Canadian prime ministers have more unhindered freedom to rule than presidents of the United States, prime ministers of the United Kingdom, or leaders in almost any other parliamentary democracy. The powers Canadians give to their prime minister are so many, varied, and beyond accountability that it is immediately understandable why political analysts use phrases such as “imperial democracy” and “friendly dictatorship” to describe the reality of the Canadian system.
Canadian prime ministerial powers fall into two main categories. The first is the ability of the prime minister, backed by their staff in the Prime Minister’s Office—the PMO—and the Privy Council Office—the PCO—to direct and control what happens in government and in Parliament. The second is the astonishing unchecked power of patronage Canadians give their prime minister to appoint all the leading figures in the country’s public life, judiciary, and administration.
