THE PRIVY COUNCIL. 
188 
In 1887 Acts’ were passed by the Canadian Parliament 
for the re-organization of certain departments. Under these 
Acts a department of Trade and Commerce presided over 
by a minister is to be organized : the departments of Customs 
and Inland Revenue are to be consolidated: and power is 
given to appoint a Solicitor-General. 
The members of the Council are chosen by the Governor- How 
General and may be removed by him®. No legal restrictions chosen. 
are placed on his choice, and the number of the Council is not 
limited. 
In practice the Governor-General in appointing Privy 
Councillors is guided by several important constitutional 
rules. The members chosen are selected from that party 
which possesses the confidence of the legislature, more es- 
pecially of the House of Commons. The leading member of 
that party is requested by the Governor-General to form a 
ministry, and the Governor-General accepts as members of the 
Council those selected by him. The councillors usually have 
seats in the Upper or Lower House but the majority belong 
to the House of Commons. 
There are some points in which the constitutional practice 
is different in Canada from what it is in England. The claims 
of the several provinces to representation in the Cabinet are 
sometimes recognised, and in the first Privy Council five 
representatives were assigned to Ontario, four to Quebec, two 
to Nova Scotia and two to New Brunswick. 
Again the Attorney-General acts as Minister of Justice The At- 
and sits in the Cabinet. Arguments have been brought be 
forward in Canada and in other colonies to shew that the 
office ought to be non-political’, but the necessity of having 
some one in the Cabinet having a special knowledge -of law 
and of the Constitution has been so much felt in Canada, 
that the Attorney-General is not merely retained in the 
50 & 51 Vie. 10. Ib. ec. 11. 2 B. N. A. Act, 8. 11. 3 Todd, p. 45.