History
The position of deputy prime minister was created by Pierre Trudeau in 1977, largely to recognize the long years of service of Allan J. MacEachen. Trudeau had previously given the title of Senior Minister to a member of his cabinet; Paul Hellyer served as Senior Minister prior to his resignation from Trudeau's cabinet.
Joe Clark's brief-lived government did not have a deputy prime minister.
Canada's most recent deputy prime minister was Anne McLellan, who in 2006 was also the first deputy prime minister to lose her seat in the House of Commons.
Current Prime Minister Stephen Harper has not formally designated a deputy prime minister, although he has given special status in the line of authority to members of his cabinet, similar to that which would be accorded to a deputy prime minister. Under an order-in-council issued by Governor General Michaëlle Jean on February 6, 2006 — the day Harper was appointed prime minister — when "the prime minister is unable to perform the functions of his office" Lawrence Cannon, then Jim Prentice, then the balance of the cabinet by order of precedence, "is authorized to act for the prime minister." Previous prime ministers have had similar orders-in-council, under which the deputy prime minister, and then the balance of the cabinet in order of precedence, have been authorized to act for the prime minister.
In the 41st Canadian Parliament, neither Cannon nor Prentice is still sitting as a Member of Parliament; the current order-in-council names Marjory LeBreton, the current Leader of the Government in the Senate, as the first person authorized to act for the prime minister.
Read more about this topic: Deputy Prime Minister Of Canada
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