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The formal authority of the council is exercised by the Prime Minister and the Canadian Cabinet, who make up a minority of the council's members. Their actions are supported by the Privy Council Office which is headed by the Clerk of the Privy Council as chief civil servant and the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada as the Cabinet minister in charge. All Orders-in-Council of the Governor-General must be made on the recommendation of a Privy Councillor, invariably a government minister.
At present the membership of the Council comprises all current and former federal cabinet ministers, and Chief Justices of Canada. As well, all former Governors General and Speakers of the House of Commons are members. The Leader of the Opposition and leaders or prominent members of OppositionThe Parliamentary Opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. In non-proportionally representative assemblies, where the tendency to gravitate into two major parties or parties are inducted into the Privy Council from time to time, either as an honour or so that sensitive information can be disclosed to them under the Official Secrets Act. For this reason, new members of the Security Intelligence Review Committee are inducted into the Privy Council if they are not already members. Other distinguished persons recommended by the Prime Minister have been sworn into the Privy Council as a special honour.
Under Paul MartinPaul Martin Rank 21st Term of Office December 12, 2003 Present Predecessor Jean Chretien Date of Birth August 28, 1938 Place of Birth Windsor, Ontario Spouse Sheila Ann Cowan Profession businessman, politician Political Party Liberal The Right Honourable, Parliamentary SecretariesIn the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to appoint parliamentary secretaries (in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, "parliamentary assistants") from their caucu are also sworn into the Privy Council.
Ministers are the only automatic appointees, though various non-cabinet members have been appointed since 1891Events January 1 ? Paying of old age pensions begins in Germany January 20 James Hogg becomes the first native Texan to be governor of that state. January 29 Liliuokalani proclaimed Queen of Hawaii March 9 ? 12 ? Powerful storm off England?s south coast;. Provincial premierIn Canada, a Premier is the head of government of a province. There are currently 10 provincial premiers in Canada. Name Ralph Klein, Premier of ( Alberta) In a number of provinces they were previously known by the title "Prime Minister" with "premier" bes do not automatically become Privy Councillors, but have been made members on special occasions (e.g. the centennial of Canadian ConfederationCanadian Confederation or the Confederation of Canada was the process that ultimately brought together a union among the provinces, colonies and territories of British North America to form a Dominion of the British Empire, which today is a federal nation, 1967Events January January 4 British motorboat racer Donald Campbell dies while attempting a water speed record in Coniston Lake. January 4 Algerian revolutionary Mohammed Khider is shot in Madrid. January 6 Vietnam War: USMC and ARVN troops launch " Operatio; the patriation of the Constitution of Canada, 1982; the 125th anniversary of Confederation, 1992).
Privy Councillors are entitled to the style The Honourable (or if a serving or former Governor General, Prime Minister or Chief Justice of Canada, The Right Honourable as are certain other eminent individuals). The post-nominal initials "P.C." are also used.
Governors General are entitled to use the title "Right Honourable" while they are in office; however, unless they are already members of the Privy Council by virtue of being a former Cabinet minister or having been inducted for another reason, they do not become members of the Privy Council until their term as Governor General has concluded.
The Canadian Privy Council has met in the presence of the Sovereign only twice: in Ottawa in 1957 and in Halifax in 1959.
The full Privy Council meets to proclaim the accession of a new sovereign. The last meeting of the full Privy Council was in 1981 to give formal consent to the marriage of the Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer. It is unlikely the full Council will meet again during the present reign.