Parliamentary leader

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A parliamentary leader is chosen in Canadian politics to lead a party in the House of Commons, or in the case of the provinces, in the legislature, when a party has seats in the legislative body but the leader does not or in other unusual circumstances.

Recent examples of parliamentary leaders

Grant Hill served as parliamentary leader of the Conservative Party of Canada while the party's interim leader was John Lynch-Staunton, a Senator
Bill Blaikie served as parliamentary leader of the New Democratic Party from Jack Layton's election as party leader until he won a seat in the House of Commons in the 2004 election
John Reynolds served first as interim leader of the Canadian Alliance following the resignation of Stockwell Day and then as parliamentary leader from the election of Stephen Harper to the Alliance leadership until Harper won a seat in the Commons
Deborah Grey served first as interim leader of the Canadian Alliance from its creation until the election of Stockwell Day as leader and then as parliamentary leader until Day won a seat in the House of Commons
Elsie Wayne served first as interim leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada for most of 1998 following Jean Charest's resignation until the election of Joe Clark, following Clark's election, she served as parliamentary leader until Clark won election to the Commons in a 2000 by-election

Unusual cases

Bill Graham is currently serving as the parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party of Canada in February and March of 2006, despite the fact that outgoing party leader Paul Martin was still sitting in the House of Commons. Graham became interim leader in March when Martin resigned the party leadership.
Herb Gray served as parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party of Canada during the lead up to the 1990 Liberal leadership convention despite the fact that outgoing party leader John Turner still sat in the House of Commons
William Lyon Mackenzie King became parliamentary leader and continued as Prime Minister of Canada for some months following the election of his successor, Louis St. Laurent, who continued as a member of his cabinet during this time

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