Appointment to the Order of Canada

Recipients of the order may also be promoted to a higher grade within it if they have continued to provide outstanding service to Canada, or to humanity in general, after their appointment.

Others, such as former New Democratic Party leader Ed Broadbent and former Prime Minister Joe Clark, were appointed after exiting politics, only to later return to elected office.

There have also been several senators who were appointed to the order prior to taking office; as of 2011[update] there were 15 senators who belonged to the order: Tommy Banks, Roméo Dallaire, Trevor Eyton, Irving Gerstein, Nancy Greene, Serge Joyal, Wilbert Keon, Jean Lapointe, Sandra Lovelace Nicholas, Frank Mahovlich, Donald Oliver, Kelvin Ogilvie, Nancy Ruth, Hugh Segal and Pamela Wallin.

Further, in the same vein as prime ministers being appointed after leaving office, every chief justice of Canada from Robert Taschereau onward has been made a Companion.

To be considered for appointment for the rank of Companion, one must have made "outstanding achievement and merit of the highest degree, especially in service to Canada or to humanity at large.

The ex-officio Companions, which currently comprise Edward Schreyer, Lily Schreyer, Gerda Hnatyshyn, Diana Fowler LeBlanc, Adrienne Clarkson, John Ralston Saul, Michaëlle Jean, Jean-Daniel Lafond, David Johnston, Sharon Johnston, Julie Payette, Mary Simon and Whit Fraser, are not counted toward the maximum number of Companions.

A person can be appointed to the rank of Officer for "achievement and merit of a high degree, especially service to Canada or to humanity at large."

[7] The 2002 ceremony was held at Halifax's Pier 21 to mark the 50th anniversary of Canadian Governors General,[8] but the most common reason for the insignia not being presented at Rideau Hall is the recipient's inability to travel to Ottawa.

Since his condition left him unable to travel, Adrienne Clarkson flew to Toronto and presented him with the insignia in a private ceremony performed in his hospital room.

[11] Investitures can also be delayed, such as in the case of Wayne Gretzky, who was appointed to the grade of Officer in 1984 for his outstanding contributions to the game of ice hockey.

Under her tenure Clarkson held entire investment ceremonies in cities like St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Vancouver, British Columbia.

The appointment process for the Order of Canada is notable for being mostly removed from the active partisan influence normally seen in the British honours system.

Unlike in many nations, active federal and provincial politicians cannot be admitted into the order until they exit elected office.

Flora MacDonald had to ask for, and receive authorization from the House of Commons that Sheardown deserved membership in the order before her appointment was seriously considered.

It is also notable that occasionally sitting members of the House of Commons rise to offer congratulations to people in their districts who have been admitted into the order.

[13] The New Democratic Party called for the Governor-General to remove Conrad Black from the Order following his conviction for obstruction of justice.