Fellow Canadians, do you have a favourite Prime Minister (PM)? Or rather, who do you think is the best or worst among them all? These questions certainly feel relevant now that the country is set to have a new Prime Minister by October this year.
Different Canadians would have different parameters when it comes to determining the performance of the Prime Minister as the Head of Government beyond their political affiliations. To understand what this position actually entails, we shall discuss the following points in this article:
Key Takeaways
- Notable Canadian PMs from different parties
- The process of becoming PM
- Domestic and international roles of PM
- What's next for Canada
⭐Canada's Prime Ministers: Who Are Most Remembered?
Since the Confederation, Canada has had 23 Prime Ministers. Some of these PMs have served a single term or multiple terms, either consecutively or non-consecutively, depending on the confidence of the government. Here is the list of Canadian PMs over the years.
| Order | Prime Minister | Political Party |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John A. Macdonald | Liberal-Conservative |
| 2 | Alexander Mackenzie | Liberal |
| 3 | John Abbott | Liberal–Conservative |
| 4 | John Sparrow David Thompson | Liberal–Conservative |
| 5 | Mackenzie Bowell | Conservative |
| 6 | Charles Tupper | Conservative |
| 7 | Wilfrid Laurier | Liberal |
| 8 | Robert Borden | Unionist |
| 9 | Arthur Meighen | Conservative |
| 10 | William Lyon Mackenzie King | Liberal |
| 11 | R. B. Bennett | Conservative |
| 12 | Louis St. Laurent | Liberal |
| 13 | John Diefenbaker | Progressive Conservative |
| 14 | Lester B. Pearson | Liberal |
| 15 | Pierre Trudeau | Liberal |
| 16 | Joe Clark | Progressive Conservative |
| 17 | John Turner | Liberal |
| 18 | Brian Mulroney | Progressive Conservative |
| 19 | Kim Campbell | Progressive Conservative |
| 20 | Jean Chrétien | Liberal |
| 21 | Paul Martin | Liberal |
| 22 | Stephen Harper | Conservative |
| 23 | Justin Trudeau | Liberal |
Do bear in mind that 'the best PM' is a subjective concept, even in national polls and rankings among Canadians. To have a broad view of comparison, we'll be focusing on four highly ranked PMs from four different political parties that have been in government in terms of contributions and legacies.
John A. McDonald (Liberal Conservative)
Pierre Trudeau (Liberal)
Brian Mulroney (Progressive Conservative)
Stephen Harper (Conservative)
👨💼👩💼How Is A Canadian Prime Minister Elected?
Before becoming the PM in the country, an individual must first win a seat in the House of Commons as a Member of Parliament (MP) in a federal election. Additionally, they must lead the political party that secures the most seats in the House of Commons, typically forming the government. The Governor General later formally appoints the leader of the winning party as PM.
For instance, the 23rd PM of Canada, Justin Trudeau won a seat as the MP of the riding of Papineau, in Montreal, Quebec, and was the head of the Liberal Party Canada (LPC) during the previous election.
There is no limit to the terms a PM can serve in the country as long as they remain the undisputed party leader and the party secures the confidence of the House of Commons. This goes to say that he or she must continue to defend their MP seat successfully in the federal elections that are held once every four years.
According to the official site of the Parliament of Canada, here is the breakdown of the PM's salary:
- Basic Salary of PM: 203,100.00 CA$
- Basic Salary as an MP: 203,100.00 CA$
- Car allowance of PM: 2,000.00 CA$
- Total: 408,200 CA$ (The amount could differ according to yearly revision)
Important note: A former Canadian PM who has lost their position can still contest subsequent federal elections. If they win their seat and their party regains enough support to form the government, they can once again become PM for the next term of office.
So far, four Canadian PMs have served non-consecutive terms when they once lost their position — John A. Macdonald, Arthur Meighen, William Lyon Mackenzie King, and Pierre Trudeau.
🍁Domestic Job Scopes of A Prime Minister
The PM is first and foremost answerable to various responsibilities within the country. We'll focus on three major ones and key examples in this paragraph.
As the leader of the executive branch of the government, they play an active role in developing and implementing government policies, especially for new development projects.
Next, the Prime Minister is also in charge of appointing major roles to national governance, whether in terms of Governor General recommendation, Cabinet ministers, Supreme Court Justices, or a few more.
Finally, the Prime Minister needs to be on top of every crisis management such as unpredictable natural disasters, and even pandemics, serving as a chief spokesperson and key decisionmaker.
🌐International Job Scope Of A Prime Minister
Now, let's talk about the international roles of the PM. Similarly, we'll also review the three major ones and examples.
The Prime Minister plays a leading role in the foreign diplomacy of the country alongside the Global Affairs Canada. It's a continuous, long-term process through overseas engagement such as official country visits whether it's with their allies or to a country to establish new relations bilaterally. The father and son duo, Pierre Trudeau and Justin Trudeau are known to prioritise global outreach and trading relationships during their term in office.
👨Pierre Trudeau
- First Canadian PM to visit China during the Cold War.
- Had a 17-day state visit to Asian countries including Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore in 1983.
👨🦱Justin Trudeau
- First Canadian PM to visit Laos in 2024.
- Had a week-long state visit to India and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.
Additionally, they are also expected to participate in global summits such as the World Economic Forum, United Nations Summit, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and many more as a representative and advocate for foreign policies and partnerships that will benefit the country.
Finally, the Head of Government is also responsible for finalizing partnerships and agreements about the country's economic, security, and environmental interests. That's the reason why the Prime Minister's state visits and active participation are necessary to send a message to the world leaders about the country's stand and viewpoint. This is done through active negotiation between the direct heads of governments, or participating countries.
Some examples include:
- The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) by Brian Mulroney
- Canada-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement by Stephen Harper
- The Paris Agreement on Climate Change by Justin Trudeau
🗳️The Current PM Landscape: What To Expect?
Perhaps one of the most pressing (if not, the most) issues that Canadians are facing right now is the journey to have a new PM by October this year. 2024 has seen various polls indicating the lack of support and confidence in Justin Trudeau and his shaky relations with the LPC. Trudeau's former finance minister, Chrystia Freeland reportedly resigned abruptly due to the tariff threats (25 per cent) posed by newly elected President of the United States of America, Donald Trump.
With increased pressure from his own affiliation and the opposition to step down from his position, Justin Trudeau officially announced his resignation on the 6th of January. He will remain the country's Prime Minister until the new LPC head is elected.
To this date, two people have announced their intention to run as the new head of the LPC: Mark Carney, the former bank governor of Canada, and Chrystia Freeland herself. The person who wins the party election will be a PM candidate if the LPC manages to secure a majority government during the upcoming federal election. Another popular PM candidate is Pierre Poilievre from the Conservative Party who has recently gained traction among the respondents of various popularity polls amidst the happenings.
Who is set to be Canada's next PM?
To understand the different dynamics of the political scene in the country, you can always connect with an experienced politics tutor. At Superprof, you can meet different tutors with different tutoring specializations, tutoring levels, tutoring locations, and even hourly rates. Just indicate your desired subject to learn (politics), and preferred learning mode (online or offline lessons) to start browsing the tutors' profiles.
Many Superprof tutors offer their first lesson for free, so take this as an amazing opportunity to explore this subject lightheartedly by discussing your learning expectations, and learning needs with your tutor.
We hope this article has offered you some insights on some notable Canadian PMs in history as well as their roles in the government. As the famous saying goes, "With great power, comes great responsibilities". The price of being at the top of the nation's leadership comes with great responsibilities and commitment. Future voters, the future of this country is in your hands.
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