Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada is the largely ceremonial council of advisors to the Queen of Canada, whose members are appointed by her Governor-General in Canada for life on the advice of the Prime Minister. It was established by the British North America Act 1867, and is modelled on the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.The formal authority of the council is exercised by the Prime Minister and his cabinet. All Orders-in-Council of the Governor-General must be made on the recommendation of a Privy Counsellor, invariably a government minister.
At present the membership of the Council comprises all current and former federal cabinet ministerss, Speakers of the House of Commons and Speakers of the Senate, Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada, and other distinguished persons recommended by the Prime Minister as a special honour. See also List of members of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada.
Ministers are the only automatic appointees, though various non-cabinet members have been appointed since 1891. Provincial premiers do not automatically become Privy Counsellors, but have been made members on special occasions (e.g. the centennial of Canadian Confederation, 1967; the patriation of the Constitution of Canada, 1982; the 125th anniversary of Confederation, 1992).
Privy Counsellors are entitled to the style "Honourable" (or if a serving or former Governor-General, Prime Minister or Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, "Right Honourable"). The post-nominal initials "P.C." are also used on envelopes.
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.
See also: