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{{Short description|Relative preeminence of officials for ceremonial purposes}}
{{about|the order of precedence for Canadian dignitaries|the list of precedence for medals, honours and post-nominals|Canadian order of precedence (decorations and medals)}}
{{Precedence}}

The '''Canadian order of precedence''' is a ceremonial hierarchy of important positions within the governing institutions of Canada. It has no legal standing, but is used to dictate [[Protocol (diplomacy)|protocol]].

The [[Department of Canadian Heritage]] issues the ''Table of Precedence for Canada''.<ref name="TablePrecedence">{{Cite web |last=Department of Canadian Heritage |date=2025-01-09 |title=Table of Precedence for Canada |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/protocol-guidelines-special-event/table-precedence-canada.html |website=[[Government of Canada]]}}</ref> The [[Department of National Defence (Canada)|Department of National Defence]] reproduces this Table, with the additional note that members of the [[Canadian royal family|royal family]] (other than the [[Monarchy of Canada|monarch]]) take precedence after the [[Governor General of Canada|governor general]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-30 |title=Heritage Structure {{!}} Chapter 1 – Precedence |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/services/defence/caf/military-identity-system/heritage-manual/chapter-1.html |website=[[Government of Canada]] |series=The Heritage Structure of the Canadian Forces}}</ref>

The [[provinces and territories of Canada]] also have their own orders of precedence for events of a provincial or territorial nature. They serve the same purpose and are structured similarly, but place an emphasis on provincial or territorial offices.

All units of the [[Canadian Armed Forces]] also have an [[Canadian Forces order of precedence|order of precedence]] that determines seniority; it often decides such matters as which unit forms up to the right (senior side) of other units on a ceremonial parade, or the order in which marches or calls are played at a mess dinner.

== List ==
# [[King of Canada]] (King [[Charles III]]){{refn|While not formally listed in the official order of precedence, a footnote to the official list states that the sovereign should be accorded precedence immediately before the governor general.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-09 |title=Table of Precedence for Canada |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/protocol-guidelines-special-event/table-precedence-canada.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250612133742/https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/protocol-guidelines-special-event/table-precedence-canada.html |archive-date=12 June 2025 |website=[[Government of Canada]]}}</ref>}}
# [[Governor General of Canada]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q390776|P1308}})
# [[Prime Minister of Canada]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q839078|P1308}})
# [[Chief Justice of Canada]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q1339242|P1308}})
# Former Governors General of Canada in order of their departure from office:
## [[Edward Schreyer|Ed Schreyer]] (1979–1984)
## [[Adrienne Clarkson]] (1999–2005)
## [[Michaëlle Jean]] (2005–2010)
## [[David Johnston (governor general)|David Johnston]] (2010–2017)
## [[Julie Payette]] (2017–2021)
# Widows of Governors General of Canada (as former [[viceregal consort of Canada]]):
## [[Diana Fowler LeBlanc]], widow of [[Roméo LeBlanc]]
# Former Prime Ministers of Canada in order of their first assumption of office:
## [[Joe Clark]] (1979–1980)
## [[Kim Campbell]] (1993)
## [[Jean Chrétien]] (1993–2003)
## [[Paul Martin]] (2003–2006)
## [[Stephen Harper]] (2006–2015)
## [[Justin Trudeau]] (2015–2025)
# Former Chief Justices of Canada, in order of their appointment
## [[Beverly McLachlin]] (2000–2017)
# [[Speaker of the Senate of Canada]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q2505705|P1308}})
# [[Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q2506685|P1308}})
# [[List of Ambassadors and High Commissioners to Canada|Representatives to Canada of foreign governments]]
#: Ambassadors and High Commissioners come first, in order of the presentation of their credentials; then come Ministers Plenipotentiary, and then [[Chargés d'affaires]].
# Members of the Canadian Ministry
## [[Cabinet of Canada|Members of the Cabinet]]:
##: ''The Table of Precedence for Canada prescribes that order of precedence within this group be determined in order of appointment to the [[King's Privy Council for Canada]] with ties broken by order of election to the House or appointment to the Senate.<ref name=TablePrecedence/> However, the current Canadian Ministry opted to use an alternative order that is determined by the Prime Minister.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cabinet |url=https://pm.gc.ca/en/cabinet |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=}}</ref>''
##[[Minister of State (Canada)|Ministers of State]]
##:''In order of appointment to the [[King's Privy Council for Canada]] with ties broken by order of election to the House or appointment to the Senate.''<ref>[http://www2.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/compilations/federalgovernment/theministry.aspx?sortcolumn=precedence&sortdirection=asc The Ministry in order of precedence]</ref>
# [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada)|Leader of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition]] ([[Pierre Poilievre]])
# [[Lieutenant-Governor (Canada)|Lieutenant Governor]]s of the provinces, in the order their province joined Confederation and by population at joining to break ties
## [[Lieutenant Governor of Ontario]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q6544432|P1308}})
## [[Lieutenant Governor of Quebec]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q3238289|P1308}})
## [[Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q6544430|P1308}})
## [[Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q4257536|P1308}})
## [[Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q6544420|P1308}})
## [[Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q6544408|P1308}})
## [[Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q6544433|P1308}})
## [[Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q4257538|P1308}})
## [[Lieutenant Governor of Alberta]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q15176422|P1308}})
## [[Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q3238286|P1308}})
# All other Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada in order with the date of their appointment to the Privy Council, but with precedence given to those who bear the title "Right Honourable" in accordance with the date of receiving the honorary title.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/index.asp?lang=eng&page=information&sub=council-conseil&doc=members-membres%2Fchronolog-eng.htm |title=Members of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada |access-date=2020-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215221747/http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/index.asp?lang=eng&page=information&sub=council-conseil&doc=members-membres%2Fchronolog-eng.htm |archive-date=2016-02-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
## ''[[List of current members of the King's Privy Council for Canada]]''
# [[Premier (Canada)|Premier]]s of the provinces, in the order their province joined confederation and by population at joining to break ties
## [[Premier of Ontario]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q2560704|P1308}})
## [[Premier of Quebec]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q2911019|P1308}})
## [[Premier of Nova Scotia]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q7240360|P1308}})
## [[Premier of New Brunswick]] ([[Susan Holt]])
## [[Premier of Manitoba]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q3401758|P1308}})
## [[Premier of British Columbia]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q7240349|P1308}})
## [[Premier of Prince Edward Island]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q7240361|P1308}})
## [[Premier of Saskatchewan]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q6578215|P1308}})
## [[Premier of Alberta]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q3401750|P1308}})
## [[Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q7240356|P1308}})
# Commissioners of the Territories
## [[Commissioner of the Northwest Territories]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q1841537|P1308}})
## [[Commissioner of Yukon]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q824910|P1308}})
## [[Commissioner of Nunavut]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q15212701|P1308}})
# Premiers of the Territories
## [[Premier of the Northwest Territories]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q7240368|P1308}})
## [[Premier of Yukon]] ([[Currie Dixon]])
## [[Premier of Nunavut]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q4377222|P1308}})
# Religious leaders, equally, by seniority
#:Limited to "senior Canadian representatives of faith communities having a significant presence in a relevant jurisdiction".
# [[Puisne Judges]] of the [[Supreme Court of Canada|Supreme Court]]
# Superior court justices
## Chief Justice of the [[Federal Court of Canada]]
## Associate Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Canada
## Chief Justices of the highest court of each province and territory in order of date of appointment as chief justice
##* Chief Justice of Ontario ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q123119379|P1308}})
##* [[Chief Justice of Quebec]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q3250642|P1308}})
##* Chief Justice of Nova Scotia
##* Chief Justice of New Brunswick ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q5096794|P1308}})
##* Chief Justice of Manitoba ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q123173904|P1308}})
##* Chief Justice of British Columbia and Yukon ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q123119530|P1308}})
##* Chief Justice of Prince Edward Island
##* Chief Justice of Saskatchewan ([[Robert Leurer|Robert W Leurer]])
##* Chief Justice of Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut
##* Chief Justice of Newfoundland and Labrador ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q123173949|P1308}})
## Chief Justices and Associate Chief Justices of other superior courts, in order of appointment as chief justice
##* Associate Chief Justice of Ontario
##* Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice
##* Associate Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice
##* Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Quebec
##* Senior Associate Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Quebec
##* Associate Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Quebec
##* Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia
##* Associate Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia
##* Associate Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Family Division
##* Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench of New Brunswick
##* Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench of Manitoba
##* Associate Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench of Manitoba
##* Associate Chief Justice, Family Division, of the Court of King's Bench of Manitoba
##* Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia
##* Associate Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia
##* Chief Justice of the Trial Division, Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island
##* Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan
##* Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench of Alberta
##* Associate Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench of Alberta
##* Chief Justice of the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland
##* Senior Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories
##* Senior Judge of the Supreme Court of Yukon
##* Senior Judge of the Nunavut Court of Justice
## Federal and provincial superior court puisne justices
# [[Lists of Canadian senators|Senators]]
#: See ''[[List of current Canadian senators]]''
# [[Lists of Members of the Canadian House of Commons|Members]] of the [[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]]
#: See ''[[List of House members of the 45th Parliament of Canada]]''
# [[Consul General|Consuls General]] of Countries Without Diplomatic Representation
# [[Clerk of the Privy Council (Canada)|Clerk of the Privy Council]] and Secretary to Cabinet ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q211176|P1308}})
# [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q2961996|P1308}})
# [[Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] ([[Michael Duheme]])
# Speakers of the [[Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assemblies]] of the Provinces and Territories
## [[Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] ([[Donna Skelly]])
## [[President of the National Assembly of Quebec]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q3409174|P1308}})
## [[Speaker of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q7574268|P1308}})
## [[Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q2390782|P1308}})
## [[Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q7574281|P1308}})
## [[Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q7574282|P1308}})
## [[Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q3409171|P1308}})
## [[Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q7574284|P1308}})
## [[Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q7574280|P1308}})
## [[Speaker of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q7574267|P1308}})
## [[Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q7574286|P1308}})
## [[Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q7574315|P1308}})
## [[Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut]] ({{#invoke:wd|property|linked|Q7574283|P1308}})
# Members of the [[Executive Council (Commonwealth countries)|Executive Councils]] of the Provinces and Territories
# Judges of Provincial and Territorial Courts
# Members of the Legislative Assemblies of the Provinces and Territories
# Chairperson of the [[Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians]]

==See also==
* [[Canadian order of precedence (decorations and medals)]]
* [[Canadian Forces order of precedence]]
* [[Politics of Canada]]
* [[Removal from the Order of Canada]]

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/protocol-guidelines-special-event/table-precedence-canada.html Department of Canadian Heritage: Table of Precedence for Canada]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090325162006/http://www.saskd.ca/heritage.pdf The Honours, Flags and Heritage Structure of the Canadian Forces]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Canadian Order Of Precedence}}
[[Category:Orders of precedence in Canada|*]]
[[Category:Government of Canada|Order of precedence, Canadian]]

Canadian order of precedence - Revision history

imported>Rushtheeditor at 00:15, 19 November 2025