The Rewards

Some blues brothers: Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and actor/musician Dan Aykroyd, 1999.  Copyright/Source

Being prime minister has rewards. The Queen knighted seven of the first eight prime ministers. The prime minister also has the chance to meet other world leaders and many famous people like movie stars, sports champions and rock-and-roll heroes. He or she is also paid well and lives in a large house in Ottawa for free. The address is 24 Sussex Drive.

Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King and child actress Shirley Temple, 1944.  Copyright/Source

Alexander Mackenzie, Canada's second prime minister, refused a knighthood from the Queen. He did not like the way the British royalty had special rights, and believed that all Canadians should be equal.

Key Words

• knighted, knighthood:
  • In Britain, people are sometimes rewarded for special work by being knighted. They are give the title "Sir" (for example, Sir Paul McCartney). This does not give them special powers, but other people respect it a lot. When Canada was younger, people here could be knighted as well.