View source for Deputy Prime Minister of Canada

{{Short description|Cabinet position in the Canadian government}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Deputy Prime Minister
| body = Canada
| native_name = {{lang|fr|Vice-premier ministre du Canada}}
| insignia = 
| insigniasize = 
| image = 
| incumbent = 
| incumbentsince = 
| department = {{nowrap|[[Government of Canada#Executive power|Government of Canada]]<!-- Big-g "Government of Canada" IS the executive branch (King-in-Council); no need to specify. --><br />[[Privy Council Office (Canada)|Privy Council Office]]}}
| style = [[The Honourable]]
| member_of = {{hlist|[[Parliament of Canada|Parliament]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/MarleauMontpetit/DocumentViewer.aspx?DocId=1001&Lang=E&Sec=Ch01&Seq=3|title=House of Commons Procedure and Practice|publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada|year=2000|isbn=2-89461-378-4|editor-last=Marleau|editor-first=Robert|location=Ottawa|chapter=Parliamentary Institutions|editor-last2=Montpetit|editor-first2=Camille}}</ref>|[[Privy Council of Canada|Privy Council]]|[[Cabinet of Canada|Cabinet]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/About/OurProcedure/ParliamentaryFramework/c_g_parliamentaryframework-e.htm|title=The Canadian Parliamentary system - Our Procedure - House of Commons|website=www.ourcommons.ca|access-date=2020-04-20}}</ref>}}
| reports_to = {{hlist|[[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]]|[[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/report/rev-exa/ar-er-eng.pdf|title=Review of the Responsibilities and Accountabilities of Ministers and Senior Officials|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205114945/https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/report/rev-exa/ar-er-eng.pdf|archive-date=December 5, 2019}}</ref>}}
| appointer = [[Monarchy of Canada|Monarch]] (represented by the [[Governor General of Canada|governor general]])
| appointer_qualified = on the [[Advice (constitutional)|advice]] of the prime minister
| termlength = [[At {{ucfirst:{{Canadian monarch, current|genderp=~}}}} Majesty's pleasure]]
| formation = September 16, 1977
| inaugural = [[Allan MacEachen]]
| salary = {{nowrap|{{CAD|299,900|link=yes}} (2024)<ref group="NB">Including a basic sessional indemnity of CA$203,100 as Member of Parliament.</ref><ref name=salary>{{Cite web| url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Salaries|title=Indemnities, Salaries and Allowances| accessdate=April 2, 2024| publisher=Parliament of Canada}}</ref>}}
| website = 
}}
{{Politics of Canada}}

The '''deputy prime minister of Canada'''<!--"deputy prime minister" is uncapitalized here because it is preceded by modifier "The", per [[MOS:JOBTITLES]] bullet 3 and table column 2 example 1. Any proposal for modification to the guideline should be posted at its talk page, [[WT:MOSBIO]].--> ({{langx|fr|vice-première ministre du Canada}})<ref group="NB">When the position is held by a male, the French title is ''vice-premier ministre du Canada"''</ref> is a position in the [[Cabinet of Canada|Canadian Cabinet]] which is created from time to time by the [[prime minister of Canada]], who has the power to designate a [[Cabinet minister]] as the deputy prime minister. That position does not have any standing at law and does not automatically have any formal duties.  It does not have an associated departmental portfolio, since it is almost always conferred on an individual who already holds a position as Cabinet minister. As a Cabinet minister, deputy prime ministers are appointed to the [[Queen's Privy Council for Canada|Privy Council]] and styled as [[the Honourable]] ({{langx|fr|l'honorable|link=no}}), a privilege maintained for life.

There is currently no position of deputy prime minister.  There was no deputy prime minister under Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]], nor initially under Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]] until November 20, 2019, when he appointed [[Chrystia Freeland]]. While deputy prime minister, she served concurrently first as [[Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs|minister of intergovernmental affairs]], then as [[Minister of Finance (Canada)|minister of finance]].  She [[Resignation of Chrystia Freeland|resigned her Cabinet positions]] in December 2024. Neither Trudeau nor his successor, Prime Minister [[Mark Carney]], have recreated the position.

The deputy prime minister should not be confused with the position of the [[Clerk of the Privy Council (Canada)|clerk of the Privy Council]], who is effectively the [[Deputy minister (Canada)|deputy minister]] (the senior civil servant in a department) of the prime minister's department (which is the [[Privy Council Office (Canada)|Privy Council Office]]).

==History==
The position of deputy prime minister was first created by [[Pierre Trudeau]] in 1977, largely to recognize the long years of service of [[Allan J. MacEachen|Allan MacEachen]].<ref name="OttawaCitizen-1982-11-10" /> Before then, Trudeau had given the title of ''senior minister'' to a member of his cabinet.<ref name="OttawaCitizen-1982-11-10" /> The last to occupy that position was [[Paul Hellyer]].<ref name="OttawaCitizen-1982-11-10" />

Prime Minister [[Joe Clark]] did not have a deputy prime minister. Similarly, Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]] did not designate a deputy prime minister,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160214083138/http://www.ctvnews.ca/what-powers-do-deputy-pms-hold-and-where-is-harper-s-1.528136 "What powers do deputy PMs hold? And where is Harper's?"]. [[CTV News]], July 4, 2010.</ref> nor did Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]] until the appointment of [[Chrystia Freeland]] in 2019, after his second electoral victory.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-chrystia-freeland-deputy-pm-trudeau-cabinet-shuffle/|title=Trudeau appointing Freeland as deputy prime minister in cabinet shuffle, officials say|last=LeBlanc|first=Daniel, and Robert Fife|date=19 November 2019|website=The Globe and Mail|access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref> Prior to Freeland's appointment, Canada's most recent deputy prime minister had been [[Anne McLellan]] appointed by Prime Minister [[Paul Martin]].

Harper gave special status in the line of authority to members of his cabinet: under an [[order-in-council|Order in Council]] issued 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 [[Canadian order of precedence|order of precedence]], were "authorized to act for the prime minister".<ref>PC 2006-1422, available at http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/oic-ddc.asp?viewattach=15421 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424040603/http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/oic-ddc.asp?viewattach=15421 |date=April 24, 2014 }} {{full citation needed|date=October 2015}}</ref> This order was followed by a number of others updating the list; in each case, the top person on that list was apponited the vice-chair of the cabinet's [[Priorities and Planning Committee]].<ref name="akin">[http://blogs.canoe.com/davidakin/politics/your-new-de-facto-deputy-prime-minister-senator-marjory-lebreton/ "Your new de facto deputy prime minister: Senator Marjory LeBreton"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903224117/http://blogs.canoe.com/davidakin/politics/your-new-de-facto-deputy-prime-minister-senator-marjory-lebreton/ |date=2015-09-03 }}. [[canoe.ca]], May 22, 2011.</ref> 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. Media analysts generally credited the top person on these lists as being the ''de facto'' deputy prime minister,<ref name="akin" /> although the title was never conferred. These "order of precedence" lists have no status as a formal [[line of succession]], however, and would carry no special weight in determining who would take over as the new prime minister if an incumbent died in office or was forced to suddenly resign in advance of a leadership convention.

Cannon seconded the ''[[pro forma]]'' bill to start the first session of the [[39th Canadian Parliament]]; the bill is introduced before the House takes the [[Speech from the Throne]] under consideration to maintain the right of the House to consider matters other than those directed to it by the crown. Traditionally, either the deputy prime minister or [[Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (Canada)|government house leader]] seconds this bill.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=1&DocId=2154159 |title=Journals (No. 002) |publisher=.parl.gc.ca |access-date=2010-07-05}}</ref>

Similarly, no deputy prime minister was named in the first cabinet of incumbent prime minister [[Justin Trudeau]]. [[Ralph Goodale]] was deputy leader of the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal Party]] and had been ranked first in the "order of precedence" in the cabinet. An order in council designated him as first in line to assume the prime minister's duties in the event Trudeau ever became incapacitated.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/oic-ddc.asp?viewattach=31592 |title=List of Ministers to act for the Prime Minister in the event of his unable to perform functions of his office |access-date=February 21, 2016 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305070544/http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/oic-ddc.asp?viewattach=31592 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, media analysts focused on [[Dominic Leblanc]], who despite having been lower in the official order of precedence served on numerous cabinet committees and as the government's liaison with the [[Senate of Canada|Senate]], as being the "de facto deputy prime minister".<ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/political-notebook-an-old-family-friend-becomes-trudeaus-right-hand-man/article27142359/ "Political Notebook: An old family friend becomes Trudeau's right-hand man"]. ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', November 6, 2015.</ref>

Following the [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019 federal election]], which saw the Liberals returned to power in a [[minority government]] but being shut out of the western provinces of [[Alberta]] and [[Saskatchewan]], Goodale was defeated in the Saskatchewan riding of [[Regina—Wascana]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://leaderpost.com/news/politics/election-2019/election-2019-goodale-loses-seat-in-regina-wascana|title=Election 2019: Goodale loses seat in Regina-Wascana|last=Martin|first=Ashley|date=22 October 2019|website=Regina Leader-Post|access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref> while Leblanc was reelected in his [[New Brunswick]] riding of [[Beauséjour (electoral district)|Beauséjour]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2019/10/21/dominic-leblanc-thanks-supporters-for-election-win-from-hospital-bed-in-montreal.html|title=Dominic LeBlanc thanks supporters for election win from hospital bed in Montreal|last=Canadian Press|first=The|date=21 October 2019|website=Toronto Star|access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref> but on medical leave due to recovery from cancer treatment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5207735/dominic-leblanc-non-hodgkin-lymphoma-diagnosis/|title=Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc stepping away from cabinet after cancer diagnosis|last=Canadian Press|first=The|date=26 April 2019|website=Global News|access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref> The Liberals were pressed to respond to concerns about lack of representation in cabinet from the prairie provinces potentially driving sentiments of [[western alienation]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://o.canada.com/news/politics/election-2019/with-liberals-wiped-out-in-alberta-and-sask-trudeau-promises-to-do-a-lot-more-to-rebuild-western-support/wcm/92fc8363-113d-4f51-b38b-acfb09106c75|title=With Liberals wiped out in Alberta and Sask., Trudeau promises to do 'a lot more' to rebuild Western support|last=Platt|first=Brian|date=23 October 2019|website=Canada.com|access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref> On November 20, 2019, Trudeau appointed [[Chrystia Freeland]], who represents the Toronto riding of [[University—Rosedale (federal electoral district)|University—Rosedale]] in Parliament but was born in [[Peace River, Alberta]] and grew up in [[Alberta]], as the deputy prime minister.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Tonda MacCharles and Bruce Campion-Smith|title=Chrystia Freeland named deputy prime minister in cabinet shuffle |url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2019/11/20/chrystia-freeland-named-deputy-prime-minister-in-cabinet-shuffle.html|access-date=20 November 2019|website=The Star|date=20 November 2019}}</ref>

On December 16, 2024, [[Chrystia Freeland]] resigned from cabinet as finance minister and as deputy prime minister. Her successor, [[Dominic LeBlanc]], replaced her as finance minister but was not appointed to the post of deputy prime minister by Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau|Trudeau]].

==Duties==
The office has no standing in law and does not carry any formal duties or tasks.<ref name =PM_Briefing>[https://www.canada.ca/en/privy-council/corporate/transparency/briefing-documents/prime-minister-2025/cabinet-formation.html#toc3 Government of Canada — Briefing Book for the Prime Minister of Canada — March 14, 2025 — Deputy Prime Minister.]</ref> It is not one of the mandatory Cabinet positions created by statute.<ref name =PM_Briefing/>  The prime minister may assign specific tasks in conjunction with the title.  One duty which has evolved is to represent the prime minister in the House of Commons when the prime minister is absent.<ref name =PM_Briefing/> With the exceptions of [[Herb Gray]] and [[John Manley]], all deputy prime ministers have held another ministerial portfolio alongside this title.<ref name =PM_Briefing/>

According to journalist Joseph Brean of the [[Postmedia Network]], the role can sometimes be "a poisoned chalice, or a leash to keep a rival under close control" rather than an indication that the Prime Minister trusts the authority of the deputy.<ref>Joseph Brean, "What does a deputy prime minister do?". ''[[National Post]]'', November 20, 2019.</ref> For the political analysis magazine ''Policy Options'' Eugene Lang and Greg Schmidt describe the role as one of "soft power", in which a deputy prime minister only carries as much or as little power within a government as the prime minister chooses to permit them; the level of power is usually communicated less by the deputy prime minister's title itself, and more by what other roles they hold alongside it.<ref name=options>Eugene Lang and Greg Schmidt, [https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/august-2020/the-role-of-deputy-prime-minister-is-not-as-powerful-as-most-think/ "The role of deputy prime minister is not as powerful as most think"]. ''Policy Options'', August 6, 2020.</ref>

One deputy prime minister, [[Sheila Copps]], attracted controversy in 1993 after asserting that she was "in charge" of government business while the then prime minister, [[Jean Chrétien]], was on a brief holiday.<ref>Joan Bryden, "`I'm in charge,' Copps says: Alexander Haig echo pointed out by critics". ''[[Vancouver Sun]]'', December 10, 1993.</ref> After she left politics, she wrote that although the position of deputy prime minister is only ceremonial, "very often, the DPM's job was to protect the prime minister from the political damage that [[Question Period]] can inflict on a leader", further citing the experience of [[Erik Nielsen]] during the [[Sinclair Stevens]] scandal.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

==Succession==
The deputy prime minister does not automatically assume the office of prime minister if the incumbent prime minister dies or resigns while their party maintains the confidence of the House of Commons.<ref name=options/>  Rather, constitutional convention requires the [[Governor General of Canada|governor general]] to consult the governing party regarding the leadership, and to call on a member of that party's caucus to assume the prime ministership.<ref name=options/> No policy or convention precludes the deputy prime minister from being chosen as the new prime minister in such a scenario, but none assures it. The party caucus would be free to recommend any new leader of its choice to the governor general. Barring extraordinary circumstances, the governor general will follow the wishes of the party, although officially they retain the authority to make the final decision. No prime minister has died in office since 1891, many decades before the office of deputy prime minister was created.

Extended notice is usually given when a sitting prime minister does not plan to lead his/her party into another election. Leadership contests to determine the successor to a prime minister are usually held during the final days of the incumbent's term, and are traditionally a lengthy and competitive process. The outgoing prime minister hands over power directly to their designated successor, without any interim prime minister. By contrast, during leadership contests for the official opposition party, the leader of the opposition has often (though not always) been occupied by an interim [[parliamentary leader]]. The opposition party's deputy leader (assuming that post is occupied) is often chosen for this role unless they plan to run in the leadership election, in which case someone else would be chosen since it would be considered harmful to the election process if the interim leader was to be one of the candidates.

Legally speaking, any interim prime minister appointed by the governor general would not merely be acting on behalf of the prime minister, but would have the full powers and prerogatives of any other prime minister.

==List of deputy prime ministers==
'''Key:'''

{{legend|{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}|[[Liberal Party of Canada]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}|Historical conservative parties: [[Liberal-Conservative Party|Liberal-Conservative]], [[Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942)|Conservative (historical)]], [[Unionist Party (Canada)|Unionist]], [[National Liberal and Conservative Party|National Liberal and Conservative]], [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}|[[Conservative Party of Canada]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{sticky header}} 
{|class="wikitable sortable sticky-header-multi" style=text-align:center" style="margin:1em auto;"
|-
! rowspan="2" |No.
! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Portrait
! rowspan="2" scope="col" width="150px" | Name<br><small>Electoral district<br>(Birth–Death)</small>
! colspan="2" scope="col" | Term of office
! rowspan="2" width="150px" |Other portfolios
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Party
! rowspan="2" width="100px" |Prime minister<br><small>Party<br>(Ministry)</small>
|-
!width="95px" |Term start
!width="95px" |Term end
|-
|'''1'''
|[[File:Allan_MacEachen.jpg|122x122px]]
|'''[[Allan MacEachen]]'''<br><small>MP for [[Cape Breton Highlands—Canso]]</small><br><small>(1921–2017)</small>
|September 16,<br>1977
|June 4,<br>1979
|
* [[President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada|President of the Privy Council]]
| style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |
|[[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
|[[Pierre Trudeau]]<br>[[Liberal Party of Canada|<small>Liberal</small>]]<br><small>([[20th Canadian Ministry|20th]])</small>
|-
| colspan="8" |''Position did not exist''<br><small>June 4, 1979 – March 3, 1980</small>
|[[Joe Clark]]<br>[[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|<small>Progressive Conservative</small>]]<br><small>([[21st Canadian Ministry|21st]])</small>
|-
|'''(1)'''
|[[File:Allan_MacEachen.jpg|122x122px]]
|'''[[Allan MacEachen]]'''<br><small>MP for [[Cape Breton Highlands—Canso]]</small><br><small>(1921–2017)</small>
|March 3,<br>1980
|June 30,<br>1984
|
* [[Minister of Finance (Canada)|Minister of Finance]] (until 1982)
* [[Secretary of State for External Affairs (Canada)|Secretary of State for External Affairs]] (from 1982)
| style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |
|[[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
|[[Pierre Trudeau]]<br>[[Liberal Party of Canada|<small>Liberal</small>]]<br><small>([[22nd Canadian ministry|22nd]])</small>
|-
|'''2'''
|[[File:Jean_Chrétien_cropped.jpg|116x116px]]
|'''[[Jean Chrétien]]'''<br><small>MP for [[Saint-Maurice (federal electoral district)|Saint-Maurice]]</small><br><small>(born 1934)</small>
|June 30,<br>1984
|September 17,<br>1984
|
* [[Secretary of State for External Affairs (Canada)|Secretary of State for External Affairs]]
| style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |
|[[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
|[[John Turner]]<br>[[Liberal Party of Canada|<small>Liberal</small>]]<br><small>([[23rd Canadian Ministry|23rd]])</small>
|-
|'''3'''
|
|'''[[Erik Nielsen]]'''<br><small>MP for [[Yukon (electoral district)|Yukon]]</small><br><small>(1924–2008)</small>
|September 17,<br>1984
|June 30,<br>1986
|
* [[President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada|President of the Privy Council]] (until 1985) 
* [[Minister of National Defence (Canada)|Minister of National Defence]] (from 1985) 
| style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|PC}}; " |
|[[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive<br>Conservative]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Brian Mulroney]]<br>[[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|<small>Progressive Conservative</small>]]<br><small>([[24th Canadian Ministry|24th]])</small>
|-
|'''4'''
|
|'''[[Don Mazankowski]]'''<br><small>MP for [[Vegreville (federal electoral district)|Vegreville]]</small><br><small>(1935–2020)</small>
|June 30,<br>1986
|June 25,<br>1993
|
* [[President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada|President of the Privy Council]] (until 1991) 
* [[Leader of the Government in the House of Commons of Canada|Government House Leader]] (until 1989) 
* [[President of the Treasury Board (Canada)|President of the Treasury Board]] (1987–1988) 
* [[Minister of Agriculture (Canada)|Minister of Agriculture]] (1988–1991) 
* [[Minister of Finance (Canada)|Minister of Finance]] (from 1991) 
| style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|PC}}; " |
|[[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive<br>Conservative]]
|-
|'''5'''
|[[File:Jean_Charest_27_août_2012.jpg|95x95px]]
|'''[[Jean Charest]]'''<br><small>MP for [[Sherbrooke (federal electoral district)|Sherbrooke]]</small><br><small>(born 1958)</small>
|June 25,<br>1993
|November 4,<br>1993
|
* [[Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry#Preceding offices|Minister of Industry]]
| style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|PC}}; " |
|[[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive<br>Conservative]]
|[[Kim Campbell]]<br>[[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|<small>Progressive Conservative</small>]]<br><small>([[25th Canadian Ministry|25th]])</small>
|-
|'''6'''
|[[File:Sheila_Copps_(cropped).jpg|118x118px]]
|'''[[Sheila Copps]]'''<br><small>MP for [[Hamilton East (federal electoral district)|Hamilton East]]</small><br><small>(born 1952)</small>
|November 4,<br>1993
|April 30,<br>1996
|
* [[Minister of the Environment (Canada)|Minister of the Environment]] (until 1996)
* [[Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship]] (from 1996)
| style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |
|[[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
| rowspan="5" |[[Jean Chrétien]]<br>[[Liberal Party of Canada|<small>Liberal</small>]]<br><small>([[26th Canadian Ministry|26th]])</small>
|-
| colspan="8" |''Vacant<ref group="NB">The office of deputy prime minister was briefly vacant in 1996 when Copps, after being challenged on her 1993 campaign promise to resign if the government did not repeal the [[Goods and Services Tax (Canada)|Goods and Services Tax]], resigned from Parliament and recontested her seat in a [[byelection]]. Chrétien did not name a replacement during Copps' absence from Parliament. After winning the byelection and returning to Parliament, Copps was reappointed to the position.</ref>''<br><small>April 30, 1996 – June 19, 1996</small>
|-
|'''(6)'''
|[[File:Sheila_Copps_(cropped).jpg|118x118px]]
|'''[[Sheila Copps]]'''<br><small>MP for [[Hamilton East (federal electoral district)|Hamilton East]]</small><br><small>(born 1952)</small>
|June 19,<br>1996
|June 11,<br>1997
|
* [[Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship]] (until 1996)
* [[Minister of Canadian Heritage]] (from 1996)
| style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |
|[[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
|-
|'''7'''
|[[File:Herb_Gray_2008.jpg|113x113px]]
|'''[[Herb Gray]]'''<br><small>MP for [[Windsor West (federal electoral district)|Windsor West]]</small><br><small>(1931–2014)</small>
|June 11,<br>1997
|January 15,<br>2002
|–
| style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |
|[[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
|-
|'''8'''
|[[File:John_Manley_IMF.jpg|119x119px]]
|'''[[John Manley]]'''<br><small>MP for [[Ottawa South]]</small><br><small>(born 1950)</small>
|January 15,<br>2002
|December 12,<br>2003
|
* [[Minister of Finance (Canada)|Minister of Finance]] (from 2002)
| style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |
|[[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
|-
|'''9'''
|[[File:AnneMcLellanUBC.jpg|118x118px]]
|'''[[Anne McLellan]]'''<br><small>MP for [[Edmonton West]] (until 2004)<br>MP for [[Edmonton Centre]] (from 2004)</small><br><small>(born 1950)</small>
|December 12,<br>2003
|February 6,<br>2006
|
* [[Solicitor General of Canada]] (until 2005)
* [[Minister of Public Safety|Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]] (from 2005)
| style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |
|[[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
|[[Paul Martin]]<br>[[Liberal Party of Canada|<small>Liberal</small>]]<br><small>([[27th Canadian Ministry|27th]])</small>
|-
| colspan="8" rowspan="2" |''Position did not exist''<ref group="NB">Harper did not name a deputy prime minister, although in practice [[Lawrence Cannon]] (Member of Parliament for [[Pontiac (federal electoral district)|Pontiac, Quebec]]) was named second below Harper in the order of precedence. Following Cannon's defeat in the [[2011 Canadian federal election|2011 election]], [[Leader of the Government in the Senate (Canada)|Leader of the Government in the Senate]] [[Marjory LeBreton]] was named the first minister to act for Harper in his absence. After LeBreton resigned, the Minister of Finance at the time, [[Jim Flaherty]] and then [[Joe Oliver (politician)|Joe Oliver]] were named next in line.</ref><ref group="NB">Justin Trudeau also did not name a deputy prime minister during his first mandate, although [[Ralph Goodale]] had been designated to act for Trudeau in the event he became incapacitated. [[Chrystia Freeland]] was appointed Deputy Prime Minister following the [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019 election]], in which Goodale was defeated.</ref><br><small>February 6, 2006 – November 20, 2019</small>
|[[Stephen Harper]]<br><small>[[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]]</small><br><small>([[28th Canadian Ministry|28th]])</small>
|-style="height:40px"
| rowspan="3" |[[Justin Trudeau]]<br>[[Liberal Party of Canada|<small>Liberal</small>]]<br><small>([[29th Canadian Ministry|29th]])</small>
|-
|'''10'''
|[[File:Chrystia Freeland - 2019 (MUS9897) (cropped).jpg|120x120px]]
|'''[[Chrystia Freeland]]'''<br><small>MP for [[University—Rosedale (federal electoral district)|University—Rosedale]]</small><br><small>(born 1968)</small>
|November 20,<br>2019
|December 16, <br>2024
|
* [[Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]] (until 2020)
* [[Minister of Finance (Canada)|Minister of Finance]] (from 2020)
| style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |
|[[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
|-
| colspan="8" rowspan="2" |''Position does not exist''<ref group="NB">Mark Carney has not named a deputy prime minister, although [[David McGuinty]] had been designated to act for Carney in the event he became incapacitated.</ref><br><small>December 16, 2024 – present</small>
|-
|[[Mark Carney]]<br>[[Liberal Party of Canada|<small>Liberal</small>]]<br><small>([[30th Canadian Ministry|30th]])</small>
|}

==Acting prime minister==
[[File:Ellen Fairclough 1940s.jpg|thumb|upright|170px|[[Ellen Fairclough]] served as acting prime minister from February 19 to 20, 1958, in the absence of [[John Diefenbaker]].]]
{{More citations needed section|date=September 2020}}
Prior to the creation of the position of deputy prime minister, a prime minister would routinely name a member of the cabinet to temporarily [[Acting Prime Minister|act on the prime minister's behalf]] while the prime minister was away from the regular duties of his job for a period of time, such as being out of the country on a working visit or a vacation. The delegate was thus a [[caretaker government|caretaker]], whose role was to oversee the routine day-to-day functioning of the government and cabinet during the prime minister's absence; for example, in his capacity as acting prime minister, [[Mitchell Sharp]] ordered a precautionary one-day shutdown of government offices in Ottawa on August 20, 1970, as the storm that had spawned the [[Sudbury tornado]] headed toward Ottawa.<ref name="ottawa">"Ottawa concerned". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', August 21, 1970. p. 8.</ref> An acting prime minister did not otherwise have the authority to act independently of the sitting prime minister in a legislative or political capacity, nor would an acting prime minister be considered to have actually served as prime minister. As well the acting prime minister was not given the title [[The Right Honourable]], even during the acting period, although some people who served as acting prime ministers may have independently earned that distinction for other reasons.

Due to the routine and relatively minor nature of the role, few to no research sources exist to provide a complete list of everyone who was ever named as acting prime minister. However, [[John Diefenbaker]]'s selection of [[Ellen Fairclough]] as acting prime minister on February 19 and 20, 1958, is historically noteworthy as Fairclough was the [[Women in Canadian politics|first woman]] ever designated.<ref>"As Acting Prime Minister Ellen Fairclough First Again". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', February 21, 1958.</ref>

==Senior Minister==

Prior to the creation of this position, the position of "Senior Minister" was a ceremonial position used in a similar manner, heading the order of precedence.<ref name="OttawaCitizen-1982-11-10">Ottawa Citizen, "A Heartbeat From The Top", Charles Lynch, 10 November 1982, pp.3</ref> Upon the absence of the prime minister, the senior minister would act on behalf of the prime minister.<ref name="Gazette-1968-04-30">The Gazette (Montreal), "Hellyer Appointed No.2 Man To Rule In Trudeau's Absence", 1 May 1968, p.3</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Portrait
! rowspan="2" scope="col" width="150px" | Name<br><small>Electoral district<br>(Birth–Death)</small>
! colspan="2" scope="col" | Term of office
! rowspan="2" width="150px" |Other portfolios
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Party
! rowspan="2" width="100px" |Prime minister<br><small>Party<br>(Ministry)</small>
|-
!width="95px" |Term start
!width="95px" |Term end
|-
|[[File:Paul Hellyer portrait.jpg|106x106px]]
|'''[[Paul Hellyer]]'''<ref name="Gazette-1968-04-30" /><ref>Reading Eagle, "Hellyer Quits Cabinet Job", P, 24 April 1969, pg.47</ref><br><small>MP for [[Trinity (electoral district)|Trinity]]</small><br><small>(1923–2021)</small>
|April 30,<br>1968
|April 23,<br>1969
|
* [[Minister of Transport (Canada)|Minister of Transport]]
| style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |
|[[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
|[[Pierre Trudeau]]<br>[[Liberal Party of Canada|<small>Liberal</small>]]<br><small>([[20th Canadian Ministry|20th]])</small>
|}

== See also ==
*[[Deputy Premier (Canada)]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group="NB"}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://deputypm.canada.ca/en Official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040301062736/http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/key/DepPrimeMin.asp?Language=E Parliament of Canada page]

{{Deputy prime ministers of Canada}}
{{Cabinet of Canada}}
{{Deputy heads of government of North America}}

[[Category:Deputy prime ministers of Canada| ]]
[[Category:1977 establishments in Canada]]
[[Category:Lists of deputy prime ministers|Canada]]
[[Category:Members of the Cabinet of Canada]]
[[Category:Ministerial offices|Canada]]