Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

The House of Commons allows us to witness democracy in action. On the floor of the Commons Chamber, the nation's most critical issues are debated and Members speak on behalf of all Canadians.

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Duties

The Leader of the Government in the House of Commons is responsible for the government's program in the House of Commons by:

planning and managing the government's legislative program in its pre-parliamentary and parliamentary stages;
maintaining relations with the Opposition on all matters concerning House of Commons activities;
working with the Leader of the Government in the Senate to ensure the effective coordination of the government’s legislative program; and
ensuring policy development and legislation/motions concerning electoral and Parliamentary issues.

The Honourable Peter Van Loan

The Honourable
Peter Van Loan

Peter Van Loan was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 and re-elected in 2006. He was appointed President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister for Sport in November 2006. Prior to his appointment to Cabinet, Mr. Van Loan was the Parliamentary Secretaryto the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In July 2004, he was appointed Critic forHuman Resources and Skills Development and served as a member of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills Development, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. Mr. Van Loan also served as a member of the Subcommittee on Employment Insurance Funds.

Mr. Van Loan has developed a wealth of diverse experience through involvement in the community, in his professional life as a lawyer and in the academic world. He has been a community leader, serving as a member of the Georgina Economic Development Committee, a former executive member of the Canadian Bar Association - Ontario, Municipal Section, and a member of the Ontario Brownfields Advisory Panel.

Professionally, Mr. Van Loan has been a partner and chair of the Planning and Development Law Group with the national law firm Fraser Milner CasgrainLLP. He has also been an adjunct professor of planning at the University of Toronto. Mr. Van Loan obtained a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, aMaster of Science in planning, and a Master of Arts in international relations from the University of Toronto.