In the Canadian cabinet, the President of The Queen's Privy Council for Canada (French: President du Conseil privé de la Reine pour le Canada) is nominally in charge of the Privy Council Office. The President of the Privy Council also has the largely ceremonial duty of presiding over meetings of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, a body which only convenes in full for affairs of state such as the accession of a new Sovereign or the marriage of the Prince of Wales or heir presumptive to the Throne (see Monarchy in Canada). Accordingly the last time the President of the Privy Council had to preside over a meeting of the Privy Council was in 1981 on the occasion of HRH The Prince of Wales' engagement to Lady Diana Spencer. It is the equivalent of the office of Lord President of the Council in the United Kingdom.
Under Prime Ministers Pierre Trudeau and Joe Clark the position was synonymous with that of Government House Leader. In 1989 the Government House Leader became a separate position and the President of the Privy Council became a largely honorary title (not unlike that of Deputy Prime Minister of Canada) given to a senior minister in addition to other portfolios. From 1993 to present, with the exception of a brief period from December 12, 2003 to July 19, 2004, it has been held by whomever holds the portfolio of Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. In the past decade the position has generally been seen to be the closest thing to a sinecure posting within the Cabinet.
The position of President is currently held by Peter Penashue.
Read more about President Of The Queen's Privy Council For Canada: Presidents of The Privy Council
Famous quotes containing the words president of the, president, queen, privy, council and/or canada:
“The President of the United States ... should strive to be always mindful of the fact that he serves his party best who serves his country best.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)
“There can only be one Commander-in-Chief. In these times, crises cannot be managed and wars cannot be waged by committee. To the ears of the world, the President speaks for the nation. While he is of course ultimately accountable to Congress, the courts, and the people, he and his emissaries must not be handicapped in advance in their relations with foreign governments as has sometimes happened in the past.”
—Gerald R. Ford (b. 1913)
“Queen Jane was in labor
Six weeks and some more;
The women grew wearied,
And the midwife gave o’er.”
—Unknown. The Death of Queen Jane (l. 1–4)
“Before me you are a slug in the sun. You are privy to a great becoming and you recognize nothing. You are an ant in the afterbirth. It is in your nature to do one thing correctly: tremble.”
—Michael Mann, U.S. screenwriter. Frances Dollarhyde, aka “The Tooth Fairy” (Tom Noonan)
“Daughter to that good Earl, once President
Of England’s Council and her Treasury,
Who lived in both, unstain’d with gold or fee,
And left them both, more in himself content.
Till the sad breaking of that Parliament
Broke him, as that dishonest victory
At Chaeronea, fatal to liberty,
Kill’d with report that old man eloquent;—”
—John Milton (1608–1674)
“I do not consider divorce an evil by any means. It is just as much a refuge for women married to brutal men as Canada was to the slaves of brutal masters.”
—Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906)