Clerk of the House of Commons (Canada)
Appearance
Clerk of the House of Commons | |
---|---|
since 2005 | |
Appointer | Governor General in Council |
Term length | At Her Majesty's pleasure |
Formation | 1867 |
First holder | William Burns Lindsay |
Deputy | Deputy Clerk of the House of Commons |
Salary | $194,500–228,800 (2013) |
The Clerk of the House of Commons is the senior administrative officer in the Canadian House of Commons.
The Clerk of the House of Commons advises the Speaker of the House of Commons and Members of Parliament on matters of parliamentary procedure. As well, the Clerk is involved in the management of the House of Commons. The office is modelled on the Clerk of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. The Clerk of the Senate fulfills a similar role in the Senate of Canada. Prior to the establishment of this office, there was the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada. William Burns Lindsay was the last clerk of that house.[1]
The current Clerk is Audrey Elizabeth O'Brien, the first woman to hold the office.
List of Clerks of the House of Commons
- 1867–1872 William Burns Lindsay
- 1873–1880 Alfred Patrick
- 1880–1902 Sir John George Bourinot
- 1902–1917 Thomas Barnard Flint
- 1918–1924 William Barton Northrup
- 1925–1949 Arthur Beauchesne
- 1949–1967 Léon Raymond
- 1967–1979 Alistair Fraser
- 1979–1987 Bev Koester
- 1987–2000 Robert Marleau
- 2000–2005 William C. Corbett
- 2005–present Audrey O'Brien (Acting Clerk from 20 May to 10 October)