# Prime Ministers/Presidents

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prime-ministers-presidents/64044>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 2, 2001, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prime-ministers-presidents/64044 "2001-05-02T04:17:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2001, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prime-ministers-presidents/64044/21 "2001-05-04T05:12:17Z")

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> [@](#):
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> _ **labradorian** said:_  
> A non-Parliamentarian can be appointed to a cabinet post (and this has happened numerous times both federally and provincially) but convention dictates that the person must seek a seat in Parliament (or get appointed to one I guess, in the case of the Senate) ASAP, or vacate the post.

Okay, I kinda thought that’s what happens. I just didn’t have any example to hand.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prime-ministers-presidents/64044/22 "2001-05-08T11:16:10Z")

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The most recent example of a Cabinet minister without a seat at the federal level is Brian Tobin. Last fall, he resigned as Premier of Newfoundland and PM Chrétien appointed him Minister of Industry, even though he didn’t have a seat in the Commons or Senate. Mr. Tobin then ran in the general election in October and was elected to the Commons. If he hadn’t been elected in his own riding, political pressure/convention would have forced him to resign from the Cabinet, or hope that a seat came vacant quickly that he could run in.

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prime-ministers-presidents/64044/23 "2001-05-08T14:28:17Z")

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[QUOTE]  
\*Originally posted by Northern Piper \*  
\*\*

> [@](#):
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> 35.1 The government of Canada and the provincial governments are committed to the principal that, before any amendment is made to Class 24 of section 91 of the “Constitution Act, 1867”, to section 25 of this Act or to this Part, \*\*

Well, mea culpa, I missed that. However, the PM still doesn’t have to be a sitting MP.

> [@](#):
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> **I would also disagree with your statement that the PM does not have to be human. (Although I certainly would say that you have to wonder about some of the incumbents we’ve had. Alien subsitution may be the best way to explain PM Campbell.)**

I was engaging in a little humourous hyperbole, but in retrospect you must admit that Brian Mulroney exhibited a very reptilian appearance, and John Turner was more simian than human. If Brian Tobin becomes PM someday, as some believe he might, we will be the first Western democracy to have a _mustela erminea_ at the helm. I can’t explain Campbell at all.

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