Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition in Canada is usually the largest parliamentary opposition party in the Canadian House of Commons. That is the largest party that is not in government either on its own or as part of a governing coalition. This is usually the second-largest party in a legislative house, although in certain unusual circumstances it may be a third or fourth party or even the largest party.
It is styled as Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition to show that, though the group may be against the sitting government, they remain loyal to the Crown (the embodiment of the Canadian state), and thus to Canada.
The current official opposition is the Conservative Party of Canada.
They are viewed as the party tasked with keeping the government in check. They are also generally viewed as the alternative government. The Official Opposition maintains a shadow cabinet of MPs that often have the same portfolios as actual ministers.
There are some official benefits to being official opposition. It is the party that gets to speak first after the government, and gets more time in question period than any other party. It also gets more funding for research and staff than other parties.
From 1921 to 1924 the Progressive Party of Canada had more MPs than the Conservatives, but they turned down the chance of being official opposition and the position passed to the Tories.
As a result of the 1925 Canadian election the Official Opposition was actually the largest party in the House of Commons, the Conservatives. The Liberals led by William Lyon Mackenzie King were able to form a minority government despite the fact that they had a dozen fewer seats than the Conservatives because King's Liberals were able to win the support of the Progressives to remain in government. Similarly, in Ontario, the Ontario Liberal Party was able to form a minority government from 1985 to 1987 despite having fewer seats than the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party because of the support of the Ontario New Democratic Party.
In 1993 the Reform Party challenged whether the separatist Bloc Québécois could hold the position of official opposition. The Speaker ruled in favour of the Bloc, however.
The leader of the Opposition party is called the "Leader of the Opposition" and may live in Stornoway, the leader's official residence in Ottawa.
There is also an Official Opposition in the Canadian Senate. This is the largest party in the Senate which is not in government. As the governing party is determined in the House of Commons the Official Opposition in the Senate may actually be larger than the government party in the Senate. It is customary, however, for the Senate to pass legislation approved in the House of Commons even if the government has a minority in the Senate. The party that forms Official Opposition in the Senate is not necessarily the same party as in the House of Commons, however, From 1993 to 2003 the Official Opposition in the Senate was the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada even though the Bloc Québécois from the Official Opposition in the House from 1993 to 1997 followed by the Reform Party of Canada and then the Canadian Alliance from 1997 to 2003. This is because the BQ, and Reform Party had no Senators. However, when Senator Gerry St. Germain crossed the floor from the Progressive Conservatives to the Canadian Alliance in 2000 he argued that he should be recognized as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate as the Canadian Alliance formed the Official Opposition in the House of Commons. The Speaker of the Canadian Senate ruled against him however as the Progressive Conservatives were the larger opposition party.
(*) House of Commons only. The Progressive Conservatives formed the Official Opposition in the Senate during this period.
See: Leader of the Opposition (Canada)
Last updated: 05-21-2005 19:38:28
