The office is not outlined in any of the documents that constitute the written portion of the Constitution of Canada; executive authority is formally vested in the sovereign and exercised on his or her behalf by the governor general. The prime ministership is part of Canada's constitutional convention tradition. The office was modelled after that which existed in Britain at the time. Sir John A. Macdonald was commissioned by the Viscount Monck on May 24, 1867 to form the first government of the Canadian Confederation. On July 1, 1867, the first ministry assumed office.[2]
The date for which a prime minister begins his or her term has been determined by the date that he or she is sworn into his or her portfolio, as an oath of office as prime minister is not required.[3] However, since 1957, the incoming prime minister has sworn an oath as prime minister.[3] Before 1920, prime ministers' resignations were accepted immediately by the governor general and the last day of the ministries were the date he died or the date of resignation.[3] Since 1920, the outgoing prime minister has only formally resigned when the new government is ready to be formed.[3] The Interpretation Act of 1967 states that "where an appointment is made effective or terminates on a specified day, that appointment is considered to be effective or to terminate after the end of the previous day."[3] Thus, although the outgoing prime minister formally resigns only hours before the incoming ministry swears their oaths, both during the day, the ministries are effectively changed at midnight the night before. Some sources, including the Parliament of Canada, apply this convention as far back as 1917.[4]
No. |
Portrait |
Name
(Birth–Death)
District |
Term of office |
Electoral mandates (Parliaments) |
Political party |
Min. |
Refs |
1 |
|
Sir John A. Macdonald
(1815–1891)
MP for Kingston, ON |
July 1, 1867
–
November 5, 1873 |
|
Liberal-Conservative Party |
1st |
[2] [5] |
Minister of Justice; Integration of Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory into Canada; Manitoba Act; Red River Rebellion; British Columbia and Prince Edward Island join confederation; Creation of the North-West Mounted Police; Resigned over Pacific Scandal |
2 |
|
Alexander Mackenzie
(1822–1892)
MP for Lambton, ON |
November 7, 1873
–
October 8, 1878 |
|
Liberal Party
Named leader in 1873 |
2nd |
[6] [7] |
Pacific Scandal; Creation of the Supreme Court; Establishment of the Royal Military College; Created the office of the Auditor General |
(1) |
|
Sir John A. Macdonald
(1815–1891)
MP for Victoria, BC until 1882
MP for Carleton, ON until 1887
MP for Kingston, ON |
October 17, 1878
–
June 6, 1891 |
|
Liberal-Conservative Party |
3rd |
[8] [9] |
National Policy; Railway to the Pacific; North-West Rebellion; Hanging of Louis Riel. Died in office (stroke). |
3 |
|
Sir John Abbott
(1821–1893)
Senator for Quebec |
June 16, 1891
–
November 24, 1892 |
|
Liberal-Conservative Party |
4th |
[10] [11] |
Minister without Portfolio; Succeeded on Macdonald's death due to objections to the Catholic John Thompson. In ill health; retired. First of only two prime ministers to serve while in the Senate. |
4 |
|
Sir John Thompson
(1845–1894)
MP for Antigonish, NS |
December 5, 1892
–
December 12, 1894 |
|
Liberal-Conservative Party |
5th |
[12] [13] |
Minister of Justice; First Catholic Prime Minister. Manitoba Schools Question. Died in office (heart attack). |
5 |
|
Sir Mackenzie Bowell
(1823–1917)
Senator for Ontario |
December 21, 1894
–
April 27, 1896 |
|
Conservative Party (historical) |
6th |
[14] [15] |
Minister of Customs; Minister of Militia and Defence; Manitoba Schools Question. Last prime minister to serve while in the Senate. |
6 |
|
Sir Charles Tupper
(1821–1915)
Did not serve in Parliament while Prime Minister |
May 1, 1896
–
July 8, 1896 |
|
Conservative Party (historical) |
7th |
[16] [17] |
Minister of Customs, Minister of Railways and Canals; Oldest Canadian PM. Aimed to defeat Patrons of Industry, but dominated by Manitoba Schools Question. Never sat in parliament as Prime Minister. |
7 |
|
Sir Wilfrid Laurier
(1841–1919)
MP for Quebec East, QC |
July 11, 1896
–
October 6, 1911 |
|
Liberal Party
Named leader in 1887 |
8th |
[18] [19] |
Manitoba Schools Question; Boer War; Alberta and Saskatchewan created; Creation of the Royal Canadian Navy; Reciprocity with the US; Department of External Affairs established; First French Canadian Prime Minister, removed the right of status Indians to vote. |
8 |
|
Sir Robert Borden
(1854–1937)
MP for Halifax, NS until 1917
MP for Kings, NS |
October 10, 1911
–
October 11, 1917 |
|
Conservative Party (historical)
Named leader in 1901 |
9th |
[19] [20] [21] |
October 12,1917
–
July 10, 1920 |
|
Unionist Party |
10th |
First World War; Military Service Act; Conscription Crisis of 1917; Union government; National Research Council; Introduction of income tax; Nickle Resolution; Women's suffrage; Suppression of Winnipeg General Strike; Canada sits at the Paris Peace Conference, signs the Treaty of Versailles and joins League of Nations. |
9 |
|
Arthur Meighen
(1874–1960)
MP for Portage la Prairie, MB |
July 10, 1920
–
December 29, 1921 |
|
National Liberal and Conservative Party
Named leader in 1920 |
11th |
[22] [23] |
Solicitor General of Canada, Minister of Mines, Secretary of State for Canada, Minister of the Interior, Superintendant Indian Affairs; Grand Trunk Railway placed under control of Canadian National Railways. |
10 |
|
William Lyon Mackenzie King
(1874–1950)
MP for York North, ON until 1925
MP for Prince Albert, SK |
December 29, 1921
–
June 28, 1926 |
|
Liberal Party
Named leader in 1919 |
12th |
[24] [25] |
Minister of Labour; Chanak Crisis; lower tariffs; reinstated Crowsnest Pass Agreement; 1923 Imperial Conference; Halibut Treaty; Continued after 1925 with third party Progressive support until resigning after his request for an election was refused by Governor General Lord Byng. |
(9) |
|
Arthur Meighen
(1874–1960)
MP for Portage la Prairie, MB |
June 29, 1926
–
September 25, 1926 |
|
Conservative Party (historical) |
13th |
[22] [26] |
Appointed as a result of the King–Byng Affair. |
(10) |
|
William Lyon Mackenzie King
(1874–1950)
MP for Prince Albert, SK |
September 25, 1926
–
August 7, 1930 |
|
Liberal Party |
14th |
[24] [27] |
Balfour Declaration; Introduction of old age pensions; first Canadian envoys with full diplomatic status sent to foreign countries (USA, France, Japan); Great Depression. |
11 |
|
R. B. Bennett
(1870–1947)
MP for Calgary West, AB |
August 7, 1930
–
October 23, 1935 |
|
Conservative Party (historical)
Named leader in 1927 |
15th |
[28] [29] |
Minister of Justice, Minister of Finance; Great Depression; Imperial Preference; Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission; Canadian Wheat Board; Creation of the Bank of Canada. |
(10) |
|
William Lyon Mackenzie King
(1874–1950)
MP for Prince Albert, SK until 1945
MP for Glengarry, ON |
October 23, 1935
–
November 15, 1948 |
|
Liberal Party |
16th |
[24] [30] |
Creation of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation; National Film Board of Canada; Unemployment Insurance Act of 1940; Nationalization of the Bank of Canada; Second World War; Conscription Crisis of 1944; Canada's entry into the United Nations; Trans-Canada Airlines; Gouzenko Affair. |
12 |
|
Louis St. Laurent
(1882–1973)
MP for Quebec East, QC |
November 15, 1948
–
June 21, 1957 |
|
Liberal Party
Named leader in 1948 |
17th |
[31] [32] |
Minister of Justice, Secretary of State for External Affairs; Dominion of Newfoundland joins confederation; right of appeal to Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ended; Canada's entrance into NATO; Suez Crisis; Creation of the United Nations Emergency Force; London Declaration; Newfoundland Act; Equalization; Trans-Canada Highway; St. Lawrence Seaway; Trans-Canada Pipeline; Pipeline Debate. |
13 |
|
John Diefenbaker
(1895–1979)
MP for Prince Albert, SK |
June 21, 1957
–
April 22, 1963 |
|
Progressive Conservative Party
Named leader in 1956 |
18th |
[33] [34] |
Avro Arrow cancellation; Coyne Affair; Cuban Missile Crisis; NORAD; Canadian Bill of Rights; Allowed status aboriginals to vote in federal elections 1960; Alouette 1 satellite programme. |
14 |
|
Lester B. Pearson
(1897–1972)
MP for Algoma East, ON |
April 22, 1963
–
April 20, 1968 |
|
Liberal Party
Named leader in 1958 |
19th |
[35] [36] |
Secretary of State for External Affairs; Bomarc missile program; Federal involvement in universal healthcare; Canada Pension Plan; Canada Student Loans; Creation of a new Canadian flag; Auto Pact; Rejection of troop deployment to Vietnam; Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism; Unification of the Armed Forces; Canadian Centennial Celebrations. |
15 |
|
Pierre Trudeau
(1919–2000)
MP for Mount Royal, QC |
April 20, 1968
–
June 3/4,[*] 1979 |
|
Liberal Party
Named leader in 1968 |
20th |
[37] |
Minister of Justice; "Trudeaumania"; "Just Society"; October Crisis and Use of the War Measures Act; Official Languages Act; Establishment of relations with Communist China; Victoria Charter; Creation of Petro-Canada; Membership in the G7; Metric Commission. |
16 |
|
Joe Clark
(b. 1939)
MP for Yellowhead, AB |
June 4, 1979
–
March 2/3,[*] 1980 |
|
Progressive Conservative Party
Named leader in 1976 |
21st |
[38] |
Youngest Canadian PM. Defeated in a motion of no confidence on first budget. |
(15) |
|
Pierre Trudeau
(1919–2000)
MP for Mount Royal, QC |
March 3, 1980
–
June 29/30,[*] 1984 |
|
Liberal Party |
22nd |
[37] |
Quebec referendum, 1980; Access to Information Act; Patriation of the Canadian Constitution; Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; National Energy Program; Canada Health Act; Western alienation. |
17 |
|
John Turner
(b. 1929)
Did not serve in Parliament while Prime Minister |
June 30, 1984
–
September 16/17,[*] 1984 |
|
Liberal Party
Named leader in 1984 |
23rd |
[39] |
Minister of Justice, Minister of Finance; Trudeau Patronage Appointments. Never sat in parliament as Prime Minister. |
18 |
|
Brian Mulroney
(b. 1939)
MP for Manicouagan, QC until 1988
MP for Charlevoix, QC |
September 17, 1984
–
June 24/25,[*] 1993 |
|
Progressive Conservative Party
Named leader in 1983 |
24th |
[40] |
Cancellation of the National Energy Program; Meech Lake Accord; Petro-Canada privatization; Canada-US Free Trade Agreement; Introduction of the Good and Services Tax; Charlottetown Accord; Gulf War; Oka Crisis; Environmental Protection Act; North American Free Trade Agreement; Airbus affair. |
19 |
|
Kim Campbell
(b. 1947)
MP for Vancouver Centre, BC |
June 25, 1993
–
November 3/4,[*] 1993 |
|
Progressive Conservative Party
Named leader in 1993 |
25th |
[41] |
Minister of Justice, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Minister of National Defence, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs; First female Prime Minister of Canada. Defeated and lost her seat in 1993 election. |
20 |
|
Jean Chrétien
(b. 1934)
MP for Saint-Maurice, QC |
November 4, 1993
–
December 11/12,[*] 2003 |
|
Liberal Party
Named leader in 1990 |
26th |
[42] |
Minister of Finance, Minister of Indian Affairs, Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Minister of Justice and Energy Minister, President of the Treasury Board, Minister of National Revenue, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada; Red Book; Harmonized Sales Tax; Quebec referendum, 1995; Clarity Act; Assassination attempt; Kosovo War; 1997 Red River Flood; Social Union Framework Agreement; Creation of Nunavut Territory; Youth Criminal Justice Act; Invasion of Afghanistan; Opposition to the Invasion of Iraq; Sponsorship scandal; Kyoto Protocol; Gomery Inquiry. |
21 |
|
Paul Martin
(b. 1938)
MP for LaSalle—Émard, QC |
December 12, 2003
–
February 5/6,[*] 2006 |
|
Liberal Party
Named leader in 2003 |
27th |
[40] |
Minister of Finance; Minority government. Civil Marriage Act; Kelowna Accord; Rejection of US Anti-Missile Treaty; Sponsorship scandal; Gomery inquiry; G20; Atlantic Accord; Martin and his father Paul Martin Sr have the honorific title of Right Honourable |
22 |
|
Stephen Harper
(b. 1959)
MP for Calgary Southwest, AB |
February 6, 2006
–
November 3/4,[*] 2015 |
|
Conservative Party
Named leader in 2004 |
28th |
[43] |
Accountability Act; Afghanistan Mission; Québécois nation motion; Apologies for Residential Schools and Head Tax; 2008 Financial crisis; Coalition crisis; Afghan detainee issue; Parliamentary contempt; Withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol; Repeal of the Long-Gun Registry; Senate expenses scandal. |
23 |
|
Justin Trudeau
(b. 1971)
MP for Papineau, QC |
November 4, 2015
–
Incumbent |
|
Liberal Party
Named leader in 2013 |
29th |
[44] |
Son of 15th Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau; simultaneously Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Youth; second father and son pair with honorific title of Right Honourable |
- Min. Minority government
- LS Party won the election, but prime minister lost own seat
- * The Interpretation Act of 1967 states that "where an appointment is made effective or terminates on a specified day, that appointment is considered to be effective or to terminate after the end of the previous day." Under the Act, Prime Ministers' tenures are therefore credited as having concluded at the end of their last full day in office (the earlier date given), although their resignation was received by the Governor General on the following day. This provision applies to Trudeau in 1979[45] and 1984,[46] Clark,[47] Turner,[48] Mulroney,[49] Campbell,[50] Chrétien,[51] Martin,[51] and Harper.[51]
|
As of June 2016, there are seven living former Prime Ministers of Canada, the oldest being John Turner (born 1929). The most recent former Prime Minister to die was Pierre Trudeau (1968–1979, 1980–1984), on September 28, 2000. John A. Macdonald (1867–1873, 1878–1891) and John Thompson (1892–1894) are the only serving Prime Ministers to have died in office.