Who governs Canada?

Canada as a constitutional monarchy

Her Majesty the Queen of Canada (represented by the Governor General) is the head of State of Canada, but most of Her Majesty's executive functions are exercised only on the advice of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada. By convention, the only privy counsellors who may advise the sovereign are the prime minister (the head of Government) and other current ministers who are responsible to the elected House of Commons. These exercises of the Queen's authority on the advice of the Privy Council are referred to as the Queen-in-Council (or the Governor General-in-Council, as appropriate), and form the executive branch of Canadian government.

Currently, Her Majesty Elizabeth II is the Queen of Canada. The Queen's current representative is Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, the Governor General of Canada. Currently, the prime minister is the Right Honourable Stephen Harper. The prime minister currently leads a team of twenty-seven ministers, and ten ministers of State.