There is no legislated term of office for the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada; he or she serves at the pleasure of the prime minister. The Governor General of Canada (on the advice of the prime minister) may remove the President of the Privy Council at any time; also, he or she loses the presidency should the prime minister resign, pass away or be dismissed.

A privy council exists to advise a head of State on the use of executive powers.

In Canada, this is the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, which consists of a number of Canadians appointed by the Governor General, on the advice of the Prime Minister. In practice, the whole Privy Council meets rarely, such as upon an accession to the throne, or to consent to a royal marriage.

Usually, in day-to-day matters of government, the only privy counsellors who provide advice to the Governor General are the Prime Minister, and other current ministers appointed on his advice (i.e., "the Cabinet"). The Cabinet can be considered the "active" committee of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada.

There are currently two Privy Councils. Members of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are appointed by Her Majesty on the advice of the British Government. Members of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada are appointed by the Governor General of Canada (the Queen's representative) on the advice of the Canadian prime minister. Therefore, while the executive power to appoint members rests with the Queen (or the Queen's representative), the practical selection of members rests with the prime minister of the respective Government of the day.