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:Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada)

{{Short description|Position in the Parliament of Canada}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2022}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}

{{Infobox official post

| post = Leader

| body = the Official Opposition

| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|fr|Chef de l'Opposition officielle}}}}

| image = Andrew Scheer 2020 (cropped).jpg

| imagesize =

| alt =

| imagecaption =

| incumbent = Andrew Scheer

| acting =

| incumbentsince = May 6, 2025

| department = {{plainlist|

}}

| style = The Honourable

| type =

| status =

| abbreviation =

| member_of = House of Commons

| reports_to =

| residence = Stornoway

| seat = West Block (while Centre Block is under renovation)

| nominator =

| appointer =

| appointer_qualified =

| termlength = While leader of the largest party not in government

| termlength_qualified =

| constituting_instrument =

| precursor =

| inaugural = Alexander Mackenzie

| formation = March 6, 1873

| first =

| last =

| abolished =

| superseded_by =

| succession =

| unofficial_names =

| salary = $299,900 (2024){{Cite web| url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10391946/justin-trudeau-mps-pay-raise/| title=Justin Trudeau's pay will top $400K on April 1 as politicians get raises| accessdate=March 31, 2024| publisher=Global News| archive-date=March 31, 2024| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331030114/https://globalnews.ca/news/10391946/justin-trudeau-mps-pay-raise/| url-status=live}}

| website =

}}

The leader of the Official Opposition ({{langx|fr|chef de l'Opposition officielle}}) is the member of Parliament (MP) who leads the Official Opposition in Canada. This is typically the leader of the party possessing the most seats in the House of Commons that is neither the governing party nor part of a governing coalition.

Andrew Scheer, MP for Regina—Qu'Appelle, is the current leader of the Official Opposition. The Official Opposition caucus – members of Parliament from the Conservative Party – selected Scheer as their parliamentary leader on May 6, 2025, after party leader Pierre Poilievre lost his seat in the 2025 federal election.{{cite web |date=April 29, 2025 |title=Liberal Bruce Fanjoy topples Pierre Poilievre in Carleton |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/canada-federal-election-2025-carleton-pierre-poilievre-results-1.7515695 |access-date=April 29, 2025 |work=CBC News}} Scheer previously served as leader of the Official Opposition from 2017 to 2020, when he was party leader.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.cpac.ca/scrums/episode/conservative-caucus-andrew-scheer-will-be-interim-parliamentary-leader?id=fa1a3779-a096-4099-866a-afea562361a9 |title=Conservative Caucus: Andrew Scheer Will Be Interim Parliamentary Leader |language=en |access-date=2025-05-06 |via=www.cpac.ca}}

The office should not be confused with Opposition House leader, who is a frontbencher charged with managing the business of the Opposition in the House of Commons and is formally titled Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons. There is also a leader of the Opposition in the Senate, who is usually of the same party as the leader of the Opposition in the house.

Name

The term leader of the opposition is used in the Parliament of Canada Act{{Cite canlaw| short title=Parliament of Canada Act| abbr=RSC| year=1985| chapter=P-1| section=50(2), 62, 62.3, 63(2).| link=https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/p-1/FullText.html}} and the Standing Orders of the House of Commons,{{citation| url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/procedure/procedure-and-practice-3/App14-e.html| author=House of Commons| title=Appendix 14: Standing Orders of the House of Commons| editor-last1=Bosc| editor-first1=Marc| editor-last2=Gagnon| editor-first2=André| work=43(1), 50(2), 74(1), 81(4), 84(7), 101(3)| edition=3| year=2017| access-date=September 13, 2022| archive-date=September 13, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913172311/https://www.ourcommons.ca/procedure/procedure-and-practice-3/App14-e.html| url-status=live}} as is the term official opposition.{{harvnb| House of Commons| 2017| p=35(2), 45(5), 73(1), 83(2), 106(2), 114(2)}} The terms leader of the loyal opposition, his majesty's opposition,{{citation| url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/opposition-party| last=Boyko| first=John| title=Opposition Party in Canada| encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia| date=November 10, 2022| publisher=Historica Canada| accessdate=March 9, 2023| archive-date=March 9, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309073724/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/opposition-party| url-status=live}} and loyal opposition are sometimes used,{{harvnb| House of Commons| 2017| p=Note 190}} but are not in either the act or the standing orders. The word loyal is used to communicate the party's loyalty to monarch of Canada{{snd}}as the nonpartisan personification of the nation and the state's authority{{snd}}even as its members oppose the governing party.

Privileges

The leader of the Opposition is entitled to the same levels of pay and protection as a Cabinet minister and is often made a member of the King's Privy Council, generally the only non-government member of the House of Commons afforded that privilege. The leader of the Opposition is entitled to reside at the official residence of Stornoway and ranks thirteenth 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.

History

During the 1st Canadian Parliament, the position of the leader of the opposition was not clearly established. The Liberal Party sat on the opposition benches, but it remained a loose coalition of various interests and chose not to name a leader until becoming a more united group.{{Cite book |last=Thomson |first=Dale C. |title=Alexander Mackenzie: Clear Grit |publisher=Macmillan of Canada |year=1960 |location=Toronto |pages=105}} Several historians note that John Sandfield Macdonald was granted the seat reserved for the Opposition leader, though he was an ally of John A. Macdonald{{efn|The two Macdonalds were of no relation.}} and the two had campaigned together in the preceding election.{{Cite book |last=Creighton |first=Donald |title=John A. Macdonald: The Old Chieftain |publisher=Macmillan of Canada |year=1955 |location=Toronto |pages=4}}{{Cite book |last=Schull |first=Joseph |title=Edward Blake: The Man of the Other Way (1833–1881) |publisher=Macmillan of Canada |year=1975 |isbn=077051278X |location=Toronto |pages=46–48}}{{Cite book |last=Dale C. |first=Thomson |title=Alexander Mackenzie: Clear Grit |publisher=Macmillan of Canada |year=1960 |location=Toronto |pages=103}} As Sandfield Macdonald was concurrently Premier of Ontario,{{efn|Sandfield Macdonald was a member of both the House of Commons of Canada and the Legislative Assembly of Ontario; dual mandates had not yet been abolished.}} he did not play a major role in holding the government to account. Instead, Alexander Mackenzie emerged as a prominent opponent of the government, with some historians describing him as the de facto leader of the Opposition from 1869.{{Cite book |last=Dale C. |first=Thomson |title=Alexander Mackenzie: Clear Grit |publisher=Macmillan of Canada |year=1960 |location=Toronto |pages=113 |language=English}}{{Cite book |last=Buckingham |first=William |title=The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie: His Life and Times |last2=Ross |first2=George William |publisher=Rose Publishing Company |year=1892 |edition=5th |location=Toronto |pages=242, 329 |language=English}} Mackenzie was recognized as Leader of the Opposition in 1873, after formally assuming the leadership of the Liberal Party.

Despite its importance in the Westminster system, the role was not enshrined in law until 1905. In proposing the measure, Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier said "the leader of the opposition under our system is just as much a part of the constitutional system of government as the Prime Minister himself."{{Cite journal |last=Henry |first=Dean E. |date=1954 |title=Formal Recognition of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliaments of the British Commonwealth |url=https://doi.org/10.2307/2145279 |journal=Political Science Quarterly |volume=69 |issue=3 |pages=443 |jstor=2145279}} The leader was also granted a $7,000 allowance, per session, in addition to his salary as MP. According to Dean E. Henry, this "made Canada the first entity in the British Empire, probably the first in the world, to pay a state salary to an opposition leader."{{Cite journal |last=Henry |first=Dean E. |date=1954 |title=Formal Recognition of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliaments of the British Commonwealth |url=https://doi.org/10.2307/2145279 |journal=Political Science Quarterly |volume=69 |issue=3 |pages=444 |jstor=2145279}}

Two leaders of the Opposition have died in office: Wilfrid Laurier in 1919 and Jack Layton in 2011.{{cite news| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/inside-politics-blog/2011/08/parliament-and-laytons-passing.html| title=Parliament and Layton's passing| last=McGregor| first=Janyce| date=August 22, 2011| accessdate=August 23, 2011| publisher=CBC News| archive-date=August 23, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823123456/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/inside-politics-blog/2011/08/parliament-and-laytons-passing.html| url-status=live}}

Leaders of the Official Opposition

{{legend|{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}|Liberal Party of Canada|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend|{{Canadian party colour|CA|PC}}|Liberal-Conservative Party, Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942), Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend|{{Canadian party colour|CA|BQ}}|Bloc Québécois|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend|{{Canadian party colour|CA|Reform}}|Reform Party of Canada|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend|{{Canadian party colour|CA|Canadian Alliance}}|Canadian Alliance|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend|{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}|Conservative Party of Canada|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend|{{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP}}|New Democratic Party|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{sticky header}}

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible sticky-header-multi" style="text-align:center;""
rowspan="2" scope="col" | Portrait

! rowspan="2" scope="col" width="200px" | Name
{{small|Electoral district
(Birth–Death)}}

! colspan="2" scope="col" width="100px" | Term of office

! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Party

! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Prime minister
{{small|Party}}

width="95px" |Term start{{cite web |author=Parliament of Canada |title=Leaders of the Official Opposition |url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/FederalGovernment/LeadersOfficialOpposition.aspx |access-date=March 27, 2012 |archive-date=April 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412003738/http://www.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/FederalGovernment/LeadersOfficialOpposition.aspx |url-status=live }}

!width="95px" |Term end

100px

|Alexander Mackenzie
{{small|MP for Lambton
(1822–1892)}}

|March 6,
1873

|November 5,
1873

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

|Liberal

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal-Conservative}}; " |

|Sir John A. Macdonald
Liberal-Conservative Party

100px

|Sir John A. Macdonald
{{small|MP for Kingston
(1815–1891)}}

|November 6,
1873

|October 16,
1878

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

|Liberal-Conservative

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

|Alexander Mackenzie
Liberal Party of Canada

100px

|Alexander Mackenzie
{{small|MP for Lambton
(1822–1892)}}

|October 17,
1878

|April 27,
1880

| style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

|Liberal

| rowspan="5" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

| rowspan="5" |Sir John A. Macdonald
Liberal-Conservative Party

colspan="6" |Vacant
{{small|April 27 – May 3, 1880}}
100px

|Edward Blake
{{small|MP for Durham West
(1833–1912)}}

|May 4,
1880

|June 2,
1887

| style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

|Liberal

colspan="6" |Vacant
{{small|June 3 – 22, 1887}}
style="height:25px"

| rowspan="5" |100px

| rowspan="5" |Wilfrid Laurier
{{small|MP for Quebec East
(1841–1919)}}

| rowspan="5" |June 23,
1887

| rowspan="5" |July 10,
1896

| rowspan="5" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

| rowspan="5" |Liberal

style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

|Sir John Abbott
Liberal-Conservative Party

style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

|Sir John Thompson
Liberal-Conservative Party

style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

|Sir Mackenzie Bowell
Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942)

style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

|Sir Charles Tupper
Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942)

100px

|Sir Charles Tupper{{efn|Tupper lost his seat in the 1900 election and resigned as party leader and Leader of the Opposition three months later.}}
{{small|MP for Cape Breton
(1821–1915)}}

|July 11,
1896

|February 5,
1901

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

| rowspan="2" |Conservative

| rowspan="2" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

| rowspan="2" |Sir Wilfrid Laurier
Liberal Party of Canada

100px

|Robert Borden
{{small|MP for Halifax (until 1904, from 1908)
MP for Carleton (1905–1908)
(1854–1937)}}

|February 6,
1901

|October 9,
1911

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

100px

|Sir Wilfrid Laurier
{{small|MP for Quebec East
(1841–1919)}}

|October 10,
1911

|February 17,
1919{{efn|name=died|Died in office.}}

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

| rowspan="4" |Liberal

| rowspan="3" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

| rowspan="3" |Sir Robert Borden
Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942)
Unionist Party (Canada)

100px

|Daniel Duncan McKenzie{{efn|McKenzie served as Leader of the Opposition and interim leader of the Liberal Party from Laurier's death until King's election in the party's 1919 leadership election, and then remained as opposition leader for a further two months until King was able to enter Parliament via a by-election.}}
{{small|MP for Cape Breton North and Victoria
(1859–1927)}}

|February 17,
1919

|October 20,
1919

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

style="height:55px"

| rowspan="2" |100px

| rowspan="2" |William Lyon Mackenzie King
{{small|MP for Prince
(1874–1950)}}

| rowspan="2" |October 20,
1919

| rowspan="2" |December 28,
1921

| rowspan="2" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

|Arthur Meighen
Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942)

colspan="6" |Vacant{{efn|In the 1921 election, the Progressive Party came in second place but declined to form the Opposition, with the role then passing to the third-place Conservatives. However, as Conservative leader Arthur Meighen lost his seat in the election, the post of Opposition leader remained vacant until Meighen returned to the House via a by-election.}}
{{small|December 29, 1921 – January 25, 1922}}

| rowspan="2" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

| rowspan="2" |William Lyon
Mackenzie King
Liberal Party of Canada

100px

|Arthur Meighen
{{small|MP for Grenville (1922–1925)
MP for Portage la Prairie (from 1925)
(1874–1960)}}

|January 26,
1922

|June 28,
1926

| style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

|Conservative

100px

|William Lyon Mackenzie King
{{small|MP for Prince Albert
(1874–1950)}}

|June 29,
1926

|September 24,
1926

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

|Liberal

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

|Arthur Meighen
Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942)

colspan="6" |Vacant{{efn|Meighen failed to win his seat in the 1925 election and immediately resigned as leader of the Conservative Party.}}''
{{small|September 25 – October 10, 1926}}

| rowspan="3" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

| rowspan="3" |William Lyon
Mackenzie King
Liberal Party of Canada

100px

|Hugh Guthrie{{efn|Guthrie served as Leader of the Opposition from shortly after Meighen's resignation until Bennett's election as leader of the Conservative Party.}}
{{small|MP for Wellington South
(1866–1939)}}

|October 11,
1926

|October 11,
1927

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

| rowspan="2" |Conservative

100px

|R. B. Bennett
{{small|MP for Calgary West
(1870–1947)}}

|October 12,
1927

|August 6,
1930

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

100px

|William Lyon Mackenzie King
{{small|MP for Prince Albert
(1874–1950)}}

|August 7,
1930

|October 22,
1935

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

|Liberal

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

|R. B. Bennett
Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942)

100px

|R. B. Bennett
{{small|MP for Calgary West
(1870–1947)}}

|October 23,
1935

|July 6,
1938

| style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

|Conservative

| rowspan="9" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

| rowspan="9" |William Lyon
Mackenzie King
Liberal Party of Canada

colspan="6" |Vacant{{efn|Bennett vacated his position as Leader of the Opposition when Manion was elected as party leader, and no interim leader was named to cover the period until Manion was able to enter Parliament via a by-election, as Parliament did not sit in the second half of 1938. However, Bennett remained leader of the Conservative parliamentary caucus in this period, and thereby de facto opposition leader.}}
{{small|July 6, 1938 – November 15, 1938}}
100px

|Robert James Manion
{{small|MP for London
(1881–1943)}}

|November 15,
1938

|May 13,
1940

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

| rowspan="2" |Conservative

rowspan="2" |100px

| rowspan="2" |Richard Hanson{{efn|Hanson served as Leader of the Opposition from Manion's resignation until Meighen's election as leader of the Conservative Party. He continued as acting Leader of the Opposition throughout Meighen's term as Conservative leader, as Meighen failed in his attempts to win election to the House of Commons, and continued as acting Leader of the Opposition from Bracken's election as PC leader until his own resignation.}}
{{small|MP for Fredericton
(1879–1948)}}

| rowspan="2" |May 14,
1940

| rowspan="2" |January 1,
1943

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative (historical)}}; " |

style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

|Progressive
Conservative{{efn|The Conservative Party was renamed the Progressive Conservative Party in 1942.}}

|Gordon Graydon{{efn|Graydon served as Leader of the Opposition from Hanson's resignation until Bracken entered Parliament in the 1945 election.}}
{{small|MP for Peel
(1896–1953)}}

|January 1,
1943

|June 10,
1945

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

| rowspan="2" |Progressive
Conservative

100px

|John Bracken
{{small|MP for Neepawa
(1883–1969)}}

|June 11,
1945

|July 20,
1948

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

colspan="6" |Vacant{{efn|Bracken immediately vacated his positions as Leader of the Official Opposition and as leader of the Progressive Conservative parliamentary caucus when he resigned. Because Parliament did not sit in the second half of 1948, it never became necessary for the Progressive Conservatives to name an interim parliamentary leader to cover the gap until Drew could enter parliament via by-election.}}
{{small|July 21 – December 20, 1948}}
style="height:54px"

| rowspan="2" |100px

| rowspan="2" |George A. Drew
{{small|MP for Carleton
(1894–1973)}}

| rowspan="2" |December 20,
1948

| rowspan="2" |November 1,
1954

| rowspan="2" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

| rowspan="6" |Progressive
Conservative

rowspan="5" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

| rowspan="5" |Louis St. Laurent
Liberal Party of Canada

100px

|William Earl Rowe{{efn|Rowe served as acting leader of the Opposition in winter 1954–55 due to Drew's poor health.}}
{{small|MP for Dufferin—Simcoe
(1894–1984)}}

|November 1,
1954

|February 1,
1955

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

100px

|George A. Drew
{{small|MP for Carleton
(1894–1973)}}

|February 1,
1955

|August 1,
1956

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

100px

|William Earl Rowe{{efn|Rowe initially served as acting leader of the Opposition for six weeks when Drew was ill, then became interim leader of the Progressive Conservative Party until Diefenbaker was elected as PC leader.}}
{{small|MP for Dufferin—Simcoe
(1894–1984)}}

|August 1,
1956

|December 13,
1956

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

100px

|John Diefenbaker
{{small|MP for Prince Albert
(1895–1979)}}

|December 14,
1956

|June 20,
1957

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

100px

|Louis St. Laurent
{{small|MP for Quebec East
(1882–1973)}}

|June 21,
1957

|January 16,
1958

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

| rowspan="2" |Liberal

| rowspan="2" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

| rowspan="2" |John Diefenbaker
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada

100px

|Lester B. Pearson
{{small|MP for Algoma East
(1897–1972)}}

|January 16,
1958

|April 22,
1963

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

100px

|John Diefenbaker
{{small|MP for Prince Albert
(1895–1979)}}

|April 22,
1963

|September 9,
1967

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

| rowspan="5" |Progressive
Conservative

| rowspan="3" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

| rowspan="3" |Lester B. Pearson
Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942)

100px

|Michael Starr{{efn|Starr served as Leader of the Opposition from Stanfield's election as PC leader until Stanfield entered Parliament via by-election.}}
{{small|MP for Ontario
(1910–2000)}}

|September 9,
1967

|November 6,
1967

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

style="height:61px"

| rowspan="2" |100px

| rowspan="2" |Robert Stanfield
{{small|MP for Colchester—Hants (1967–1968)
MP for Halifax (from 1968)
(1914–2003)}}

| rowspan="2" |November 6,
1967

| rowspan="2" |February 22,
1976

| rowspan="2" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

rowspan="2" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

| rowspan="2" |Pierre Trudeau
Liberal Party of Canada

100px

|Joe Clark
{{small|MP for Rocky Mountain
(born 1939)}}

|February 22,
1976

|June 4,
1979

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

100px

|Pierre Trudeau
{{small|MP for Mount Royal
(1919–2000)}}

|June 4,
1979

|March 3,
1980

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

|Liberal

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

|Joe Clark
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada

100px

|Joe Clark
{{small|MP for Yellowhead
(born 1939)}}

|March 3,
1980

|February 2,
1983

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

| rowspan="4" |Progressive
Conservative

| rowspan="3" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

| rowspan="3" |Pierre Trudeau
Liberal Party of Canada

|Erik Nielsen{{efn|Nielsen served as acting Leader of the Opposition for the two weeks preceding Clark's resignation from the post of leader of the PC Party. He continued as Leader of the Opposition during the 1983 Progressive Conservative leadership campaign in which Clark unsuccessfully ran to succeed himself. Nielsen continued as Leader of the Opposition from Mulroney's election as PC leader until Mulroney entered Parliament via by-election.}}
{{small|MP for Yukon
(1924–2008)}}

|February 2,
1983

|August 29,
1983

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

style="height:57px"

| rowspan="2" |100px

| rowspan="2" |Brian Mulroney
{{small|MP for Central Nova
(1939–2024)}}

| rowspan="2" |August 29,
1983

| rowspan="2" |September 17,
1984

| rowspan="2" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

|John Turner
Liberal Party of Canada

100px

|John Turner
{{small|MP for Vancouver Quadra
(1929–2020)}}

|September 17,
1984

|February 8,
1990

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

| rowspan="4" |Liberal

| rowspan="3" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

| rowspan="3" |Brian Mulroney
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada

100px

|Herb Gray{{efn|Gray became acting Leader of the Opposition after Turner announced his intention to step down as party leader. Gray continued as Leader of the Opposition from Chrétien's election as Liberal leader until Chrétien entered Parliament via a by-election.}}
{{small|MP for Windsor West
(1931–2014)}}

|February 8,
1990

|December 10,
1990

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

style="height:58px"

| rowspan="2" |100px

| rowspan="2" |Jean Chrétien
{{small|MP for Beauséjour
(born 1934)}}

| rowspan="2" |December 10,
1990

| rowspan="2" |November 4,
1993

| rowspan="2" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Progressive Conservative}}; " |

|Kim Campbell
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada

100px

|Lucien Bouchard
{{small|MP for Lac-Saint-Jean
(born 1938)}}

|November 4,
1993

|January 15,
1996

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|BQ}}; " |

| rowspan="4" |Bloc Québécois

| rowspan="9" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

| rowspan="9" |Jean Chrétien
Liberal Party of Canada

100px

|Gilles Duceppe{{efn|Duceppe served as Leader of the Opposition during the 1996 Bloc Québécois leadership election initiated by Bouchard's sudden resignation from federal politics to become Premier of Quebec.}}
{{small|MP for Laurier—Sainte-Marie
(born 1947)}}

|January 15,
1996

|February 17,
1996

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|BQ}}; " |

100px

|Michel Gauthier
{{small|MP for Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean
(1950–2020)}}

|February 17,
1996

|March 15,
1997

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|BQ}}; " |

100px

|Gilles Duceppe
{{small|MP for Laurier—Sainte-Marie
(born 1947)}}

|March 15,
1997

|June 2,
1997

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|BQ}}; " |

100px

|Preston Manning
{{small|MP for Calgary Southwest
(born 1942)}}

|June 2,
1997

|March 27,
2000

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Reform}}; " |

|Reform

100px

|Deborah Grey{{efn|Grey served as Leader of the Opposition during the 2000 Canadian Alliance leadership campaign in which Manning unsuccessfully ran to succeed himself. She continued as Leader of the Opposition from Day's election as Alliance leader until Day entered Parliament via byelection.}}
{{small|MP for Edmonton North
(born 1952)}}

|March 27,
2000

|September 11,
2000

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Canadian Alliance}}; " |

| rowspan="6" |Canadian Alliance

100px

|Stockwell Day
{{small|MP for Okanagan—Coquihalla
(born 1950)}}

|September 11,
2000

|December 12,
2001

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Canadian Alliance}}; " |

100px

|John Reynolds
{{small|MP for West Vancouver–
Sunshine Coast
(born 1942)}}

|December 12,
2001

|May 21,
2002

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Canadian Alliance}}; " |

style="height:52px"

| rowspan="2" |100px

| rowspan="2" |Stephen Harper
{{small|MP for Calgary Southwest
(born 1959)}}

| rowspan="2" |May 21,
2002

| rowspan="2" |January 9,
2004

| rowspan="2" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Canadian Alliance}}; " |

rowspan="4" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

| rowspan="4" |Paul Martin
Liberal Party of Canada

rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" |Grant Hill{{efn|Hill served as Leader of the Opposition during the 2004 Conservative leadership election in which Harper successfully ran to be leader of the new party.}}
{{small|MP for Macleod
(born 1943)}}

| rowspan="2" |January 9,
2004

| rowspan="2" |March 20,
2004

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Canadian Alliance}}; " |

style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; " |

|Conservative{{efn|Although the PC Party and Canadian Alliance were recognized as merged on December 7, 2003, by Elections Canada for the purposes of elections law, they did not merge their parliamentary caucuses until February 2, 2004.}}

100px

|Stephen Harper
{{small|MP for Calgary Southwest
(born 1959)}}

|March 20,
2004

|February 6,
2006

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; " |

|Conservative

100px

|Bill Graham{{efn|Graham served as interim parliamentary leader, interim Leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition until the 2006 Liberal leadership convention.}}
{{small|MP for Toronto Centre
(1939–2022)}}

|February 6,
2006

|December 2,
2006

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

| rowspan="3" |Liberal

| rowspan="6" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; " |

| rowspan="6" |Stephen Harper
Conservative Party of Canada

100px

|Stéphane Dion
{{small|MP for Saint-Laurent–Cartierville
(born 1955)}}

|December 2,
2006

|December 10,
2008

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

100px

|Michael Ignatieff{{efn|Ignatieff served as interim Leader of Liberal Party until being elected Leader in the 2009 Liberal leadership convention.}}
{{small|MP for Etobicoke–Lakeshore
(born 1947)}}

|December 10,
2008

|May 2,
2011

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

100px

|Jack Layton
{{small|MP for Toronto–Danforth
(1950–2011)}}

|May 2,
2011

|August 22,
2011{{efn|name=died}}

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP}}; " |

| rowspan="3" |New Democratic

100px

|Nycole Turmel{{efn|Turmel became interim leader of the NDP on July 28, 2011, when Layton began his leave of absence, but she did not become the Leader of the Opposition until Layton's death.}}
{{small|MP for Hull—Aylmer
(born 1942)}}

|August 22,
2011

|March 24,
2012

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP}}; " |

100px

|Tom Mulcair
{{small|MP for Outremont
(born 1954)}}

|March 24,
2012

|November 4,
2015

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP}}; " |

100px

|Rona Ambrose{{efn|Ambrose was elected interim party leader by the Conservative caucus to serve until a permanent leader was elected at the 2017 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election.}}
{{small|MP for Sturgeon River—Parkland
(born 1969)}}

|November 4,
2015

|May 27,
2017

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; " |

| rowspan="6" |Conservative

| rowspan="5" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

| rowspan="5" |Justin Trudeau
Liberal Party of Canada

100px

|Andrew Scheer
{{small|MP for Regina—Qu'Appelle
(born 1979)}}

|May 27,
2017

|August 24,
2020

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; " |

100px

|Erin O'Toole
{{small|MP for Durham
(born 1973)}}

|August 24,
2020

|February 2,
2022

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; " |

100px

|Candice Bergen{{efn|Bergen was elected interim party leader by the Conservative caucus to serve until a permanent leader was elected at the 2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election.}}
{{small|MP for Portage—Lisgar
(born 1964)}}

|February 2,
2022

|September 10,
2022

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; " |

rowspan="2"|100px

| rowspan="2"|Pierre Poilievre
{{small|MP for Carleton
(born 1979)}}

| rowspan="2"|September 10,
2022

| rowspan="2"|April 28,
2025

| rowspan="2" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; " |

rowspan="3" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}; " |

| rowspan="3" | Mark Carney
Liberal Party of Canada

colspan="6" |Vacant{{efn|Poilievre lost his seat in the 2025 election and thus ceased to be leader of the Opposition.}}
{{small|April 28, 2025 – May 6, 2025}}
100px

|Andrew Scheer{{efn|Following the defeat of party leader Pierre Poilievre in the 2025 election, the Conservative caucus selected Scheer to serve as the interim parliamentary leader, and thus leader of the Opposition.}}
{{small|MP for Regina—Qu'Appelle
(born 1979)}}

|May 6, 2025

|Present

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; " |

|Conservative

=Timeline=

{{#tag:timeline|ImageSize=width:1100 height:auto barincrement:13

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

AlignBars = late

PlotArea = width:90% left:10 top:10 bottom:100

Legend = columns:1 left:120 top:70 columnwidth:175

Define $today = {{#time:d/m/Y}}

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy

Period = from:01/01/1870 till:31/12/{{#time:Y|+1 year}}

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

Colors =

id:Liberal value:rgb(0.92,0.43,0.42) legend: Liberal_Party_of_Canada

id:OldConservative value:rgb(0.6,0.6,1) legend: Conservative_Party_→_Progressive_Conservative_Party

id:BlocQuebec value:rgb(0.53,0.81,0.98) legend: Bloc_Québécois

id:Reform value:rgb(0.24,0.70,0.44) legend: Reform_Party_of_Canada

id:Alliance value:rgb(0.37,0.62,0.63) legend: Canadian_Alliance

id:Conservative value:rgb(0.39,0.58,0.93) legend: Conservative_Party_of_Canada

id:NewDemocratic value:rgb(0.96,0.64,0.38) legend: New_Democratic_Party

id:liteline value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9)

id:line value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:10 start:1870

ScaleMinor = gridcolor:liteline unit:year increment:2 start:1870

TextData =

pos:(20,75) textcolor:black fontsize:M

text:"Political parties:"

BarData =

bar:Mackenzie

bar:Macdonald

bar:Blake

bar:Laurier

bar:Tupper

bar:Borden

bar:McKenzie

bar:WLMK

bar:Meighen

bar:Guthrie

bar:Bennett

bar:Manion

bar:Hanson

bar:Graydon

bar:Bracken

bar:Drew

bar:Rowe

bar:Diefenbaker

bar:St.Laurent

bar:Pearson

bar:Starr

bar:Stanfield

bar:Clark

bar:Trudeau

bar:Nielsen

bar:Mulroney

bar:Turner

bar:Gray

bar:Chretien

bar:Bouchard

bar:Duceppe

bar:Gauthier

bar:Manning

bar:Grey

bar:Day

bar:Reynolds

bar:Harper

bar:Grant

bar:Graham

bar:Dion

bar:Ignatieff

bar:Layton

bar:Turmel

bar:Mulcair

bar:Ambrose

bar:Scheer

bar:O'Toole

bar:Bergen

bar:Poilievre

PlotData=

width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till

bar:Mackenzie

from: 03/06/1873 till: 05/11/1873 color:Liberal

from: 17/10/1878 till: 27/04/1880 color:Liberal text:"Alexander Mackenzie"

bar:Macdonald

from: 06/11/1873 till: 16/10/1878 color:OldConservative text:"John A. Macdonald"

bar:Blake

from: 04/05/1880 till: 02/06/1887 color:Liberal text:"Edward Blake"

bar:Laurier

from: 23/06/1887 till: 10/07/1896 color:Liberal

from: 10/10/1911 till: 17/02/1919 color:Liberal text:"Wilfrid Laurier"

bar:Tupper

from: 11/07/1896 till: 05/02/1901 color:OldConservative text:"Charles Tupper"

bar:Borden

from: 06/02/1901 till: 09/10/1911 color:OldConservative text:"Robert Borden"

bar:McKenzie

from: 17/02/1919 till: 20/10/1919 color:Liberal text:"Daniel Duncan McKenzie"

bar:WLMK

from: 20/10/1919 till: 28/12/1921 color:Liberal

from: 29/06/1926 till: 24/09/1926 color:Liberal

from: 07/08/1930 till: 22/10/1935 color:Liberal text:"William Lyon Mackenzie King"

bar:Meighen

from: 29/12/1921 till: 28/06/1926 color:OldConservative text:"Arthur Meighen"

bar:Guthrie

from: 11/10/1926 till: 11/10/1927 color:OldConservative text:"Hugh Guthrie"

bar:Bennett

from: 12/10/1927 till: 06/08/1930 color:OldConservative

from: 23/10/1935 till: 06/07/1938 color:OldConservative text:"R. B. Bennett"

bar:Manion

from: 07/07/1938 till: 13/05/1940 color:OldConservative text:"Robert James Manion"

bar:Hanson

from: 14/05/1940 till: 01/01/1943 color:OldConservative text:"Richard Hanson"

bar:Graydon

from: 01/01/1943 till: 10/06/1945 color:OldConservative text:"Gordon Graydon"

bar:Bracken

from: 11/06/1945 till: 20/07/1948 color:OldConservative text:"John Bracken"

bar:Drew

from: 20/12/1948 till: 01/11/1954 color:OldConservative

from: 01/02/1955 till: 01/08/1956 color:OldConservative text:"George A. Drew"

bar:Rowe

from: 01/11/1954 till: 01/02/1955 color:OldConservative

from: 01/08/1956 till: 13/12/1956 color:OldConservative text:"William Earl Rowe"

bar:Diefenbaker

from: 14/12/1956 till: 20/06/1957 color:OldConservative

from: 22/04/1963 till: 09/09/1967 color:OldConservative text:"John Diefenbaker"

bar:St.Laurent

from: 21/06/1957 till: 16/01/1958 color:Liberal text:"Louis St. Laurent"

bar:Pearson

from: 16/01/1958 till: 22/04/1963 color:Liberal text:"Lester B. Pearson"

bar:Starr

from: 09/09/1967 till: 06/11/1967 color:OldConservative text:"Michael Starr"

bar:Stanfield

from: 06/11/1967 till: 22/02/1976 color:OldConservative text:"Robert Stanfield"

bar:Clark

from: 22/02/1976 till: 04/06/1979 color:OldConservative

from: 03/03/1980 till: 02/02/1983 color:OldConservative text:"Joe Clark"

bar:Trudeau

from: 04/06/1979 till: 03/03/1980 color:Liberal text:"Pierre Trudeau"

bar:Nielsen

from: 02/02/1983 till: 29/08/1983 color:OldConservative text:"Erik Nielsen"

bar:Mulroney

from: 29/08/1983 till: 17/09/1984 color:OldConservative text:"Brian Mulroney"

bar:Turner

from: 17/09/1984 till: 08/02/1990 color:Liberal text:"John Turner"

bar:Gray

from: 08/02/1990 till: 10/12/1990 color:Liberal text:"Herb Gray"

bar:Chretien

from: 10/12/1990 till: 04/11/1993 color:Liberal text:"Jean Chrétien"

bar:Bouchard

from: 04/11/1993 till: 15/01/1996 color:BlocQuebec

from: 15/03/1997 till: 02/06/1997 color:BlocQuebec text:"Lucien Bouchard"

bar:Duceppe

from: 15/01/1996 till: 17/02/1996 color:BlocQuebec text:"Giles Duceppe"

bar:Gauthier

from: 17/02/1996 till: 15/03/1997 color:BlocQuebec text:"Michel Gauthier"

bar:Manning

from: 02/06/1997 till: 27/03/2000 color:Reform text:"Preston Manning"

bar:Grey

from: 27/03/2000 till: 11/09/2000 color:Alliance text:"Deborah Grey"

bar:Day

from: 11/09/2000 till: 12/12/2001 color:Alliance text:"Stockwell Day"

bar:Reynolds

from: 12/12/2001 till: 21/05/2002 color:Alliance text:"John Reynolds"

bar:Harper

from: 21/05/2002 till: 09/01/2004 color:Alliance

from: 20/03/2004 till: 06/02/2006 color:Conservative text:"Stephen Harper"

bar:Grant

from: 09/01/2004 till: 02/02/2004 color:Alliance

from: 02/02/2004 till: 20/03/2004 color:Conservative text:"Grant Hill"

bar:Graham

from: 06/02/2006 till: 02/12/2006 color:Liberal text:"Bill Graham"

bar:Dion

from: 02/12/2006 till: 10/12/2008 color:Liberal text:"Stéphane Dion"

bar:Ignatieff

from: 10/12/2008 till: 02/05/2011 color:Liberal text:"Michael Ignatieff"

bar:Layton

from: 02/05/2011 till: 22/08/2011 color:NewDemocratic text:"Jack Layton"

bar:Turmel

from: 22/08/2011 till: 24/03/2012 color:NewDemocratic text:"Nycole Turmel"

bar:Mulcair

from: 24/03/2012 till: 04/11/2015 color:NewDemocratic text:"Tom Mulcair"

bar:Ambrose

from: 04/11/2015 till: 27/05/2017 color:Conservative text:"Rona Ambrose"

bar:Scheer

from: 27/05/2017 till: 24/08/2020 color:Conservative

from: 06/05/2025 till: $today color:Conservative text:"Andrew Scheer"

bar:O'Toole

from: 24/08/2020 till: 02/02/2022 color:Conservative text:"Erin O'Toole"

bar:Bergen

from: 02/02/2022 till: 10/09/2022 color:Conservative text:"Candice Bergen"

bar:Poilievre

from: 10/09/2022 till: 28/04/2025 color:Conservative text:"Pierre Poilievre"

}}

Deputy leaders of the Opposition

{{sticky header}}

class="wikitable sortable sticky-header-multi" style=text-align:center;"
rowspan="2" scope="col" | Portrait

! rowspan="2" scope="col" width="200px" | Name
{{small|Electoral district
(Birth–Death)}}

! colspan="2" scope="col" width="100px" | Term of office

! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Party

! rowspan="2" |Leader of the
Opposition

width="95px" |Term start

! width="95px" |Term end

rowspan="2" |100px

| rowspan="2" |Denis Lebel{{cite web |title=Roles – Hon. Denis Lebel |url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/Denis-Lebel(38633)/Roles |access-date=September 8, 2020 |publisher=Parliament of Canada |archive-date=August 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810151312/https://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/Denis-Lebel(38633)/Roles |url-status=live }}
{{small|MP for Lac-Saint-Jean
(born 1954)}}

| rowspan="2" |November 19,
2015

| rowspan="2" |July 24,
2017

| rowspan="2" style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; " |

| rowspan="8" |Conservative

|Rona Ambrose

rowspan="3" |Andrew Scheer
100px

|Lisa Raitt{{cite web |title=Roles – Hon. Lisa Raitt |url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/lisa-raitt(54325)/roles |access-date=September 8, 2020 |publisher=Parliament of Canada |archive-date=September 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922090821/https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/lisa-raitt(54325)/roles |url-status=live }}
{{small|MP for Milton
(born 1968)}}

|July 24,
2017

|October 21,
2019

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; " |

100px

|Leona Alleslev{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Ryan Patrick |date=July 13, 2020 |title=Leona Alleslev steps down as Conservative deputy leader, backs MacKay's leadership bid |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/leona-alleslev-resigns-cpc-deputy-leader-1.5647309 |access-date=8 September 2020 |website=CBC News |archive-date=September 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905085022/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/leona-alleslev-resigns-cpc-deputy-leader-1.5647309 |url-status=live }}
{{small|MP for Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill
(born 1968)}}

|November 28,
2019

|July 12,
2020

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; " |

100px

|Candice Bergen{{cite web |title=Roles – Hon. Candice Bergen |url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/candice-bergen(59110)/roles |access-date=September 8, 2020 |publisher=Parliament of Canada |archive-date=September 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908160644/https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/candice-bergen(59110)/roles |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=O'Toole names top Tories for Commons roles, with Bergen as deputy leader |url=https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/o-toole-names-top-tories-for-commons-roles-with-bergen-as-deputy-leader-1.24196507 |access-date=2020-09-02 |website=Kamloops This Week}}{{Dead link|date=May 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}
{{small|MP for Portage–Lisgar
(born 1964)}}

|September 2,
2020

|February 2,
2022

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; " |

|Erin O'Toole

100px

|Luc Berthold{{cite web |date=February 6, 2022 |title=Alain Rayes resigns as Conservative Party's Quebec lieutenant |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/alain-rayes-resigns-quebec-lieutenant-1.6341568 |access-date=February 7, 2022 |website=CBC News |archive-date=February 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206200454/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/alain-rayes-resigns-quebec-lieutenant-1.6341568 |url-status=live }}
{{small|MP for Mégantic—L'Érable
(born 1965 or 1966)}}

|February 6,
2022

|September 13,
2022

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; " |

|Candice Bergen

100px

|Melissa Lantsman
{{small|MP for Thornhill
(born 1984)}}

|September 13,
2022

|Incumbent

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; " |

| rowspan="2" |Pierre Poilievre

100px

|Tim Uppal
{{small|MP for Edmonton Mill Woods
(born 1974)}}

|September 13,
2022

|Incumbent

|style="background:{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}; " |

Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet

The Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet in Canada is composed of members of the main opposition party and is responsible for holding the government to account and for developing and disseminating the party's policy positions. Members of the Official Opposition are generally referred to as opposition critics, but the term Shadow Minister (which is generally used in other Westminster systems) is also used.

See also

{{Portal|Canada|Politics}}

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/LeadersOfficialOpposition Leaders of the Official Opposition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223030034/https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/LeadersOfficialOpposition |date=February 23, 2024 }} – Library of Parliament
  • [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/leader-of-the-opposition Leader of the Opposition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223030034/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/leader-of-the-opposition |date=February 23, 2024 }} – The Canadian Encyclopedia

{{Official Opposition in Canada}}

{{Canada topics}}

{{featured list}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leader of The Official Opposition (Canada)}}

Category:Official Opposition (Canada)

Category:Government of Canada

Opposition leaders

Opposition leaders