Clerk of the Privy Council

The Clerk of the Privy Council is the most senior non-political official in the Government of Canada, and provides professional, non-partisan support to the Prime Minister on all policy and operational issues that may affect the government.

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Responsibilities

The Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet also has particular responsibilities with respect to:

ensuring the continuity of government between successive administrations;
keeping custody of the records of previous administrations; and
enabling the government of the day to understand and recognize the established conventions of Canada’s constitutional monarchy.

The first Clerk of the Privy Council was appointed in 1867. A second title, Secretary to the Cabinet, was added in 1940. Changes to the Public Service Employment Act in 1992 brought a third title, Head of the Public Service, and responsibility for setting the strategic directions for the Public Service of Canada.

Roles

Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister

As the Prime Minister’s Deputy Minister, the Clerk of the Privy Council provides advice and support to the Prime Minister in his or her role as head of government. This includes advice on appointing senior office holders in the public service and organizing the government, on the Cabinet decision-making system, overall policy directions, intergovernmental relations, and the management of specific issues.

Secretary to the Cabinet

As Secretary to the Cabinet, he or she assists the Prime Minister in maintaining the cohesion of the Ministry and giving direction to it. In this role, the Clerk of the Privy Council provides support and advice to the Ministry as a whole to ensure that the Cabinet decision-making system operates according to the Prime Minister’s design.

Head of the Public Service

As Head of the Public Service, he or she serves as the principal link between the Prime Minister and the Public Service of Canada, and is responsible for the quality of expert, professional and non-partisan advice and service provided by the public service to the Prime Minister, Cabinet and to all Canadians.

John Hannaford

John Hannaford was appointed Clerk of the Privy Council by the Prime Minister effective 24 June 2023.

John Hannaford

Mr. Hannaford previously served as Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada and Deputy Minister of International Trade at Global Affairs Canada and also held positions as Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister; Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet of Foreign and Defence Policy in the Privy Council Office; and Canada’s Ambassador to Norway.

As a member of Canada’s Foreign Service, Mr. Hannaford also had numerous assignments in Ottawa and at the Canadian embassy in Washington, D.C., during the early years of his career.

John Hannaford graduated from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, with a bachelor of arts (honours) in history. After earning a master of science in international relations at the London School of Economics, he completed a bachelor of laws degree at the University of Toronto and was called to the bar in Ontario in 1995.

In addition to his work as a public servant, Mr. Hannaford has in the past been an adjunct professor in both the Faculty of Law and the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa.

SOURCE: Privy Council Office.

See also
Federal Government
Privy Council
Former Clerks of the Privy Council

External Links
Clerk of the Privy Council Official Website