Information Resources

Queen’s Privy Council for Canada - Facts

• In 1891 for the first time Privy Councillors were named who were not members of the ministry: two former Speakers of the House of Commons and three former Speakers of the Senate were sworn to the Privy Council.

• The first meeting of Council before the Sovereign took place in Ottawa on October 14, 1957.

• The first swearing-in before the Sovereign took place at the October 14, 1957 meeting when Prince Philip was summoned.

• The first woman summoned to the Privy Council was the Right Honourable Ellen Fairclough who was named Minister of Citizenship and Immigration on June 21, 1957.

• The Queen has met with the Privy Council only on 2 occasions: in Ottawa in 1957 and in Halifax in 1959.

• The largest informal gathering in history of the Privy Council (not a formal meeting) took place at a luncheon on Parliament Hill in Room 200, West Block on April 17, 1982 after the Queen’s signing of the Proclamation of the Constitution Act, 1982.

• If the Prime Minister were to propose that the Queen hold a meeting of the Privy Council while in Canada, the Privy Council Office would clear the agenda with Buckingham Palace and the meeting would be arranged in co-operation with Government House.

• The Queen’s Privy Council for Canada is sometimes referred to as Her Majesty’s Privy Council for Canada and often informally referred to as the Privy Council.