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Our Vice-regals representants

Our Governor General of Canada

History of the office of Governor General

Roles and responsibilities of the Governor General

Roles and responsibilities of the Governor General

The Governor General represents His Majesty The King at the federal level in Canada.  The office of Governor General is the oldest continuous institution in Canada and is an unbroken link with the early days of European settlement in our country. Appointed governor of New France in 1627, Samuel de Champlain was the first of 18 French governors who would hold the position in turn until 1760. From then until 1867, a total of 21 British governors and governors general held office in Canada. Until 1952, Governors General were British. The 1952 installation of Vincent Massey, the first Canadian to hold the office, reflected Canada's new sense of autonomy and identity in the post-war era and Canadian sense of pride in the Canadian Crown.  


Vincent Massey's appointment was important, marking the beginning of the modern institution of the Governor General where a Canadian represents The King and carries out His Majesty’s responsibilities in Canada. Since then, the role of the Governor General has evolved. The following are among the responsibilities of Canada's Governor General, all of which are undertaken in the name of The King:  


  • managing the Canadian honours system 
  • representing Canada abroad 
  • signing the letters of credence for outgoing Canadian diplomats 
  • signing treaties and declarations of war 
  • granting coats of arms to Canadians who petition to receive them  


Appointed by The King on the advice of the Prime Minister, the Governor General usually holds office for 5 years. Lieutenant Governors fulfill the responsibilities and functions of The King in the provinces in the same way that the Governor General does at the national level.  


The Governor General bears the title “Excellency” during office, along with his or her spouse, and carries the title “Right Honourable” for life.

Roles and responsibilities of the Governor General

Roles and responsibilities of the Governor General

Roles and responsibilities of the Governor General

In 1947, "Letters Patent Constituting the Office of the Governor General of Canada" (under King George VI) authorized the Governor General to exercise most of the Crown's powers on behalf of the Sovereign.  


The Governor General has important parliamentary responsibilities:  


  • summoning, proroguing and dissolving Parliament ;
  • setting out the government’s program by reading the Speech from the Throne ;
  • giving Royal Assent, which brings parliamentary bills into law 


The Governor General is also Commander-in-Chief of Canada. He or she visits military bases and honours Canadian military personnel on behalf of The King.  



The Governor General also fulfills important ceremonial duties:  


  • promoting a sense of identity 
  • recognizing the achievements of outstanding Canadians 
  • receiving foreign dignitaries 
  • travelling overseas as the representative of Canada 
  • hosting and taking part in official events


Under exceptional circumstances, it is possible for the Governor General to be absent or for the position of Governor General to be temporarily vacant. In such cases, the “Letters Patent Constituting the Office of the Governor General of Canada” (1947) stipulate that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada will assume the duties of Governor General on a temporary basis, as the Administrator of the Government, until an absent Governor General returns to Canada and resumes their duties, or in the case of a transition, until the Governor General Designate has been appointed and sworn in as the new Governor General of Canada.


- Source : Website of the Governor General of Canada and the Government of Canada

Our lieutenant governors and territorial commissioners

Her Honour, The Honourable Edith Dumont, DStJ, OOnt

Her Honour, The Honourable Edith Dumont, DStJ, OOnt

Her Honour, The Honourable Edith Dumont, DStJ, OOnt

Lieutenant Governor of l’Ontario

Her Honour, The Honourable Manon Jeannotte, DStJ

Her Honour, The Honourable Edith Dumont, DStJ, OOnt

Her Honour, The Honourable Edith Dumont, DStJ, OOnt

Lieutenant Governor of Québec

His Honour, The Honourable Mike Savage, KStJ, ONS

Her Honour, The Honourable Edith Dumont, DStJ, OOnt

Her Honour, The Honourable Anita R. Neville, DStJ, OM, PC

Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia

Her Honour, The Honourable Anita R. Neville, DStJ, OM, PC

Her Honour, The Honourable Anita R. Neville, DStJ, OM, PC

Her Honour, The Honourable Anita R. Neville, DStJ, OM, PC

Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba

Her Honour, The Honourable Janet Austin, DStJ, OBC

Her Honour, The Honourable Anita R. Neville, DStJ, OM, PC

His Honour, The Honourable Wassim Salamoun, KStJ, OPEI

Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia

His Honour, The Honourable Wassim Salamoun, KStJ, OPEI

Her Honour, The Honourable Anita R. Neville, DStJ, OM, PC

His Honour, The Honourable Wassim Salamoun, KStJ, OPEI

Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island

Her Honour, The Honourable Bernadette McIntyre

Her Honour, The Honourable Joan Marie J. Aylward, DStJ, ONL,

Her Honour, The Honourable Salma Lakhani, DStJ, AOE, BSc

Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan

Her Honour, The Honourable Salma Lakhani, DStJ, AOE, BSc

Her Honour, The Honourable Joan Marie J. Aylward, DStJ, ONL,

Her Honour, The Honourable Salma Lakhani, DStJ, AOE, BSc

Lieutenant Governor of Alberta

Her Honour, The Honourable Joan Marie J. Aylward, DStJ, ONL,

Her Honour, The Honourable Joan Marie J. Aylward, DStJ, ONL,

Her Honour, The Honourable Joan Marie J. Aylward, DStJ, ONL,

Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador

Her Honour, The Honourable Brenda Murphy, DStJ, ON-B

Her Honour, The Honourable Brenda Murphy, DStJ, ON-B

Her Honour, The Honourable Joan Marie J. Aylward, DStJ, ONL,

Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick

The Honourable Margaret M. Thom, DStJ, OTN-O

Her Honour, The Honourable Brenda Murphy, DStJ, ON-B

The Honourable Margaret M. Thom, DStJ, OTN-O

Commissioner of Northwest Territories

The Honourable Adeline Webber, DStJ, OY

Her Honour, The Honourable Brenda Murphy, DStJ, ON-B

The Honourable Margaret M. Thom, DStJ, OTN-O

Commissioner of Yukon

The Honourable Eva Aariak, CM, DStJ, ONu

Commissioner of Nunavut

Responsibilities

Role

His Majesty The King is represented by ten lieutenant governors at the provincial level.  The governor general, lieutenant governors and territorial commissioners meet annually to discuss matters of mutual interests and how they can better serve Canadians from coast to coast to coast.  


While in office, the lieutenant governors exercise the following responsibilities:  


  • give Royal Assent to bills passed in the provincial legislatures before they are enacted as laws; 
  • ensure that there are active provincial governments at all times; 
  • deliver the Speech from the Throne at the opening of a new session of the Legislative Assembly; 
  • dissolve the government when necessary; 
  • welcome Royal Family members, foreign heads of State and dignitaries to their respective province; and 
  • promote and celebrate excellence through patronage and the presentation of honours.


Lieutenant Governors are the highest ranking officers of their province and represent His Majesty The King in their jurisdictions. The Lieutenant Governor's ceremonial and community functions include, among others:  


  • Promoting a sense of identity; 
  • Representing The King in the province; 
  • Acting as the province's official host; 
  • Supporting social causes; and 
  • Recognizing outstanding citizens.


After the British North America Act was adopted in 1867, lieutenant governors acted as a liaison between federal and provincial governments and advised the provincial government on federal legislation. Now that provinces have acquired jurisdiction over more regional matters, the role is focused primarily on responsibilities as the Sovereign’s representative and as chief executive officer of the province.  


- Source : Governor General of Canada

Nomination

Lieutenant governors are appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister of Canada. They act as representatives of the Sovereign and normally serve for five years. 


Upon taking office, they assume the title “Honourable” for the remainder of their lives. In conversation and correspondence, the lieutenant governor is addressed as “Your Honour,” as is his or her spouse.  

Find out more


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