Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Leader of the Official Opposition
Incumbent Pierre Poilievre since August 18, 2025
Official Opposition Parliament of Canada
Style	The Honourable
Member of	House of Commons
Residence	Stornoway
Seat	West Block (while Centre Block is under renovation)
Term length	While leader of the largest party not in government
Inaugural holder	Alexander Mackenzie
Formation	March 6, 1873
Salary	$309,700 (2025)

In Canada, the Leader of the Official Opposition is a very important job in the country's government. This person is a Member of Parliament (MP) who leads the main political party that is not currently in charge. Think of it like the captain of the "other team" in Parliament. This leader's party has the second-most seats in the House of Commons. Their job is to challenge the government and offer different ideas.

Currently, Pierre Poilievre is the Leader of the Official Opposition. He became the leader on August 18, 2025. He represents the area of Battle River—Crowfoot in Parliament. He had this role before, from September 2022 to April 2025. After a short break, he was re-elected and became the leader again.

This role should not be confused with the Opposition House Leader. That person manages the opposition's daily work in the House of Commons. There is also a Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. This person usually belongs to the same party as the leader in the House of Commons.

What's in a Name?
Special Perks of the Job
A Look Back: History of the Role
The Shadow Cabinet
Images for kids
See also

What's in a Name?

The official name for this role is 'Leader of the Official Opposition.' You can find this name in Canada's laws and rules for Parliament. Sometimes, people also say 'Leader of the Loyal Opposition.' The word 'loyal' is used to show that even though this leader disagrees with the government, they are still loyal to Canada and its system, including the King or Queen of Canada. It means they are working for the good of the country, even when they are opposing the government's plans.

Special Perks of the Job

The Leader of the Official Opposition has some special benefits. They get the same pay and security as a government minister. They often become a member of the King's Privy Council, which is a group of important advisors. This is a special honour, usually given only to people in the government.

The leader also gets to live in a special house called Stornoway. It's their official home. In the House of Commons, where all the MPs meet, the Leader of the Official Opposition sits right across from the Prime Minister. This shows how important their role is in keeping an eye on the government.

A Look Back: History of the Role

The role of the Leader of the Official Opposition has a long history in Canada. In the very first Canadian Parliament, this job wasn't clearly defined. Over time, it became more organized.

Alexander Mackenzie is often seen as the first true Leader of the Opposition. He took on this role in 1873. It wasn't until 1905 that the job was officially written into Canadian law. At that time, Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier said that the Leader of the Opposition is just as important to the government system as the Prime Minister. This shows how much respect the role holds.

Canada was actually one of the first countries in the world to pay a special salary to its opposition leader. This helped show how important their work was. Sadly, two leaders of the Opposition have passed away while holding the job: Wilfrid Laurier in 1919 and Jack Layton in 2011.

The Shadow Cabinet

The Leader of the Official Opposition also has a team called the Shadow Cabinet. This group is made up of other Members of Parliament from the main opposition party. Each member of the Shadow Cabinet is like a "shadow" version of a government minister. For example, there might be a Shadow Minister of Finance or a Shadow Minister of Health. Their job is to watch what the real government ministers are doing. They also come up with their party's own ideas and plans for how the country should be run. They are often called "opposition critics" because they critique, or review, the government's actions.