Although there is no mention of the Prime Minister in Canada’s constitution, as head of government, the Prime Minister is part of both the executive and legislative branches of government.
To become the Prime Minister, a candidate must first be chosen as the leader of their political party. Different parties elect their leaders in different ways, but most often they are chosen at party leadership conventions—large meetings specifically intended for the election of a party leader. After becoming party leader, the candidate’s party must win sufficient seats in the House of Commons to become the governing party, that is, the government. In other words, unlike systems of government (i.e., the United States) where the leader of the country is elected directly, in Canada, the Prime Minister is simply the head of the party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons.
To become the Prime Minister, a candidate must first be chosen as the leader of their political party. Different parties elect their leaders in different ways, but most often they are chosen at party leadership conventions—large meetings specifically intended for the election of a party leader. After becoming party leader, the candidate’s party must win sufficient seats in the House of Commons to become the governing party, that is, the government. In other words, unlike systems of government (i.e., the United States) where the leader of the country is elected directly, in Canada, the Prime Minister is the head of the party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons.
Ultimately, the Prime Minister possesses significant influence in the federal government of Canada. Such control has given way to concerns about whether the Prime Minister is vested with too much authority, particularly regarding the centralization of decision-making. The Prime Minister’s control over their party, Cabinet, judicial and Senate appointments reflect this influence.
Additional Resources:
- CBC News Video on “How Prime Ministers Choose Their Cabinets.”
- Article from the McGill News on Ian Brodie’s At the Centre of Government: “Is the Prime Minister Too Powerful”
- Policy Options 2003 op-ed on the shifting nature of Prime Ministerial power by Paul Thomas.
Contributors: Robbie Brown, Austen Garrido, and Gabriela Tiju