In Canada, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is one of the most powerful parts of the government. It is made up of the Prime Minister and his top political staff. It is located in the Langevin Block in Ottawa. The Prime Minister of Canada, the head of the Canadian government, is usually the leader of the political party with the most seats in the Canadian House of Commons. ... Categories: Buildings and structures stubs | Ottawa buildings ... This article is about the capital city of Canada. ...

At the federal level, many of the major decisions are made by the prime minister on the advice of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The PMO is wholly political with staffers appointed by the Prime Minister, not elected members like the Cabinet or full-time civil servants. All of what takes place in the PMO is behind closed doors and the public rarely has any idea who the main figures are. The Cabinet of Canada plays an important role in the Canadian government in accordance with the Westminster System. ...

One of its most important role is in government appointments. The heads of Crown Corporations and Senators are all made by Cabinet, with most of the work behind the decision being made by the PMO. The PMO also includes speechwriters, strategists, and public relations staffers, who shape the Prime Minister's and government's message. It is also the PMO's job to keep the Prime Minister informed about events that take place in the government and the country. It acts as a link between the political party organization and the government. In Commonwealth countries a Crown corporation is a state-controlled company or enterprise (a public corporation). ... The Senate (French: Sénat) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, which also includes the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and the House of Commons. ... Public relations (PR) deals with influencing public opinion, through the presentation of a clients image, message, or product. ...

The provinces of Canada all have similar organizations.

History

The Prime Minister's Office was a fairly weak and secondary group before Pierre Trudeau became Prime Minister. Under Trudeau, it replaced much of what the Privy Council Office once did. Trudeau's PMO became central to his government and many of his economic and constitutional initiatives were launched primarily with the aid and advice of the PMO. The Right Honourable Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau PC, CC, CH, QC, MA, LL.L, LL.D, FRSC (October 18, 1919 – September 28, 2000) was the fifteenth Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 3, 1979, and from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984. ... In Canada the Privy Council Office is the secretariat of the federal cabinet and the department of the Prime Minister. ...

Brian Mulroney also had a strong PMO where he could have advice that was independent from what he considered the Liberal-leaning civil service and the fractious Tory party. The Right Honourable Martin Brian Mulroney, PC , CC , GOQ , LL.D. (born March 20, 1939), was the eighteenth Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993. ...

Jean Chrétien at first tried to shrink the PMO, relying more on his cabinet, but as his time in government went on he came to rely more and more on the PMO. Chrétien especially relied on his Chief of Staff and longtime friend Jean Pelletier, who ran the office from 1993 to 2001. New Prime Minister Paul Martin is said to be very reliant on the PMO where he can be sure the members are loyal to him and not to the ousted Chrétien. The Right Honourable Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien, PC (born January 11, 1934) was the twentieth Prime Minister of Canada, serving from November 4, 1993, to December 12, 2003. ... Jean Pelletier (born February 21, 1935 in Chicoutimi, Quebec) is a Canadian political operative and former head of VIA Rail. ... 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Right Honourable Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC, MP, (born August 28, 1938 in Windsor, Ontario) is the Prime Minister of Canada. ...

Composition

The PMO is presided over by the Chief of Staff. The current Chief of Staff is Tim Murphy, a former Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament and then Martin's top assistant at the Finance Ministry. The other top member is the Principal Secretary, currently Hélène Chalifour-Scherrer. Chief of Staff of Canadas Prime Ministers Office is the top official of the office. ... This page is about the Canadian politician; for the American politician from Pennsylvania, see Tim Murphy (congressman). ... For the U.S. cannabis reform organization, see Marijuana Policy Project. ... The Department of Finance in Canada operates under the finance minister. ... ... The Honourable Hélène Scherrer The Honourable Hélène Chalifour-Scherrer, PC (Born July 6, 1950, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada) is a Canadian politician. ...

The principal secretary is more concerned with the operation of government while the chief of staff is more concerned with policy and communications.

• Chief of Staff: Tim Murphy

• Deputy Chief of Staff (General): Ryan Lapshinoff
• Deputy Chief of Staff (Cabinet Affairs): Karl Littler
• Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations): Michele Cadario

• Director of Operations: Jacline Lanthier

• Deputy Chief of Staff (Parliamentary Affairs and Appointments): Ruth Thorkelson

• Director of Appointments: Karen Martin

• Deputy Chief of Staff (Cabinet Affairs): Karl Littler
• Deputy Chief of Staff (Policy): Peter Nicholson
• Senoir Advisor¹ and Director of Communications: Scott Reid

• Associate Director of Communications: Marc Roy
• Press Secretary: Melanie Gruer

• Principal Secretary: Hélène Chalifour-Scherrer

• Deputy Principal Secretary: Brian Guest
• Chief of Staff to the Principal Secretary: Michel Décary

¹ Reid is on the same level as a deputy chief of staff despite his title as senior advisor. This page is about the Canadian politician; for the American politician from Pennsylvania, see Tim Murphy (congressman). ... Ryan Lapshinoff (born March 1, 1975, in Victoria, British Columbia) is a Canadian politician. ... Scott Reid is the current Communications Director of the Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin , as well as one of Martins senior advisors. ... The Honourable Hélène Scherrer The Honourable Hélène Chalifour-Scherrer, PC (Born July 6, 1950, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada) is a Canadian politician. ...

External links

• Website of the Canadian Prime Minister's Office
• Directory of the Prime Minister's Office