The Opposition House Leader (), officially known as leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Commons of Canada, is a member of the

Official Opposition Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. This article uses the term ''government'' as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning ''t ...

, not to be confused with the Leader of the Official Opposition, but is generally a senior member of the frontbench. The House Leader is responsible for questioning the Government House Leader on the forthcoming business of the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...

, negotiating with the Government House Leader and other parties' house leaders on the progress of business in the House, and managing the Official Opposition's business in the House of Commons. The position of Opposition House Leader evolved in the 1950s as each Opposition party began to designate a particular MP to question the Government House Leader on upcoming House business. The title of Opposition House Leader became official in 1963, and in 1974, a special annual indemnity was attached to the position of House Leader in each of the opposition parties. The House Leader also coordinates the Official Opposition's floor strategy, often with the House leaders of smaller opposition parties. The position is particularly important when there is a

minority government A minority government, minority cabinet, minority administration, or a minority parliament is a government and cabinet formed in a parliamentary system when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in ...

, or a government with a slim majority, which may be defeated by a

vote of no confidence A motion or vote of no confidence (or the inverse, a motion or vote of confidence) is a motion and corresponding vote thereon in a deliberative assembly (usually a legislative body) as to whether an officer (typically an executive) is deemed fi ...

if all opposition parties work together. Notable Opposition House leaders include Herb Gray of the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

(also a Government House Leader) and Erik Nielsen of the Progressive Conservative Party. Notable House leaders of other recognized parties include

New Democratic Party The New Democratic Party (NDP; , ) is a federal political party in Canada. Widely described as social democratic,The party is widely described as social democratic: * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Editors of ''Encyclopædia Britann ...

MPs Stanley Knowles, who was the House Leader for the NDP from 1962 to 1981, and Bill Blaikie, who held the same position from 1996 until 2003.

List of Official Opposition House leaders

List of House leaders of other recognized parties

New Democratic Party

* Stanley Knowles 1962–1984 * Ian Deans 1984–1986 (acting 1981–1984) * Nelson Riis 1986–1994 * Len Taylor 1994–1996 * Bill Blaikie 1996–2003 * Libby Davies 2003–2011 *''Official Opposition 2011–2015'' *

Peter Julian Peter S. Julian (born April 16, 1962) is a Canadian politician who was a Member of Parliament for the New Democratic Party (NDP) from 2004 to 2025. He represented the ridings of Burnaby—New Westminster from 2004 to 2015 and New Westminste ...

2015–2016 *

Murray Rankin Murray Rankin (born January 26, 1950) is a Canadian lawyer, politician and public law expert who served as British Columbia's Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation from 2020 until 2024. A member of the New Democratic Party, Ranki ...

2016–2018 * Ruth Ellen Brosseau 2018–2019 *

2019–2025

Social Credit Party

* Gilles Caouette 1972–1974 * André-Gilles Fortin 1974–1976 * Charles-Arthur Gauthier 1976–1980

Reform Party

* Elwin Hermanson 1993–1995 * Raymond Speaker 1995–1997 *''Official Opposition after 1997''

Progressive Conservative Party

*''Government or Official Opposition before 1993'' *''None 1993–1997'' * Peter MacKay 1997–2002 *

Loyola Hearn Loyola Hearn, (born March 25, 1943) is a Canadian diplomat and former politician. Hearn is the former Canadian Ambassador to Ireland. He served as a Member of the House of Commons of Canada from 2000 to 2008, and as Minister of Fisheries and O ...

2002–2004

Bloc Quebecois

*''Official Opposition 1993–1997'' * Michel Gauthier 1997–2007 * Pierre Paquette 2007–2011 *

Louis Plamondon Louis Plamondon (born July 31, 1943) is a Canadian politician who has served as a member of Parliament (MP) since his election in 1984. As the longest-serving current member of the House of Commons, Plamondon is Dean of the House, and holds ...

2011–2013 * André Bellavance 2013–2014 * Jean-François Fortin 2014 *

2014–2015 * Luc Thériault 2015–2019 *

Alain Therrien Alain Therrien (; born July 6, 1966) is a Canadian politician who was elected to represent the riding of La Prairie in the 2019 federal election as a member of the Bloc Québécois. Prior to entering federal politics, he served as a member of ...

2019–2025 * Christine Normandin 2025–present

Liberal Party

*''Government or Official Opposition before 2011'' * Marc Garneau 2011–2012 * Dominic LeBlanc 2012–2015

Notes

References

External links

*
Opposition House Leader
- Library of Parliament {{Official Opposition in Canada House Leader Politics of Canada House of Commons of Canada, Opposition House of Commons of Canada