1891 – The first privy councillors were appointed from outside the ministry. These included:
Two former speakers of the House of Commons
Three former speakers of the Senate
First Meeting Before the Sovereign
1957 – The Privy Council met before the Sovereign (Queen Elizabeth II) for the first time (Ottawa, October 14, 1957).
1957 – The first ‘swearing-in’ of a councillor before the Sovereign. This was the summoning of the Queen’s consort, Prince Philip.
First Woman Privy Councillor
1957 – the Right Honourable Ellen Fairclough became the first woman summoned to the Privy Council (June 21, 1957). She held the position of Secretary of State.
Other Meetings Before the Sovereign
1959 – The Privy Council met before Queen Elizabeth II in Halifax to confirm the appointment of the Right Honourable Georges Vanier as Governor General.
Largest Informal Meeting
1982 – The largest informal gathering of the Privy Council took place at a luncheon on Parliament Hill (April 17, 1982.) They were celebrating the Queen’s signing of the proclamation of the Constitution Act, 1982.
Arranging a Meeting with the Queen
For the Prime Minister to propose that the Queen hold a meeting of the Privy Council while she was in Canada, the Privy Council Office would first have to clear the agenda with Buckingham Palace. It would then co-operate with Government House to arrange the details of the meeting.
