Swearing-In Ceremony
Swearing-In of a New Prime Minister and Members of the Canadian Ministry
When a new government is formed, the governor general presides over the swearing-in of the prime minister of Canada and members of his Ministry during a ceremony in the Ballroom at Rideau Hall. Here is background information on the sequence of events.
- The ministers-designate arrive at Rideau Hall.
- The prime minister-designate arrives at the Residence’s main entrance and meets with the governor general.
- The swearing-in ceremony begins.
- The swearing-in of the prime minister-designate begins.
- The Oath of Office is administered to the prime minister-designate by the clerk of the Privy Council at the commencement of the swearing-in ceremony of the new ministry (if the prime minister-designate is not already a member of the Privy Council, he or she will first take the Oath of Allegiance and the Privy Councillor’s Oath, before taking the Oath of Office).
- The prime minister-designate signs the oath book(s), followed by the governor general and the clerk of the Privy Council.
- The newly sworn-in prime minister signs the Instrument of Advice nominating his ministry and presents it to the governor general.
- The governor general signs the Instrument of Advice to accept the recommendations by the prime minister.
- The swearing-in of the new ministry begins, commencing with the ministers-designate who are already members of the Privy Council, followed by those who are not. Like the prime minister-designate, they take their respective oaths and sign their respective oath books.
- Following the swearing-in of the last member of the ministry, the governor general, the prime minister and the clerk of the Privy Council sign the oath books to formally attest to the swearing-in of the ministry.
- Then, the minister of Industry, who also has responsibilities as the registrar general of Canada, is entrusted with the Great Seal of Canada by the governor general.
- The swearing-in ceremony ends with the singing of the National Anthem.
- An official photo of the governor general with the prime minister and Cabinet is taken.