Advisory Council
The Advisory Council for the Order of Canada and the nomination review process
The Advisory Council for the Order of Canada is a duly constituted and independent advisory council that is chaired by the Chief Justice of Canada. The current chair decided at the outset that her role would be best fulfilled by staying neutral on individual nominations. The chair’s role is to manage the meeting and the deliberations, so that members of the Advisory Council may give their views on individual cases before a vote is called. The practice of the chair is not to vote or to take a position for or against nominations, except on the rare occurrence of a tied vote.
The Advisory Council reviews all nominations and transmits its decisions to the Governor General. A vote is held on each nomination and there must be a majority of votes for the candidate to be appointed to the Order of Canada. A unanimous vote is not required.
When a nomination does not receive a majority of votes, the Council may request the nomination be held for a period of time and brought forward for review at a future date, allowing the candidate to continue to contribute in his/her field of endeavour. If a candidate is not recommended for appointment, the nomination may be reconsidered at a later date if new information becomes available or if a nomination is re-submitted. A nomination may be presented on more than one occasion.
All deliberations of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada, as well as for any Canadian honour, are confidential.
Members of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada
Ms. Kim Baird, C.M.
Dr. Elizabeth Cannon
Chair, Universities Canada
Ms. France Chrétien Desmarais, C.M.
Dr. Jean-Marie De Koninck, O.C., C.Q.
Mr. Graham Flack
Deputy Minister, Canadian Heritage
Dr. Monique Aubry Frize, O.C.
Mr. Daniel Ish, O.C., Q.C.
Dr. Maryse Lassonde, O.C., C.Q.
President, The Royal Society of Canada
Mr. Pierre Lassonde, C.M., O.Q
Chair, Canada Council for the Arts
Mr. Patrick McGrath, O.C.
The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, P.C.
Chief Justice of Canada (Chair)
Mr. Michael Wernick,
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet
Mr. W. Brett Wilson, C.M., S.O.M.
