Although the Privy Council Office has grown in size and complexity over the years, its main pillars remain the operations and plans secretariats.

The former is primarily concerned with coordinating the day-to-day issues of government while the latter takes a medium-term view to the evolution of the Canadian federation.

Each incoming prime minister will re-organize the Privy Council Office to suit the policy agenda of their government.

Traditionally, the Privy Council Office has served as a "finishing school" for civil servants destined for executive positions within government.

Officials who spend several years gaining experience at the Privy Council Office, and working on policy matters from the perspective of the prime minister, return to their home departments with a greater appreciation of government operations at the corporate level.