Prime Minister

The prime minister of Canada is the head of government. In order to have the necessary support of parliament, the prime minister is usually the leader of the party with the majority of the members in the House of Commons. The prime minister is appointed or reappointed by the governor general, usually following a general election which ordinarily takes place every three to four years. The prime minister is invested with a great deal of power, being able to select the cabinet and top civil servants and advise the Governor-General in their appointment. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) supports the prime minister in his or her role.