12 figures mapped
Political Views of Canadian Prime Ministers
Prime ministers of Canada from John A. Macdonald to Justin Trudeau, placed on the 12 axes from their speeches, platforms and record in office.
Up and down the compass: 5 on the authority side, 3 near the middle and 4 on the liberty side.
All 12
1815-1891 · CanadaJohn A. Macdonald1st Prime Minister of Canada (1867-1873, 1878-1891)Auth right
1841-1919 · CanadaWilfrid Laurier7th Prime Minister of Canada (1896-1911)Lib right
1874-1950 · CanadaWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King10th Prime Minister of Canada (1921-1926, 1926-1930, 1935-1948)Auth left
1882-1973 · CanadaLouis St. Laurent12th Prime Minister of Canada (1948-1957)Auth right
1895-1979 · CanadaJohn Diefenbaker13th Prime Minister of Canada (1957-1963)Auth right
1897-1972 · CanadaLester B. Pearson14th Prime Minister of Canada (1963-1968)Lib left
1919-2000 · CanadaPierre Trudeau15th Prime Minister of Canada (1968-1979, 1980-1984)Lib left
1939-2024 · CanadaBrian Mulroney18th Prime Minister of Canada (1984-1993)Lib right
Born 1934 · CanadaJean Chrétien20th Prime Minister of Canada (1993-2003)Lib right
Born 1938 · CanadaPaul Martin21st Prime Minister of Canada (2003-2006)Lib right
Born 1959 · CanadaStephen Harper22nd Prime Minister of Canada (2006-2015)Auth right
Born 1971 · CanadaJustin Trudeau23rd Prime Minister of Canada (2015-2025)Lib left
Quick quiz
Which Canadian Prime Minister Are You?
Answer 12 statements and see whose recorded views sit closest to yours. Free, about two minutes.
FAQ
Canadian prime ministers: questions
How many Canadian prime ministers are on PoliticalTests?
12 Canadian prime ministers have a profile here, from John A. Macdonald to Justin Trudeau. Of them, 3 sit on the economic left, 4 near the centre and 5 on the economic right. Leaders still active in politics are not included.
How are these positions worked out?
Each person is placed on the 12 axes of the 12 Axes Political Test from their own speeches, writings, votes and record in office, with sources on every profile page. The map shows two of those measures: economic views across, and the mean of the civil and society axes up and down. Axes with no reasonable basis are left blank and do not count.
Is this a ranking or a judgment?
No. The placements describe stated positions and policies, not character or success in office. Every profile sets out what admirers and critics say, so you can read both sides.
