Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (Canada) position of Government House Leader was formally recognized. In 1968, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau designated the Government House Leader as President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada. Under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, the roles of Government House Leader and President of the Privy Council were separated in 1989. Under Mulroney and his successors, the position of House Leader would often be held by someone who was named a Minister of State without any portfolio responsibilities specified. Since 2003, this Minister of State status has been obscured in all but the most official circumstances by the use of a "Leader
Electoral history of Brian Mulroney 1988 general election, Mulroney stood for election in the Quebec riding of Charlevoix, which included his home town, Baie-Comeau. Mulroney ran in two Progressive Conservative leadership contests, in 1976 and 1983. He was defeated in the 1976 convention by Joe Clark, who became party leader. After Clark lost the 1980 general election, there was another leadership convention, in 1983. This time, Mulroney won and became party leader. When Robert Stanfield announced his resignation as party leader in 1976, Mulroney was one of a crowded field of candidates in the leadership convention. Although he came in second on the first ballot,