Who is the leader of the Federal Official Opposition Party?
Quick answer: Pierre Poilievre. In our practice tests 81% of 115 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “Andrew Scheer”.
Why is this the correct answer?
The leader of the Official Opposition is the head of the second-largest party in Parliament. Always check who currently holds this position at the time of your citizenship test.
Study Tip
The leader of the Federal Official Opposition Party is typically the leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons, but not the governing party. Think about the current Canadian political landscape and which party has the most seats in opposition to the governing party.
Try it yourself
Can you answer these 3 citizenship test questions?
1. A minority government occurs when:
2. Who is the Head of Government?
3. Which level of government is responsible for national defence in Canada?
The real test has 20 questions in 45 minutes. You need 15 correct to pass.
Take the full citizenship practice testWhat should you know about this topic?
In Canada's parliamentary system, the party with the most seats in the House of Commons usually forms the government. Discover Canada explains that the other parties that are not in power are known as opposition parties, and that the opposition party with the most members of the House of Commons is the Official Opposition, sometimes called His Majesty's Loyal Opposition. The leader of this party is the Leader of the Official Opposition.
The role of the opposition is to peacefully oppose or try to improve government proposals. Opposition members question the government during Question Period, debate bills, and study laws and spending in committees. This helps keep the government accountable to the elected House of Commons and to Canadians. The opposition plays a vital part in a healthy democracy, because it gives voters other choices and makes sure government actions are examined carefully.
The name of the current leader changes over time, after elections and party leadership races, so you should check the latest information before your test. Questions about current officeholders connect to other test topics, such as the names of the Sovereign, the Governor General, and your provincial premier, as well as the federal political parties represented in the House of Commons. Always confirm who holds these positions close to your test date using an official government source.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- Andrew Scheer: Andrew Scheer was a past Conservative leader and Leader of the Official Opposition, but he no longer holds the role.
- Elizabeth May: Elizabeth May is associated with the Green Party, which has never been the Official Opposition.
- Thomas Mulcair: Thomas Mulcair led the New Democratic Party and was Leader of the Official Opposition in the past, but he no longer holds the role.
What is the most common mistake?
Learners often remember an older name from earlier years. This answer changes after elections and leadership races, so always check who currently holds the role before your test.
How can you remember the answer?
"Official Opposition = second-largest party's leader": find which party has the second-most seats, then name its leader.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
81% of 115 practice answers from about 75 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "Andrew Scheer", chosen 11% of the time. The data covers practice tests on BecomeACitizen.ca from March 31, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
How hard is this question compared with others?
It is the 82nd hardest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the How Canadians Govern Themselves chapter is 77% correct, and the average across all questions is 75%. You need 75% to pass the real test.
These are practice questions written from the official Discover Canada guide. IRCC does not publish the real test questions. See the full ranking in the 20 most-missed citizenship test questions or browse more How Canadians Govern Themselves questions.
Practice This Chapter
Test yourself with questions from How Canadians Govern Themselves. Timed mock tests, instant scoring, and detailed explanations.
Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?
This question is from the How Canadians Govern Themselves section of the Canadian citizenship test. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Discover Canada study guide. You need to score at least 75% (15 out of 20 correct) to pass.
This chapter has 47 questions in our database. Studying chapter by chapter is one of the most effective ways to prepare, as it helps you build deep understanding of each topic before moving to the next.
How should you study for the citizenship test?
Start by reading the complete how-to-pass guide, then work through each chapter in the study mode. When you feel ready, take a full exam simulation with the real 45-minute time limit.