As per the Privy Council Office publication Accountable government: a guide for ministers and ministers of state (2011), the entry for Ministry Size includes Ministers and Ministers of State; the entry for Cabinet Size includes Ministers only.

The figures from 1867 to September 1984 simply reflect the list of Cabinet ministers published in each edition of the Canadian Parliamentary Guide and include the Prime Minister. They do not reflect each cabinet shuffle. As of September 1984, each cabinet shuffle is compiled based on the Orders in Council which can be found on the Privy Council Office website.