Leader of Government in House Designated Minister

Summary#

This is an order (SI/2025-53) recorded in the Canada Gazette on March 26, 2025 that changes who counts as a “minister” under the Canada Elections Act. It repeals an earlier order and explicitly names the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons as a minister for the Act’s purposes.

What it does#

• Repeals Order in Council P.C. 2025-86 (the earlier designation) dated February 12, 2025.
• By P.C. 2025-434 (dated March 14, 2025), it designates the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, who is a member of the King’s Privy Council for Canada, to be treated as a “Minister” under subsection 2(1) of the Canada Elections Act.

Who's affected#

• The main person affected is the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, because this order changes how that office is classified under election law.
• Organizations and people who deal with election rules — for example, Elections Canada, political parties, and candidates — may notice the change if any rules depend on who is defined as a “minister.”
• The Gazette item does not list specific programs, rules, or individuals beyond the office named.

Why it matters#

• The label “minister” in the Canada Elections Act matters because several election rules apply specifically to ministers. This order decides whether those rules apply to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.
• The notice is mainly administrative: it sets the legal classification, but the Gazette entry does not explain any wider policy reasons or list the exact election rules that will be affected.