Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada) explained
The leader of the Official Opposition (French: chef de l'Opposition officielle), formally known as the leader of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition (French: chef de la loyale opposition de Sa Majesté|links=no), is the politician who leads the Official Opposition in Canada, typically the leader of the party possessing the most seats in the House of Commons that is not the governing party or part of the governing coalition.
Pierre Poilievre has been the leader of the Opposition since September 10, 2022, when he was elected leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, following the 2022 leadership election. He succeeded Candice Bergen, who had served as the party's interim leader from February 2, 2022. She had succeeded former permanent leader Erin O'Toole when the party declared non-confidence in his leadership.[1]
Though the leader of the Opposition must be a member of the House of Commons,[2] the office should not be confused with Opposition House leader, who is a frontbencher charged with managing the business of the Opposition in the House of Commons, and is formally titled Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons. There is also a leader of the Opposition in the Senate, who is usually of the same party as the leader of the Opposition in the house. If the leader of the opposition party is not a member of Parliament (MP), then a sitting MP acts as parliamentary leader and assumes the role of the leader of the Opposition until the party leader can obtain a seat.
The leader of the Opposition is entitled to the same levels of pay and protection as a Cabinet minister and is often made a member of the King's Privy Council, generally the only non-government member of the House of Commons afforded that privilege. The leader of the Opposition is entitled to reside at the official residence of Stornoway and ranks fourteenth on the Order of Precedence, after Cabinet ministers and before lieutenant governors of the provinces. In the House of Commons seating plan, the leader of the Opposition sits directly across from the prime minister.
The term leader of the opposition is used in the Parliament of Canada Act[3] and the Standing Orders of the House of Commons, as is the term official opposition. The terms leader of the loyal opposition, his majesty's opposition, and loyal opposition are sometimes used, but, are not in either the act or the standing orders. The word loyal is used to communicate the party's loyalty to monarch of Canada—as the nonpartisan personification of the nation and the state's authority—even as its members oppose the governing party.
Two leaders of the Opposition have died in office: Wilfrid Laurier in 1919 and Jack Layton in 2011.[4] [5]
Leaders of the Official Opposition
| Portrait | Name
Electoral district
(Birth–Death) | Term of office | Party | Prime minister
Party |
|---|
| Term start[6] | Term end[7] |
|---|
| Alexander Mackenzie
MP for Lambton
(1822–1892) | March 6,
1873 | November 5,
1873 | | Liberal | | Sir John A. Macdonald
Liberal-Conservative |
| Sir John A. Macdonald
MP for Kingston
(1815–1891) | November 6,
1873 | October 16,
1878 | | Conservative | | Alexander Mackenzie
Liberal |
| Alexander Mackenzie
MP for Lambton
(1822–1892) | October 17,
1878 | April 27,
1880 | | Liberal | | Sir John A. Macdonald
Conservative |
Vacant
April 27 – May 3, 1880 |
| Edward Blake
MP for Durham West
(1833–1912) | May 4,
1880 | June 2,
1887 | | Liberal |
Vacant
June 3 – 22, 1887 |
| Wilfrid Laurier
MP for Quebec East
(1841–1919) | June 23,
1887 | July 10,
1896 | | Liberal |
| John Abbott
Conservative |
| Sir John Thompson
Conservative |
| Sir Mackenzie Bowell
Conservative |
| Sir Charles Tupper
Conservative |
| Sir Charles Tupper[8]
MP for Cape Breton
(1821–1915) | July 11,
1896 | February 5,
1901 | | Conservative | | Sir Wilfrid Laurier
Liberal |
| Robert Borden
MP for Halifax (until 1904, from 1908)
MP for Carleton (1905–1908)
(1854–1937) | February 6,
1901 | October 9,
1911 | | Conservative |
| Sir Wilfrid Laurier
MP for Quebec East
(1841–1919) | October 10,
1911 | February 17,
1919[9] | | Liberal | | Sir Robert Borden
Conservative |
| Daniel Duncan McKenzie[10]
MP for Cape Breton North and Victoria
(1859–1927) | February 17,
1919 | August 7,
1919 | | Liberal |
| William Lyon Mackenzie King
MP for Prince
(1874–1950) | August 7,
1919 | December 28,
1921 | | Liberal |
| Arthur Meighen
Conservative |
| Arthur Meighen[11]
MP for Grenville (1922–1925)
MP for Portage la Prairie (from 1925)
(1874–1960) | December 29,
1921 | June 28,
1926 | | Conservative | | William Lyon
Mackenzie King
Liberal |
| William Lyon Mackenzie King
MP for Prince Albert
(1874–1950) | June 29,
1926 | September 24,
1926 | | Liberal | | Arthur Meighen
Conservative |
Vacant[12]
September 25 – October 10, 1926 | | William Lyon
Mackenzie King
Liberal |
| Hugh Guthrie[13]
MP for Wellington South
(1866–1939) | October 11,
1926 | October 11,
1927 | | Conservative |
| R. B. Bennett
MP for Calgary West
(1870–1947) | October 12,
1927 | August 6,
1930 | | Conservative |
| William Lyon Mackenzie King
MP for Prince Albert
(1874–1950) | August 7,
1930 | October 22,
1935 | | Liberal | | R. B. Bennett
Conservative |
| R. B. Bennett
MP for Calgary West
(1870–1947) | October 23,
1935 | July 6,
1938 | | Conservative | | William Lyon
Mackenzie King
Liberal |
| Robert James Manion
MP for London
(1881–1943) | July 7,
1938 | May 13,
1940 | | Conservative |
| Richard Hanson[14]
MP for Fredericton
(1879–1948) | May 14,
1940 | January 1,
1943 | | Conservative |
| Progressive
Conservative[15] |
| Gordon Graydon[16]
MP for Peel
(1896–1953) | January 1,
1943 | June 10,
1945 | | Progressive
Conservative |
| John Bracken
MP for Neepawa
(1883–1969) | June 11,
1945 | July 20,
1948 | | Progressive
Conservative |
Vacant
July 21 – October 1, 1948 |
| George A. Drew
MP for Carleton
(1894–1973) | October 2,
1948 | November 1,
1954 | | Progressive
Conservative |
| Louis St. Laurent
Liberal |
| William Earl Rowe[17]
MP for Dufferin—Simcoe
(1894–1984) | November 1,
1954 | February 1,
1955 | | Progressive
Conservative |
| George A. Drew
MP for Carleton
(1894–1973) | February 1,
1955 | August 1,
1956 | | Progressive
Conservative |
| William Earl Rowe[18]
MP for Dufferin—Simcoe
(1894–1984) | August 1,
1956 | December 13,
1956 | | Progressive
Conservative |
| John Diefenbaker
MP for Prince Albert
(1895–1979) | December 14,
1956 | June 20,
1957 | | Progressive
Conservative |
| Louis St. Laurent
MP for Quebec East
(1882–1973) | June 21,
1957 | January 16,
1958 | | Liberal | | John Diefenbaker
Progressive
Conservative |
| Lester B. Pearson
MP for Algoma East
(1897–1972) | January 16,
1958 | April 22,
1963 | | Liberal |
| John Diefenbaker
MP for Prince Albert
(1895–1979) | April 22,
1963 | September 9,
1967 | | Progressive
Conservative | | Lester B. Pearson
Liberal |
| Michael Starr[19]
MP for Ontario
(1910–2000) | September 9,
1967 | November 6,
1967 | | Progressive
Conservative |
| Robert Stanfield
MP for Colchester—Hants (1967–1968)
MP for Halifax (from 1968)
(1914–2003) | November 6,
1967 | February 22,
1976 | | Progressive
Conservative |
| Pierre Trudeau
Liberal |
| Joe Clark
MP for Rocky Mountain
(born 1939) | February 22,
1976 | June 4,
1979 | | Progressive
Conservative |
| Pierre Trudeau
MP for Mount Royal
(1919–2000) | June 4,
1979 | March 3,
1980 | | Liberal | | Joe Clark
Progressive
Conservative |
| Joe Clark
MP for Yellowhead
(born 1939) | March 3,
1980 | February 2,
1983 | | Progressive
Conservative | | Pierre Trudeau
Liberal |
| Erik Nielsen[20]
MP for Yukon
(1924–2008) | February 2,
1983 | August 29,
1983 | | Progressive
Conservative |
| Brian Mulroney
MP for Central Nova
(1939–2024) | August 29,
1983 | September 16,
1984 | | Progressive
Conservative |
| John Turner
Liberal |
| John Turner
MP for Vancouver Quadra
(1929–2020) | September 17,
1984 | February 8,
1990 | | Liberal | | Brian Mulroney
Progressive
Conservative |
| Herb Gray[21]
MP for Windsor West
(1931–2014) | February 8,
1990 | December 21,
1990 | | Liberal |
| Jean Chrétien
MP for Beauséjour
(born 1934) | December 21,
1990 | November 4,
1993 | | Liberal |
| Kim Campbell
Progressive
Conservative |
| Lucien Bouchard
MP for Lac-Saint-Jean
(born 1938) | November 4,
1993 | January 15,
1996 | | Bloc Québécois | | Jean Chrétien
Liberal |
| Gilles Duceppe[22]
MP for Laurier—Sainte-Marie
(born 1947) | January 15,
1996 | February 17,
1996 | | Bloc Québécois |
| Michel Gauthier
MP for Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean
(1950–2020) | February 17,
1996 | March 15,
1997 | | Bloc Québécois |
| Gilles Duceppe
MP for Laurier—Sainte-Marie
(born 1947) | March 15,
1997 | June 2,
1997 | | Bloc Québécois |
| Preston Manning
MP for Calgary Southwest
(born 1942) | June 2,
1997 | March 27,
2000 | | Reform |
| Deborah Grey[23]
MP for Edmonton North
(born 1952) | March 27,
2000 | September 11,
2000 | | Canadian Alliance |
| Stockwell Day
MP for Okanagan—Coquihalla
(born 1950) | September 11,
2000 | December 12,
2001 | | Canadian Alliance |
| John Reynolds
MP for West Vancouver—
Sunshine Coast
(born 1942) | December 12,
2001 | May 21,
2002 | | Canadian Alliance |
| Stephen Harper
MP for Calgary Southwest
(born 1959) | May 21,
2002 | January 9,
2004 | | Canadian Alliance |
| Paul Martin
Liberal |
| Grant Hill[24]
MP for Macleod
(born 1943) | January 9,
2004 | March 20,
2004 | | Canadian Alliance |
| Conservative[25] |
| Stephen Harper
MP for Calgary Southwest
(born 1959) | March 20,
2004 | February 6,
2006 | | Conservative |
| Bill Graham[26]
MP for Toronto Centre
(1939–2022) | February 6,
2006 | December 2,
2006 | | Liberal | | Stephen Harper
Conservative |
| Stéphane Dion
MP for Saint-Laurent—Cartierville
(born 1955) | December 2,
2006 | December 10,
2008 | | Liberal |
| Michael Ignatieff[27]
MP for Etobicoke–Lakeshore
(born 1947) | December 10,
2008 | May 2,
2011 | | Liberal |
| Jack Layton
MP for Toronto—Danforth
(1950–2011) | May 2,
2011 | August 22,
2011[28] | | New Democratic |
| Nycole Turmel[29]
MP for Hull—Aylmer
(born 1942) | August 22,
2011 | March 24,
2012 | | New Democratic |
| Tom Mulcair
MP for Outremont
(born 1954) | March 24,
2012 | November 5,
2015 | | New Democratic |
| Rona Ambrose[30]
MP for Sturgeon River—Parkland
(born 1969) | November 5,
2015 | May 27,
2017 | | Conservative | | Justin Trudeau
Liberal |
| Andrew Scheer
MP for Regina—Qu'Appelle
(born 1979) | May 27,
2017 | August 24,
2020 | | Conservative |
| Erin O'Toole
MP for Durham
(born 1973) | August 24,
2020 | February 2,
2022 | | Conservative |
| Candice Bergen[31]
MP for Portage—Lisgar
(born 1964) | February 2,
2022 | September 10,
2022 | | Conservative |
| Pierre Poilievre
MP for Carleton
(born 1979) | September 10,
2022 | Incumbent | | Conservative | |
Timeline
Deputy leaders of the Opposition
| Portrait | Name
Electoral district
(Birth–Death) | Term of office | Party | Leader of the
Opposition |
|---|
| Term start | Term end |
|---|
| Denis Lebel[32]
MP for Lac-Saint-Jean
(born 1954) | November 19,
2015 | July 24,
2017 | | Conservative | Rona Ambrose |
| Andrew Scheer |
| Lisa Raitt[33]
MP for Milton
(born 1968) | July 24,
2017 | October 21,
2019 | | Conservative |
| Leona Alleslev[34]
MP for Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill
(born 1968) | November 28,
2019 | July 12,
2020 | | Conservative |
| Candice Bergen[35] [36]
MP for Portage—Lisgar
(born 1964) | September 2,
2020 | February 2,
2022 | | Conservative | Erin O'Toole |
| Luc Berthold[37]
MP for Mégantic—L'Érable
(born 1965 or 1966) | February 6,
2022 | September 13,
2022 | | Conservative | Candice Bergen |
| Melissa Lantsman
MP for Thornhill
(born 1984) | September 13,
2022 | Incumbent | | Conservative | Pierre Poilievre |
| Tim Uppal
MP for Edmonton Mill Woods
(born 1974) | September 13,
2022 | Incumbent | | Conservative | |
Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet
The Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet in Canada is composed of members of the main opposition party and is responsible for holding the Government to account and for developing and disseminating the party's policy positions. Members of the Official Opposition are generally referred to as opposition critics, but the term Shadow Minister (which is generally used in other Westminster systems) is also used.
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Conservatives elect Candice Bergen as interim party leader - National Globalnews.ca. February 3, 2022. Global News. en-CA. February 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220204235034/https://globalnews.ca/news/8590833/conservative-party-interim-leader/. live.
- http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/House/Compendium/web-content/c_d_roleoppositionpartiescanada-e.htm Role of Opposition Parties in Canada
- Parliament of Canada Act. RSC. 1985. P-1. 50(2), 62, 62.3, 63(2).. https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/p-1/FullText.html.
- News: Parliament and Layton's passing. McGregor. Janyce. August 22, 2011. August 23, 2011. CBC News. August 23, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110823123456/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/inside-politics-blog/2011/08/parliament-and-laytons-passing.html. live.
- [John A. Macdonald]
- Web site: Parliament of Canada . Leaders of the Official Opposition . March 27, 2012 . April 12, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120412003738/http://www.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/FederalGovernment/LeadersOfficialOpposition.aspx . live .
- Web site: Parliament of Canada . Leaders of the Official Opposition . March 27, 2012 . April 12, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120412003738/http://www.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/FederalGovernment/LeadersOfficialOpposition.aspx . live .
- Tupper lost his seat in the 1900 election and resigned as party leader and Leader of the Opposition three months later.
- Died in office.
- McKenzie served as Leader of the Opposition from Laurier's death until King's election as leader of the Liberal Party.
- Arthur Meighen's Conservatives formed the Official Opposition although the Progressive Party had more seats.
- Meighen failed to win his seat and immediately resigned as leader of the Conservative Party.
- Guthrie served as Leader of the Opposition from shortly after Meighen's resignation until Bennett's election as leader of the Conservative Party.
- Hanson served as Leader of the Opposition from Manion's resignation until Meighen's election as leader of the Conservative Party. He continued as acting Leader of the Opposition throughout Meighen's term as Conservative leader, as Meighen failed in his attempts to win election to the House of Commons, and continued as acting Leader of the Opposition from Bracken's election as PC leader until his own resignation.
- The Conservative Party was renamed the Progressive Conservative Party in 1942.
- Graydon served as Leader of the Opposition from Hanson's resignation until Bracken entered Parliament in the 20th general election.
- Rowe served as acting Leader of the Opposition in winter 1954-55 due to Drew's poor health.
- Rowe initially served as acting Leader of the Opposition for six weeks when Drew was ill, then became interim leader of the Progressive Conservative Party until Diefenbaker was elected as PC leader.
- Starr served as Leader of the Opposition from Stanfield's election as PC leader until Stanfield entered Parliament via by-election.
- Nielsen served as acting Leader of the Opposition for the two weeks preceding Clark's resignation from the post of leader of the PC Party. He continued as Leader of the Opposition during the 1983 Progressive Conservative leadership campaign in which Clark unsuccessfully ran to succeed himself. Nielsen continued as Leader of the Opposition from Mulroney's election as PC leader until Mulroney entered Parliament via by-election.
- Gray became acting Leader of the Opposition after Turner announced his intention to step down as party leader. Gray continued as Leader of the Opposition from Chrétien's election as Liberal leader until Chrétien entered Parliament via a by-election.
- Duceppe served as Leader of the Opposition during the 1996 Bloc Québécois leadership election initiated by Bouchard's sudden resignation from federal politics to become Premier of Quebec.
- Grey served as Leader of the Opposition during the 2000 Canadian Alliance leadership campaign in which Manning unsuccessfully ran to succeed himself. She continued as Leader of the Opposition from Day's election as Alliance leader until Day entered Parliament via byelection.
- Hill served as Leader of the Opposition during the 2004 Conservative leadership election in which Harper successfully ran to be leader of the new party.
- Although the PC Party and Canadian Alliance were recognized as merged on December 7, 2003, by Elections Canada for the purposes of elections law, they did not merge their parliamentary caucuses until February 2, 2004.
- Graham served as interim parliamentary leader and Leader of the Opposition until the 2006 Liberal leadership convention.
- Ignatieff served as interim Leader of Liberal Party until being elected Leader in the 2009 Liberal leadership convention.
- Died in office.
- Turmel became interim leader of the NDP on July 28, 2011, when Layton began his leave of absence, but she did not become the Leader of the Opposition until Layton's death.
- Ambrose was elected interim party leader by the Conservative caucus to serve until a permanent leader was elected at the 2017 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election.
- Bergen was elected interim party leader by the Conservative caucus to serve until a permanent leader was elected at the 2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election.
- Web site: Roles - Hon. Denis Lebel . September 8, 2020 . Parliament of Canada . August 10, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190810151312/https://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/Denis-Lebel(38633)/Roles . live .
- Web site: Roles - Hon. Lisa Raitt . September 8, 2020 . Parliament of Canada . September 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200922090821/https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/lisa-raitt(54325)/roles . live .
- Web site: Jones . Ryan Patrick . July 13, 2020 . Leona Alleslev steps down as Conservative deputy leader, backs MacKay's leadership bid . 8 September 2020 . CBC News . September 5, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200905085022/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/leona-alleslev-resigns-cpc-deputy-leader-1.5647309 . live .
- Web site: Roles - Hon. Candice Bergen . September 8, 2020 . Parliament of Canada . September 8, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200908160644/https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/candice-bergen(59110)/roles . live .
- Web site: O'Toole names top Tories for Commons roles, with Bergen as deputy leader . 2020-09-02 . Kamloops This Week.
- Web site: February 6, 2022 . Alain Rayes resigns as Conservative Party's Quebec lieutenant . February 7, 2022 . CBC News . February 6, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220206200454/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/alain-rayes-resigns-quebec-lieutenant-1.6341568 . live .
