The Privy Council Office is the hub of public service support to the Prime Minister and Cabinet and its decision-making structures. Led by the Clerk of the Privy Council, the PCO facilitates the smooth and effective operations of Cabinet and the Government of Canada through the work of the PCO secretariats.

The main roles of the PCO are to: provide professional, non-partisan advice to the Prime Minister and other ministers in the Prime Minister's portfolio, and to Cabinet, on questions of national, intergovernmental and international importance; manage the Cabinet's decision-making system by challenging and coordinating departmental policy, legislative and communications proposals, conducting policy, legal, legislative and communications analysis, and providing secretariat services to the Cabinet, Cabinet committees and Governor in Council; provide advice on the appropriate structure and organization of the government and its entities; advance the development of the government's agenda across federal departments and agencies and with external stakeholders; help foster a high-performing and accountable Public Service for the 21st century; manage the appointment process for senior positions in federal departments, Crown corporations and agencies; and provide administrative support to the Prime Minister's Office, ministers' offices within the Prime Minister's portfolio, commissions of inquiry, task forces and other independent bodies considering matters associated with good governance in Canada.