The clerk of the Privy Council (French: greffier du Conseil privé) is the professional head of the Public Service of Canada.

As head of the public service,[1] the clerk is responsible for other deputy ministers and the provision of non-partisan, expert advice to the government as a whole.

On May 30, 2023, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that Janice Charette would retire on June 24, 2023, and that he would appoint John Hannaford to fill the position.

[2] In the provinces and territories, the equivalent position of senior public servant is called the cabinet secretary or clerk of the executive council (in French, secrétaire du conseil exécutif or greffier du conseil exécutif, respectively).

[3] In 1989, reforms initiated by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney gave the clerk position its present day responsibilities.