Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister (Canada)

Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister
since July 7, 2025
Office of the Prime Minister
StyleChief of Staff to the Prime Minister of Canada
TypePolitical Advisor
Reports toPrime Minister
SeatLangevin Block
AppointerPrime Minister
FormationMarch 13, 1987
First holderDerek Burney
WebsitePrime Minister's Office

The chief of staff to the prime minister, sometimes referred to as the PMO Chief of Staff, is the most senior political advisor to the prime minister of Canada, the formal executive head of the political appointees employed in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), and the leader of the broader group of politically appointed ministerial aide across the ministry in power (the exempted staff in federal government jargon). Marc-André Blanchard has been the Chief of Staff since July 2025.

The current title was formally instituted and conferred to the inaugural holder Derek Burney in March 1987, and has been in continual use since. In the two decades preceding 1987, the ranking political aide to the prime minister held the title principal secretary to the prime minister. The title remained in use as has been conferred from time to time to the second ranking advisor.

Principal Secretary to the
Prime Minister of Canada
Incumbent
Tom Pitfield
since March 14, 2025
Office of the Prime Minister
TypePolitical advisor
Reports toPrime Minister
SeatLangevin Block
AppointerPrime Minister
FormationJuly 1, 1867
First holderHewitt Bernard
WebsitePrime Minister's Office