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Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada)

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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), 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.

Leader of the Official Opposition
Chef de l'Opposition officielle
since September 10, 2022
StyleThe Honourable
Member ofParliament
ResidenceStornoway
Term lengthWhile leader of the largest party not in government
Inaugural holderAlexander Mackenzie
FormationMarch 6, 1873
DeputyMelissa Lantsman
Tim Uppal
SalaryCA$299,900 (2024)[1]

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.[2]

Though the leader of the Opposition must be a member of the House of Commons,[3] 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[4] and the Standing Orders of the House of Commons,[5] as is the term official opposition.[6] The terms leader of the loyal opposition, his majesty's opposition,[7] and loyal opposition are sometimes used,[8] 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.[7]

Two leaders of the Opposition have died in office: Wilfrid Laurier in 1919 and Jack Layton in 2011.[9][NB 1]

Leaders of the Official Opposition

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  Liberal Party of Canada
  Liberal-Conservative Party, Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942), Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
  Bloc Québécois
  Reform Party of Canada
  Canadian Alliance
  Conservative Party of Canada
  New Democratic Party
Portrait Name
Electoral district
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office Party Prime minister
Party
Term start[10] Term end[10]
  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[NB 2]
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
  Sir Wilfrid Laurier
MP for Quebec East
(1841–1919) 		October 10,
1911 		February 17,
1919[NB 3] 		Liberal Sir Robert Borden
Conservative
  Daniel Duncan McKenzie[NB 4]
MP for Cape Breton North and Victoria
(1859–1927) 		February 17,
1919 		August 7,
1919
  William Lyon Mackenzie King
MP for Prince
(1874–1950) 		August 7,
1919 		December 28,
1921
Arthur Meighen
Conservative
  Arthur Meighen[NB 5]
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[NB 6]
September 25 – October 10, 1926 		William Lyon
Mackenzie King
Liberal
  Hugh Guthrie[NB 7]
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
  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
  Richard Hanson[NB 8]
MP for Fredericton
(1879–1948) 		May 14,
1940 		January 1,
1943
Progressive
Conservative[NB 9]
Gordon Graydon[NB 10]
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
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[NB 11]
MP for Dufferin—Simcoe
(1894–1984) 		November 1,
1954 		February 1,
1955
  George A. Drew
MP for Carleton
(1894–1973) 		February 1,
1955 		August 1,
1956
  William Earl Rowe[NB 12]
MP for Dufferin—Simcoe
(1894–1984) 		August 1,
1956 		December 13,
1956
  John Diefenbaker
MP for Prince Albert
(1895–1979) 		December 14,
1956 		June 20,
1957
  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
  John Diefenbaker
MP for Prince Albert
(1895–1979) 		April 22,
1963 		September 9,
1967 		Progressive
Conservative 		Lester B. Pearson
Liberal
  Michael Starr[NB 13]
MP for Ontario
(1910–2000) 		September 9,
1967 		November 6,
1967
  Robert Stanfield
MP for Colchester—Hants (1967–1968)
MP for Halifax (from 1968)
(1914–2003) 		November 6,
1967 		February 22,
1976
Pierre Trudeau
Liberal
  Joe Clark
MP for Rocky Mountain
(born 1939) 		February 22,
1976 		June 4,
1979
  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[NB 14]
MP for Yukon
(1924–2008) 		February 2,
1983 		August 29,
1983
  Brian Mulroney
MP for Central Nova
(1939–2024) 		August 29,
1983 		September 16,
1984
John Turner
Liberal
  John Turner
MP for Vancouver Quadra
(1929–2020) 		September 17,
1984 		February 8,
1990 		Liberal Brian Mulroney
Progressive
Conservative
  Herb Gray[NB 15]
MP for Windsor West
(1931–2014) 		February 8,
1990 		December 21,
1990
  Jean Chrétien
MP for Beauséjour
(born 1934) 		December 21,
1990 		November 4,
1993
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[NB 16]
MP for Laurier—Sainte-Marie
(born 1947) 		January 15,
1996 		February 17,
1996
  Michel Gauthier
MP for Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean
(1950–2020) 		February 17,
1996 		March 15,
1997
  Gilles Duceppe
MP for Laurier—Sainte-Marie
(born 1947) 		March 15,
1997 		June 2,
1997
  Preston Manning
MP for Calgary Southwest
(born 1942) 		June 2,
1997 		March 27,
2000 		Reform
  Deborah Grey[NB 17]
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
  John Reynolds
MP for West Vancouver—
Sunshine Coast
(born 1942) 		December 12,
2001 		May 21,
2002
  Stephen Harper
MP for Calgary Southwest
(born 1959) 		May 21,
2002 		January 9,
2004
Paul Martin
Liberal
Grant Hill[NB 18]
MP for Macleod
(born 1943) 		January 9,
2004 		March 20,
2004
Conservative[NB 19]
  Stephen Harper
MP for Calgary Southwest
(born 1959) 		March 20,
2004 		February 6,
2006 		Conservative
  Bill Graham[NB 20]
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
  Michael Ignatieff[NB 21]
MP for Etobicoke–Lakeshore
(born 1947) 		December 10,
2008 		May 2,
2011
  Jack Layton
MP for Toronto—Danforth
(1950–2011) 		May 2,
2011 		August 22,
2011[NB 22] 		New Democratic
  Nycole Turmel[NB 23]
MP for Hull—Aylmer
(born 1942) 		August 22,
2011 		March 24,
2012
  Tom Mulcair
MP for Outremont
(born 1954) 		March 24,
2012 		November 5,
2015
  Rona Ambrose[NB 24]
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
  Erin O'Toole
MP for Durham
(born 1973) 		August 24,
2020 		February 2,
2022
  Candice Bergen[NB 25]
MP for Portage—Lisgar
(born 1964) 		February 2,
2022 		September 10,
2022
  Pierre Poilievre
MP for Carleton
(born 1979) 		September 10,
2022 		Incumbent

Timeline

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Pierre PoilievreCandice Bergen (politician)Erin O'TooleAndrew ScheerRona AmbroseTom MulcairNycole TurmelJack LaytonMichael IgnatieffStéphane DionBill Graham (Canadian politician)Grant Hill (politician)Stephen HarperJohn Reynolds (Canadian politician)Stockwell DayDeborah GreyPreston ManningMichel GauthierGiles DuceppeLucien BouchardJean ChrétienHerb GrayJohn TurnerBrian MulroneyEric NielsenPierre TrudeauJoe ClarkRobert StanfieldMichael Starr (politician)Lester B. PearsonLouis St. LaurentJohn DiefenbakerWilliam Earl RoweGeorge A. DrewJohn BrackenGordon GraydonRichard Hanson (Canadian politician)Robert James ManionR. B. BennettHugh GuthrieArthur MeighenWilliam Lyon Mackenzie KingDaniel Duncan McKenzieRobert BordenCharles TupperWilfrid LaurierEdward BlakeJohn A. MacdonaldAlexander Mackenzie (politician)

Deputy leaders of the Opposition

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Portrait Name
Electoral district
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office Party Leader of the
Opposition
Term start Term end
  Denis Lebel[11]
MP for Lac-Saint-Jean
(born 1954) 		November 19,
2015 		July 24,
2017 		Conservative Rona Ambrose
Andrew Scheer
  Lisa Raitt[12]
MP for Milton
(born 1968) 		July 24,
2017 		October 21,
2019
  Leona Alleslev[13]
MP for Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill
(born 1968) 		November 28,
2019 		July 12,
2020
  Candice Bergen[14][15]
MP for Portage—Lisgar
(born 1964) 		September 2,
2020 		February 2,
2022 		Erin O'Toole
  Luc Berthold[16]
MP for Mégantic—L'Érable
(born 1965 or 1966) 		February 6,
2022 		September 13,
2022 		Candice Bergen
  Melissa Lantsman
MP for Thornhill
(born 1984) 		September 13,
2022 		Incumbent Pierre Poilievre
  Tim Uppal
MP for Edmonton Mill Woods
(born 1974) 		September 13,
2022 		Incumbent

Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet

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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

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Notes

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  1. ^ John A. Macdonald died in office in 1891 while serving as prime minister. Alexander Mackenzie in 1892 and John Diefenbaker in 1979 died in office while serving as backbench MPs.
  2. ^ Tupper lost his seat in the 1900 election and resigned as party leader and Leader of the Opposition three months later.
  3. ^ Died in office.
  4. ^ McKenzie served as Leader of the Opposition from Laurier's death until King's election as leader of the Liberal Party.
  5. ^ Arthur Meighen's Conservatives formed the Official Opposition although the Progressive Party had more seats.
  6. ^ Meighen failed to win his seat and immediately resigned as leader of the Conservative Party.
  7. ^ Guthrie served as Leader of the Opposition from shortly after Meighen's resignation until Bennett's election as leader of the Conservative Party.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ The Conservative Party was renamed the Progressive Conservative Party in 1942.
  10. ^ Graydon served as Leader of the Opposition from Hanson's resignation until Bracken entered Parliament in the 20th general election.
  11. ^ Rowe served as acting Leader of the Opposition in winter 1954-55 due to Drew's poor health.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Starr served as Leader of the Opposition from Stanfield's election as PC leader until Stanfield entered Parliament via by-election.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ Graham served as interim parliamentary leader, interim Leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition until the 2006 Liberal leadership convention.
  21. ^ Ignatieff served as interim Leader of Liberal Party until being elected Leader in the 2009 Liberal leadership convention.
  22. ^ Died in office.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ 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.

References

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  1. ^ "Justin Trudeau's pay will top $400K on April 1 as politicians get raises". Global News. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  2. ^ "Conservatives elect Candice Bergen as interim party leader - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  3. ^ Role of Opposition Parties in Canada Archived March 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Compendium of Procedure, House of Commons of Canada.
  4. ^ Parliament of Canada Act, RSC 1985, c. P-1, s. 50(2), 62, 62.3, 63(2).
  5. ^ House of Commons (2017), Bosc, Marc; Gagnon, André (eds.), "Appendix 14: Standing Orders of the House of Commons", 43(1), 50(2), 74(1), 81(4), 84(7), 101(3) (3 ed.), archived from the original on September 13, 2022, retrieved September 13, 2022
  6. ^ House of Commons 2017, p. 35(2), 45(5), 73(1), 83(2), 106(2), 114(2)
  7. ^ a b Boyko, John (November 10, 2022), "Opposition Party in Canada", The Canadian Encyclopedia, Historica Canada, archived from the original on March 9, 2023, retrieved March 9, 2023
  8. ^ House of Commons 2017, p. Note 190
  9. ^ McGregor, Janyce (August 22, 2011). "Parliament and Layton's passing". CBC News. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  10. ^ a b Parliament of Canada. "Leaders of the Official Opposition". Archived from the original on April 12, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
  11. ^ "Roles - Hon. Denis Lebel". Parliament of Canada. Archived from the original on August 10, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  12. ^ "Roles - Hon. Lisa Raitt". Parliament of Canada. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  13. ^ Jones, Ryan Patrick (July 13, 2020). "Leona Alleslev steps down as Conservative deputy leader, backs MacKay's leadership bid". CBC News. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  14. ^ "Roles - Hon. Candice Bergen". Parliament of Canada. Archived from the original on September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  15. ^ "O'Toole names top Tories for Commons roles, with Bergen as deputy leader". Kamloops This Week. Retrieved September 2, 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  16. ^ "Alain Rayes resigns as Conservative Party's Quebec lieutenant". CBC News. February 6, 2022. Archived from the original on February 6, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
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