Who is the boss of the prime minister of Canada?

Answer 1

The Prime Minister is advised by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) which is the Prime Minister's personal secretariat, and the Privy Council Office (PCO) which is the apolitical secretariat to the federal Cabinet.

Constitutionally, the federal Cabinet (a committee of the Queen's Privy Council) advises the Governor General. However, since the Governor General conventionally delegates active decision making to the Prime Minister, in effect the Cabinet advises the Prime Minister.

Both the Queen and the Governor General have the conventional right to advise the Prime Minister, since it is their constitutional authority that the Prime Minister uses in order to govern.

Answer 2

While the Canadian prime minister does not have the nominal power to make appointments to federal and provincial positions, his position as the chief advisor to the Governor General (the Queen's representative) means that his advice is nearly-invariably followed for the appointment of

• federal ministers
• members of the Senate
• justices of the Supreme Court (which includes the Chief Justice)
• judges of the Federal Court of Appeal, Federal Court, and Tax Court
• judges of appellate and superior courts of the provinces
• heads of Crown corporations

Although the Queen has the power to appoint the Governor General of Canada as Her Majesty's representative, the prime minister is responsible for advice to the Queen on the said appointment, which is invariably followed.

Answer 3

The person who appoints and can dismiss the Prime Minister of Canada is the Governor General of Canada. The salary of the Prime Minister is set by Parliament. The Prime Minister is accountable to both his party and to the House of Commons, and either can force him to resign.

Answer 4

The Prime Minister appoints the Cabinet and Senators.