Leader of the Opposition (Canada)
Encyclopedia
The Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition , or simply the Leader of the Opposition is the leader of Canada's Official Opposition
, the party with the most seats in the House of Commons that is not a member of the government. The current Leader of the Opposition is Nycole Turmel
, interim leader
of the New Democratic Party
.
Though the Leader of the Opposition must be a member of the House of Commons, the office should not be confused with the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons
, which is the formal title of the Opposition House Leader. There is also a Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, who is usually of the same party as the Leader of the Opposition, but as there are no members of the NDP in the Senate, the Liberal Party
forms the Opposition in the Senate.
The Leader of the Opposition is entitled to the same levels of pay and protection as a Cabinet
minister. He or she is entitled to reside at the official residence of Stornoway
and ranks fourteenth on the Order of Precedence
, after Cabinet ministers and before lieutenant governors of the provinces
. In the House of Commons seating plan, the Leader of the Opposition sits directly across from the Prime Minister
.
Official Opposition (Canada)
In Canada, Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition , commonly known as the Official Opposition, is usually the largest parliamentary opposition party in the House of Commons or a provincial legislative assembly that is not in government, either on its own or as part of a governing coalition...
, the party with the most seats in the House of Commons that is not a member of the government. The current Leader of the Opposition is Nycole Turmel
Nycole Turmel
Nycole Turmel, MP is the Leader of the Official Opposition in the Canadian Parliament. She was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 2011 federal election, representing the electoral district of Hull—Aylmer, and became interim leader of the New Democratic Party after leader Jack...
, interim leader
Interim leader
An interim leader, in Canadian politics, is a party leader appointed by the party's legislative caucus or the party's executive to temporarily act as leader when a gap occurs between the resignation or death of a party leader and the election of a formal successor...
of the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
.
Though the Leader of the Opposition must be a member of the House of Commons, the office should not be confused with the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons
Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons (Canada)
The Leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Commons, more commonly known as the Opposition House Leader, is a member of the Official Opposition, not to be confused with the Leader of the Official Opposition, but is generally a senior member of the frontbench...
, which is the formal title of the Opposition House Leader. There is also a Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, who is usually of the same party as the Leader of the Opposition, but as there are no members of the NDP in the Senate, the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
forms the Opposition in the Senate.
The Leader of the Opposition is entitled to the same levels of pay and protection as a Cabinet
Cabinet of Canada
The Cabinet of Canada is a body of ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada...
minister. He or she is entitled to reside at the official residence of Stornoway
Stornoway (residence)
Stornoway is the name of the official residence of the Leader of the Opposition in Canada, and has been used as such since 1950. It is provided in recognition of the opposition leader's position...
and ranks fourteenth on the Order of Precedence
Canadian order of precedence
The Canadian order of precedence is a nominal and symbolic hierarchy of important positions within the Government of Canada. It has no legal standing but is used to dictate ceremonial protocol....
, after Cabinet ministers and before lieutenant governors of the provinces
Lieutenant Governor (Canada)
In Canada, a lieutenant governor is the viceregal representative in a provincial jurisdiction of the Canadian monarch and head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, who resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United Kingdom...
. In the House of Commons seating plan, the Leader of the Opposition sits directly across from the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
.
See also
- List of Canadian Leaders of the Opposition
- Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons (Canada)Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons (Canada)The Leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Commons, more commonly known as the Opposition House Leader, is a member of the Official Opposition, not to be confused with the Leader of the Official Opposition, but is generally a senior member of the frontbench...
- List of Canadian Leaders of the Opposition in the Senate
- Official Opposition (Canada)Official Opposition (Canada)In Canada, Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition , commonly known as the Official Opposition, is usually the largest parliamentary opposition party in the House of Commons or a provincial legislative assembly that is not in government, either on its own or as part of a governing coalition...