andrew McIntosh </span> </p> </div> <div class="article-info__column"> <p class="info-text">Published Online <span class="info-text__value--date"> April 8, 2009 </span> </p> <p class="info-text">Last Edited <span class="info-text__value--date"> September 8, 2022 </span> </p> </div> </div> <div class="article-toolbar"> <button data-target="popup-share" data-toggle="modal" class="article-toolbar__item articleNavPopupEvent"> <div class="article-toolbar__item__icon--share"></div> <span class="article-toolbar__item__title">Share</span> </button> <button id="js-print" class="article-toolbar__item"> <div class="article-toolbar__item__icon--print"></div> <span class="article-toolbar__item__title">Print</span> </button> </div> <div class="article-content"> <div class="article-content__summary"> <p>The prime minister (PM) is the head of the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/federal-government/">federal government</a>. It is the most powerful position in Canadian <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/politics">politics</a>. Prime ministers are not specifically elected to the position; instead, the PM is typically the leader of the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/party-system">party</a> that has the most seats in the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/house-of-commons/">House of Commons</a>. The prime minister controls the governing party and speaks for it; names <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/senate/">senators</a> and senior judges for appointment; and appoints and dismisses all members of <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cabinet/">Cabinet</a>. As chair of Cabinet, the PM controls its agenda and greatly influences the activities and priorities of <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/parliament/">Parliament</a>. In recent years, a debate has emerged about the growing power of prime ministers, and whether this threatens other democratic institutions.</p> </div> <div class="article-content-body"> <div id="article-content-def"> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/5df52fa3-73b2-41b8-bee2-e20d15ed0875.jpg" title="Justin Trudeau" alt="Justin Trudeau"> <br> </div> <h3>History</h3> <p>The head of the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/federal-government/">federal government</a> in Canada is called the prime minister. The heads of <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/provincial-government/">provincial governments</a> are called <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/premier/">premiers</a>. The two terms mean the same thing — first minister or chief minister. Canada adopted the title <em>prime minister</em> from Britain. That country also provided the model for our Westminster <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/parliament/">parliamentary</a> system. (<em>See </em><a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/collection/baldwin-and-lafontaine">Responsible Government</a>; <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/representative-government">Representative Government</a>.)</p> <p>Canada has had 23 different prime ministers since <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/confederation/">Confederation</a>. <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-john-alexander-macdonald/">Sir John A. Macdonald</a> (who held office from 1867–73 and 1878–91) was the first. <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/justin-trudeau/">Justin Trudeau</a> (2015–) is the most recent. <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/">William Lyon Mackenzie King</a> (December 1921–June 1926; September 1926–August 1930; October 1935–November 1948) was prime minister the longest: 21 years, five months. <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-wilfrid-laurier/">Wilfrid Laurier</a> (1896–1911) was in office for the longest continuous period: 15 years. <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-charles-tupper/">Sir Charles Tupper</a> (May 1896–July 1896) held office for the shortest period: 68 days. <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/kim-campbell/">Kim Campbell</a> (June–November 1993) has been the country’s only female prime minister.</p> <p>Prime ministers have come from across the country, and across the sea. Macdonald and his successor, <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alexander-mackenzie/">Alexander Mackenzie</a>, were both born in Scotland. <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-mackenzie-bowell/">Mackenzie Bowell</a> and <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/john-turner/">John Turner</a> were born in England. <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-john-abbott/">Sir John Abbott</a>, from <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lower-canada/">Lower Canada</a> (now <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec/">Quebec</a>), became the first Canadian-born prime minister in 1891. Quebec and <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario/">Ontario</a> have provided the most prime ministers — seven and six, respectively. As yet, there have been no prime ministers who were born in <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan/">Saskatchewan</a>, <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/">Manitoba</a>, <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prince-edward-island/">Prince Edward Island</a>, <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/timeline/newfoundland-and-labrador">Newfoundland and Labrador</a>, or any of the territories.</p> <div> <br> </div> <div class="slider"> <div class="bxslider"> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/4c904e89-f9f2-4707-880d-4076ffc2a3ae.jpg" title="Macdonald, Sir John A." alt="Macdonald, Sir John A."> <figcaption>Sir John Alexander Macdonald, lawyer, businessman and the first prime minister of Canada (photo by William James Topley, courtesy Library and Archives Canada/c-10144).\r\n</figcaption> </div> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/050ee66e-a469-4a55-a5f4-80ebfb3edbc9.jpg" title="Mackenzie, Alexander " alt="Mackenzie, Alexander "> <figcaption>Alexander Mackenzie was Canada's second prime minister (photo courtesy Library and Archives Canada/C-20052).</figcaption> </div> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/8e4e5eca-bd2f-4e2d-acec-3d6de93b9f09.jpg" title="Bowell, Sir Mackenzie" alt="Bowell, Sir Mackenzie"> <figcaption>Bowell began his career with vigorous Orange prejudices, but by the 1880s his fighting spirit was subsumed within Conservative politics and his Orange positions had softened (courtesy National Archives of Canada/PA-27159).</figcaption> </div> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/8e3d9f10-33cf-495f-83a6-b96b3c73ecfc.jpg" title="Sir Charles Tupper, politician and former prime minister" alt="Sir Charles Tupper, politician and former prime minister"> <figcaption>Sir Charles Tupper was a delegate to all the Confederation conferences. He served the shortest tenure as PM in Canadian history (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/C-10109).</figcaption> </div> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/b986c81a-40a2-47a7-b7a1-4665377e2f5f.jpg" title="Sir Wilfrid Laurier Campaigning" alt="Sir Wilfrid Laurier Campaigning"> <figcaption>Laurier ran successful campaigns for PM in 1896, 1900, 1904 and 1908 (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/C-5598).</figcaption> </div> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/5ce5b590-ecca-4402-9f88-710b5f6f6dad.jpg" title="Robert Borden" alt="Robert Borden"> <figcaption>Sir Robert Laird Borden. Image courtesy of Library and Archives Canada/C-00170.</figcaption> </div> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/b31ca29f-26f7-4622-a011-31d66b4c1d33.jpg" title="Richard Bedford Bennett, politician" alt="Richard Bedford Bennett, politician"> <figcaption>By 1933, the nadir of the Depression, R.B. Bennett seemed indecisive and ineffective. He became the butt of endless jokes. </figcaption> </div> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/ffcad153-bc06-4c51-b9a1-de66b2b6cc7b.jpg" title="William Lyon Mackenzie King, politician and prime minister" alt="William Lyon Mackenzie King, politician and prime minister"> <figcaption>W.L.M. King during the election campaign of 1926 (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/PA-13886).</figcaption> </div> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/0376150e-362a-4cb4-a0be-dc72f0d43179.jpg" title="Meighen, Arthur" alt="Meighen, Arthur"> <figcaption>Meighen was unequalled as a parliamentary debater (Library and Archives Canada / C-005799)</figcaption> </div> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/434669d3-2631-4da9-8bd7-e2267bcb8132.jpg" title="" alt=""> <figcaption>Liberal campaign poster for Louis St. Laurent. Image: Library and Archives Canada/R1300-207.\r\n</figcaption> </div> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/b8c2b09d-08cb-4cc6-9ab1-14fbf2004996.jpg" title="Diefenbaker, John" alt="Diefenbaker, John"> <figcaption>John G. Diefenbaker MP, speaking in the House of Commons in 1948 (photo by Louis Jacques, courtesy Library and Archives Canada/C-080883).</figcaption> </div> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/26812cd3-cf59-4883-969f-4a33274d0ac8.jpg" title="Lester B. Pearson" alt="Lester B. Pearson"> <figcaption>Lester B. Pearson in Ottawa, Ontario, 1945-68. Copyright: Duncan Cameron/Library and Archives Canada/PA-212238.</figcaption> </div> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/e267e51e-7b20-4bdd-94f2-0270f8c586e1.jpg" title="Pierre Trudeau" alt="Pierre Trudeau"> <figcaption>Trudeau triumphant after the 1980 election, determined to bring the constitution home to Canada (courtesy Canapress).</figcaption> </div> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/d1511017-0a1e-490f-ab6e-1309ab5009d6.jpg" title="Joe Clark, politician" alt="Joe Clark, politician"> <figcaption>Joe Clark at the PC Convention at which he won his party's leadership (photo by John de Visser).</figcaption> </div> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/3217b36a-f0cf-4108-91d7-0d45276492fc.jpg" title="Political Debate" alt="Political Debate"> <figcaption>John Turner and Brian Mulroney during their acrimonious television debate (photo by Fred Chartrand).</figcaption> </div> <div> <img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/thumbnails/aa001b3e-65ca-45f5-a639-53900478c5c4.jpg" data-url="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/d67b130c-49d1-49cc-b96e-7a5d1e9c220a.jpg" data="{" url="" ":=" " "https:="" d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net="" media="" d67b130c-49d1-49cc-b96e-7a5d1e9c220a.jpg="" ",=" " "pk="" 5995,=" " "model=" " "core.media="" "content_class=" " "image="" "fields=" " {"source_fr="" null,=" " "source_en=" " "caption_fr="" "(portrait=" " de=" " jean=" " chrétien=" " par=" " jean-marc=" " carisse).=" " "title_en="" "chrétien,=" " "caption_en="" "the=" " \=" " "little=" " guy=" " from=" " shawinigan\="" "=" " spoke=" " fractured=" " english=" " -=" " and=" " french=" " but=" " he=" " was=" " an=" " astute=" " politician=" ></div> <div><img src=" https:="" 198a56f2-602f-43cc-a07c-7a30f9de26a4.jpg="" title="Martin, Paul Edgar Philippe " alt="Martin, Paul Edgar Philippe "> <figcaption>Jean Chrétien, former prime minister of Canada and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, 1993-2003 (courtesy Liberal Party of Canada).\r\n</figcaption> </div> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/fd9ecb0a-3428-478d-82b9-9ee8adee2d13.jpg " title="Swearing-In Ceremony " alt="Swearing-In Ceremony "> <figcaption>The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, left, was sworn in as Canada's 22nd Prime Minister at Rideau Hall on 6 February 2006 (photo by Sgt Eric Jolin, courtesy Rideau Hall).\r\n\r\n</figcaption> </div> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/5df52fa3-73b2-41b8-bee2-e20d15ed0875.jpg " title="Justin Trudeau " alt="Justin Trudeau "></div> </div> <div class="bxslider-controls "><a href="# " class="bx-prev ">Previous</a><a href="# " class="bx-next ">Next</a></div> </div> <h3>Who Becomes Prime Minister?</h3> <p>Formally, a prime minister is appointed by the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/governor-general/ ">governor general</a>. The governor general has little discretion in the matter; except in a crisis, such as the death of an incumbent prime minister.</p> <p>Prime ministers are not specifically elected to the position. Instead, the PM is the leader of the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/party-system ">party</a> that has the right to govern because it enjoys the confidence (or support) of the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/house-of-commons/ ">House of Commons</a>. Usually, the prime minister is elected to a seat in the House as a <a href="https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/member-of-parliament ">Member of Parliament</a> (MP). Party leaders can become prime minister even if they are not members of Parliament; however, they would normally seek a seat as soon as possible in a general election or a by-election.</p> <p>Usually, though not always, the prime minister’s party would have the most seats in the House following a general election. If a prime minister’s party has a majority of seats, his or her government typically holds power for up to four years (or five years, before 2007). A new election must then be called. Prime ministers whose governments last less than four years typically command only a minority of seats in the House. (<em>See</em> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/minority-government/ ">Minority Governments in Canada</a>.) The <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/constitution ">Constitution</a> requires that general elections be held at least every five years. In 2007, <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/parliament ">Parliament</a> passed a fixed-date election law; it says that a general election will be held on the third Monday in October every four years.</p> <h3>Powers and Responsibilities</h3> <p>The position and responsibilities of a prime minister are not defined in any written <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/law ">law</a> or constitutional document; they instead adhere to <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/constitution#ConstitutionalConventions ">constitutional conventions</a>. The prime minister has always been the most powerful position in Canadian <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/politics ">politics</a>. The PM controls the governing party and speaks for it. After being appointed to office, they have at their disposal a large number of <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/patronage/ ">patronage</a> appointments. They use these to reward the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/party-system ">party</a> faithful. The prime minister names <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/senate/ ">senators</a> and senior judges for appointment. They also appoint and dismisses all members of <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cabinet/ ">Cabinet</a> — through the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/governor-general ">governor general</a> — and determine their responsibilities.</p> <p>As chair of Cabinet, the prime minister controls the agenda and discussions at meetings. They also select the members of Cabinet <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/committees/ ">committees</a>. Because of these factors, and the convention of party solidarity, the PM has great influence over the activities and agenda of <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/parliament/ ">Parliament</a>.</p> <p>The prime minister also enjoys a special relationship with the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/crown/ ">Crown</a>. The prime minister is the only person who can consult with the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/governor-general/ ">governor general</a>, and advise the governor general to dissolve or <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prorogation-in-canada ">prorogue</a> Parliament and call an election. Political reality, various conventions, and the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/constitution/ ">Constitution</a> sometimes limit the power of the prime minister. The PM must be wary of offending the various <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/regionalism ">regions</a> of the country. They must also be able to conciliate competing factions within the party and the Cabinet, and throughout Canada.</p> <p>Neither the prime minister, nor the federal Parliament, have the power to unilaterally amend or defy the rules of the Constitution, the country’s highest law. This can only be done with the consent of the provinces. However, prime ministers can convene meetings with the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/premier ">premiers</a> to discuss and negotiate constitutional change, or any national issue. (<em>See</em> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-ministers-conferences ">First Ministers Conferences</a>.)</p> <p>The prime minister has offices in both the Centre Block of <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/parliament-buildings ">Parliament Hill</a>, and in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Privy Council Office (formerly the Langevin Block) on Wellington Street, across from Parliament. The official residence for the prime minister and his or her family is at <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/24-sussex-drive/ ">24 Sussex Drive</a>, in Ottawa. It is across the road from <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/rideau-hall/ ">Rideau Hall</a>, where the governor general lives.</p><div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/2fac9a24-cab6-4ed8-8bff-b29ca22bb5be.jpg " title="2fac9a24-cab6-4ed8-8bff-b29ca22bb5be " alt="2fac9a24-cab6-4ed8-8bff-b29ca22bb5be "></div><h3><span>Concentration of Power</span></h3> <p> As constitutional expert <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/eugene-forsey/ ">Eugene Forsey</a> writes in <em>How Canadians Govern Themselves</em> (published in 1980): "The Prime Minister used to be described as 'the first among equals' in the Cabinet. [. . .] This is no longer so. He or she is now incomparably more powerful than any colleague. " </p> <p> The power of prime ministers, even those with large majority governments, was once kept in check by the need to build consensus with other leading members of <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cabinet/ ">Cabinet</a> and of the governing party, including those who represented various ideological wings of the party, or different regions of the country. Other institutions, including Parliament itself and the federal bureaucracy, as well as the provincial premiers, also acted as limits on prime ministerial power. </p> <p> Prime ministers have always enjoyed considerable control over government. Since the 1970s, however, a number of factors have weakened Canada's democratic institutions and expanded the power of prime ministers. The increasing complexity of government has restricted Parliament's power to scrutinize and understand federal taxation and spending and has boosted the size and scope of the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prime-ministers-office/ ">Prime Minister's Office</a> (PMO). The 24-hour information age and the pressures of social media have fuelled political partisanship and the desire for increased control over government communications. Where Cabinet ministers once had responsibility for managing policies and programs out of their various departments, today most issues and programs — and almost all communications — are managed and directed by the unelected staff inside the PMO. </p> <p> At the same time, political parties have become less democratic, less locally-controlled by riding associations, and more centrally controlled by the party leader and his or her advisers, giving the prime minister almost sole control over not just the government, but his or her own party. </p> <p> Prime ministers of all political stripes, from <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/pierre-elliott-trudeau/ ">Pierre Trudeau</a> to <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/stephen-joseph-harper/ ">Stephen Harper</a>, have defended the increasing power of their positions and their offices as the necessary requirements of running a modern democratic state. Political scientist and author Donald Savoie, a critic of such concentrated power, argues that Canada's democracy is suffering as a result. </p> <p> "With Parliament losing relevance, with regional ministers no longer enjoying standing either inside government or in their region, " wrote Savoie in 2015, "we have reached the point where our national political and bureaucratic institutions have lost their way. " </p> <p> In 2008, political scientist Graham White pointed out that Canadian prime ministers are among the longest-serving leaders among nations with Westminster-style parliaments, thanks in part to the control Canadian prime ministers exercise over their parties and their parliamentary caucuses. </p> <p> Meanwhile, political scientist Dennis Baker has argued that even today prime ministerial power is not absolute, particularly when members of Parliament combine with public pressure to force governments to change course or amend controversial legislation. Baker has also said that Canada's courts act, not always for the better, as checks on both parliamentary and executive power.</p><div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/cda6731e-f084-4f56-906c-61f83388c82d.jpg " title="Five Prime Ministers " alt="Five Prime Ministers "><figcaption>In October 1994 the National Archives of Canada (now Library and Archives Canada) commissioned this portrait to commemorate the launch of an education kit on the theme of Canada's Prime Ministers. From Left to right are Pierre Trudeau, John Turner, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien and Joe Clark. </figcaption><figcaption class="source ">Paul Couvrette | Photo by Paul Couvrette, courtesy Library and Archives Canada/PA-197391</figcaption></div><p> </p> <h3>Prime Ministers of Canada</h3> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p> <strong>Name</strong> </p> </td> <td> <p> <strong>Party</strong> </p> </td> <td> <p> <strong>Term</strong> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/sir-john-alexander-macdonald/ ">Sir John A. Macdonald</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Conservative </p> </td> <td> <p> 1867-73 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/alexander-mackenzie/ ">Alexander Mackenzie</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Liberal </p> </td> <td> <p> 1873-78 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/sir-john-alexander-macdonald/ ">Sir John A. Macdonald</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Conservative </p> </td> <td> <p> 1878-91 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/sir-john-abbott/ ">Sir John J.C. Abbott</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Conservative </p> </td> <td> <p> 1891-92 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/sir-john-sparrow-david-thompson/ ">Sir John Sparrow Thompson</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Conservative </p> </td> <td> <p> 1892-94 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/sir-mackenzie-bowell/ ">Sir Mackenzie Bowell</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Conservative </p> </td> <td> <p> 1894-96 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/sir-charles-tupper/ ">Sir Charles Tupper</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Conservative </p> </td> <td> <p> 1896 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/sir-wilfrid-laurier/ ">Sir Wilfrid Laurier</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Liberal </p> </td> <td> <p> 1896-1911 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/sir-robert-borden/ ">Sir Robert Borden</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Conservative </p> </td> <td> <p> 1911-17 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/sir-robert-borden/ ">Sir Robert Borden</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Union Gov </p> </td> <td> <p> 1917-20 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/arthur-meighen/ ">Arthur Meighen</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Conservative </p> </td> <td> <p> 1920-21 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/ ">W.L. Mackenzie King</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Liberal </p> </td> <td> <p> 1921-26 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/arthur-meighen/ ">Arthur Meighen</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Conservative </p> </td> <td> <p> 1926 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/ ">W.L. Mackenzie King</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Liberal </p> </td> <td> <p> 1926-1930 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/richard-bedford-viscount-bennett/ ">R.B. Bennett</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Conservative </p> </td> <td> <p> 1930-35 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/ ">W.L. Mackenzie King</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Liberal </p> </td> <td> <p> 1935-48 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/louis-st-laurent/ ">Louis St-Laurent</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Liberal </p> </td> <td> <p> 1948-57 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/john-diefenbaker/ ">John Diefenbaker</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Conservative </p> </td> <td> <p> 1957-63 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/lester-bowles-pearson/ ">Lester B. Pearson</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Liberal </p> </td> <td> <p> 1963-68 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/pierre-elliott-trudeau/ ">Pierre Elliott Trudeau</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Liberal </p> </td> <td> <p> 1968-79 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/joe-clark/ ">Charles Joseph Clark</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Conservative </p> </td> <td> <p> 1979-80 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/pierre-elliott-trudeau/ ">Pierre Elliott Trudeau</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Liberal </p> </td> <td> <p> 1980-84 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/john-turner/ ">John Napier Turner</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Liberal </p> </td> <td> <p> 1984 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/brian-mulroney/ ">Brian Mulroney</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Conservative </p> </td> <td> <p> 1984-93 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/kim-campbell/ ">Avril Kim Campbell</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Conservative </p> </td> <td> <p> 1993 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/joseph-jacques-jean-chretien/ ">Jean Chrétien</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Liberal </p> </td> <td> <p> 1993-2003 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/paul-edgar-philippe-martin/ ">Paul Martin</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Liberal </p> </td> <td> <p> 2003-06 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/stephen-joseph-harper/ ">Stephen Harper</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Conservative </p> </td> <td> <p> 2006-15 </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/justin-trudeau/ ">Justin Trudeau</a> </p> </td> <td> <p> Liberal </p> </td> <td> <p> 2015-Present</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </div> <div id="def" class="article-content-body hide"></div> </div> <div id="article-definitions"> <definitions route="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/json/define" id="prime-minister"></definitions> </div> <div class="article-widget widget-adsense"> <script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:468px;height:60px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3964766461879185" data-ad-slot="1946780682"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> <h3 class="article-widget-title">Interested in politics?</h3> <p> <a href="http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/collection/elections/"><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/widgets_collections/Elections%20EN.jpg" style="opacity: 1; background-color: initial;" alt=""></a> </p> </article> </main> <div id="modal-overlay" class="overlay"></div> <div id="article-image" class="article-img-modal" role="dialog" aria-labelledby="article-modal-title"> <button class="article-img-modal__close" aria-label="close image modal"></button> <div id="js-article-modal-image" class="article-img-modal__container"> <div class="image-container"> <img class="article-img-modal__img" src="" alt=""> </div> <div class="text-container"> <span role="heading" aria-level="3" id="article-modal-title" class="article-img-modal__title"></span> <span class="article-img-modal__description"></span> <span class="article-img-modal__creator"></span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="main-grid article-related"> <ul class="article-tags-list main-grid__content"> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=Prime%20Minister&tag=prime-minister">Prime Minister</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=Government&tag=government">Government</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=Parliament&tag=parliament">Parliament</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=Constitution&tag=constitution">Constitution</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=federal%20government&tag=federal-government">federal government</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=governor%20general&tag=governor-general">governor general</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=cabinet&tag=cabinet">cabinet</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=Liberal%20Party&tag=liberal-party">Liberal Party</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=Member%20of%20Parliament&tag=member-of-parliament">Member of Parliament</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=House%20of%20Commons&tag=house-of-commons">House of Commons</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=Conservative&tag=conservative">Conservative</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=political%20party&tag=political-party">political party</a> </li> </ul> <div id="furtherreading" class="article-related-two-column main-grid__content--wide"> <h3 class="article-related-two-column__title">Further Reading</h3> <ul class="article-related-two-column__list"> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item">W.A. Matheson, <em>The Prime Minister and the Cabinet</em> (1976).</li> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item">Gordon Donaldson, <em>The Prime Ministers of Canada</em> (1994).</li> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item">R.M. Punnett, <em>The Prime Minister in Canadian Government and Politics</em> (1977).</li> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item">J.D.M. Stewart, <em>Being Prime Minister</em> (2018).</li> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item">Ramsay Cook and Réal Bélanger, <em>Canada’s Prime Ministers: Macdonald to Trudeau</em> (2007).</li> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item">Eugene Forsey, <em>How Canadians Govern Themselves</em> (1980).</li> </ul> </div> <div class="article-related-two-column main-grid__content--wide"> <h3 class="article-related-two-column__title">External Links</h3> <ul class="article-related-two-column__list"> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item"><p><b><a href="https://www.liberal.ca/" target="_blank">Liberal Party of Canada</a></b><a href="https://www.liberal.ca/" target="_blank"> The official website for the Liberal Party of Canada.</a></p></li> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item"><p><b><a href="http://www.blocquebecois.org/" target="_blank">Bloc Québécois</a></b><a href="http://www.blocquebecois.org/" target="_blank"> The official website for the Bloc Québécois (available in French only)</a></p></li> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item"><p><b><a href="https://www.ndp.ca/" target="_blank">Canada's New Democratic Party</a></b><a href="https://www.ndp.ca/" target="_blank"> The official website for Canada's NDP</a></p></li> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item"><p><b><a href="https://www.greenparty.ca/en" target="_blank">Green Party of Canada</a></b><a href="https://www.greenparty.ca/en" target="_blank"> The official website for the Green Party of Canada</a></p></li> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item"><p> <a href="http://www.conservative.ca/"><strong>Conservative Party of Canada </strong>The official website for the Conservative Party of Canada.</a> </p></li> </ul> </div>  <div class="callouts-layout main-grid__content--full"> <h3 id="recommended" class="callouts-layout__title">Associated Collections</h3> <div class="callouts-layout__grid"> <div class="callout-item"> <div class="callout-item__container"> <h6 class="callout-item__title"> <a class="callout-item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/collection/elections" > Elections </a> </h6> <span class="callout-item__category">collection</span> </div> <div class="image-container"> <img src="https://d14fiu1i7ba797.cloudfront.net/340x207/media/media/11551bec-a5f6-4e78-b101-265ddf7610cb.jpg" class="image-container__image" alt="Canadian Parliament" loading="lazy" /> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="callouts-layout main-grid__content--full"> <h3 id="recommended" class="callouts-layout__title">Recommended</h3> <div class="callouts-layout__grid"> <div class="callout-item"> <div class="callout-item__container"> <h6 class="callout-item__title"> <a class="callout-item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-prime-ministers" > Canadian Prime Ministers </a> </h6> <span class="callout-item__category">Editorial</span> </div> <div class="image-container"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/images/tce_placeholder.jpg?v=e9dca980c9bdb3aa11e832e7ea94f5d9" alt="" class="image-container__image" /> </div> </div> <div class="callout-item"> <div class="callout-item__container"> <h6 class="callout-item__title"> <a class="callout-item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prime-suspects-canadas-prime-ministers-caricatured" > Prime Suspects: Canada's Prime Ministers, Caricatured </a> </h6> <span class="callout-item__category">Article</span> </div> <div class="image-container"> <img src="https://d14fiu1i7ba797.cloudfront.net/340x207/media/media/da57a0c2-120d-4e24-9a7c-dc106abb044c.jpg" class="image-container__image" alt="Sir John A. Macdonald" loading="lazy" /> </div> </div> <div class="callout-item"> <div class="callout-item__container"> <h6 class="callout-item__title"> <a class="callout-item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/leader-of-the-opposition" > Leader of the Opposition </a> </h6> <span class="callout-item__category">Article</span> </div> <div class="image-container"> <img src="https://d14fiu1i7ba797.cloudfront.net/340x207/Pierre_Poilievre_with_Wife_(cropped).jpg" class="image-container__image" alt="" loading="lazy" /> </div> </div> <div class="callout-item"> <div class="callout-item__container"> <h6 class="callout-item__title"> <a class="callout-item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/collection/elections" > Elections </a> </h6> <span class="callout-item__category">collection</span> </div> <div class="image-container"> <img src="https://d14fiu1i7ba797.cloudfront.net/340x207/media/media/11551bec-a5f6-4e78-b101-265ddf7610cb.jpg" class="image-container__image" alt="Canadian Parliament" loading="lazy" /> </div> </div> <div class="callout-item"> <div class="callout-item__container"> <h6 class="callout-item__title"> <a class="callout-item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/timeline/elections-and-prime-ministers" > Elections and Prime Ministers </a> </h6> <span class="callout-item__category">timeline</span> </div> <div class="image-container"> <img src="https://d14fiu1i7ba797.cloudfront.net/340x207/media/media/39b78f3a-b1bb-47ec-aa0b-d4f5de005157.jpg" class="image-container__image" alt="House of Commons" loading="lazy" /> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="donation_banner" class="donation-banner"> <button id="donation-banner-expand-btn" class="donation-banner__expand-btn" aria-label="expand donation banner window"> </button> <div class="donation-banner__container"> <div class="text-container"> <h3 class="text-container__title">Flag Day Contest</h3> <div class="text-container__text"><p class="MsoNormal">Celebrate the 60th anniversary of the national flag by taking our Flag Day quiz and be entered into a draw for a chance to win a flag from the Peace Tower in Ottawa for your school!<span lang="EN-CA"></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div> </div> <a class="b-invert solid b-sm donation-banner__button" href="/en/article/flag-day-contest"> Take the quiz </a> </div> </div> <footer id="footer"> <div class="full-width footer-first-part"> <div class="wrap--narrow"> <div class="footer-information grid--col2"> <div class="divider"> <h6>Updates? 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