Governor General of Canada

The Governor General of Canada (French: Gouverneur général or Gouverneure générale) is the representative of the Canadian monarch. Canada is one of sixteen Commonwealth realms, all of which share a single monarch (currently, Queen Elizabeth II). The Governor General acts as the Queen's viceregal representative in Canada and is often viewed as the de facto head of state. The 1947 Letters Patent granted the Governor General the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian military in the name of the Queen.

Appointment

The monarch appoints the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister of Canada. From 1867 to 1952, every Governor General was a subject of the United Kingdom and a member of the aristocracy. The last British Governor General was Harold Alexander, 1st Viscount Alexander of Tunis, who served from 1946 to 1952. Since Vincent Massey's appointment in 1952, the position has been held only by Canadians. Moreover, by tradition, the post has been held alternately by English-Canadians and French-Canadians. Beginning in 1967, the Prime Minister has forwarded the Queen a single name when proposing a vice-regal appointment; previously a list of several names had been given to the Queen.

Related Topics:
1867 - 1952 - Harold Alexander, 1st Viscount Alexander of Tunis - 1946 - Vincent Massey - English-Canadian - French-Canadian - 1967

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Although non-partisan while in office, Governors General are often former politicians. Since 1952, individuals who previously served as diplomats, as cabinet members, or as Speakers of the House of Commons have been appointed to the post. The former Governor General, Adrienne Clarkson, was previously an author and television anchor; she is the first Governor General in Canadian history without either a political or military background. She is also the first Asian-Canadian and the second woman to serve in the position. The first female Governor General of Canada was Jeanne Sauvé, who served from 1984 to 1990. The first female Vice-Regal in the Commonwealth was the Honourable Pauline McGibbon, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1974 to 1980. The first woman to hold the office of Governor-General in the Commonwealth was Elmira Minita Gordon of Belize.

Related Topics:
1952 - Adrienne Clarkson - Asian-Canadian - Jeanne Sauvé - 1984 - 1990 - Pauline McGibbon - Lieutenant Governor of Ontario - Elmira Minita Gordon - Belize

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The third woman to hold this position is Michaëlle Jean, who took office on September 27, 2005. Jean is also the first Black Canadian Governor General.

Related Topics:
Michaëlle Jean - September 27 - 2005 - Black Canadian

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It is traditional that an appointed individual act as the Queen's representative for a minimum of five years, but the Canadian Prime Minister may advise the Queen to extend the Vice-Regal's tenure. For instance, Adrienne Clarkson's would have been in office for five years as of 2004, but her appointment as Governor General was extended by the Queen on the advice of Prime Minister Paul Martin, who deemed that it was preferable to have an experienced Governor General in place while a minority government remained in power. The tenures of other Governors General, including Georges Vanier and Roland Michener, have been extended beyond five years in previous circumstances. Governors General may resign from office, as, for instance, Roméo LeBlanc did in 1999 due to health concerns.

Related Topics:
2004 - Paul Martin - Minority government - Georges Vanier - Roland Michener - Roméo LeBlanc - 1999

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If the Governor General dies or leaves the country for more than one month, the Chief Justice of Canada (or, if that position is vacant, the senior Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada) serves as Administrator of the Government of Canada, and exercises all powers of the Governor General. The only individuals to serve as Administrators due to the deaths of Governors General were Chief Justice Sir Lyman Poore Duff (1940) and Chief Justice Robert Taschereau (1967).

Related Topics:
Chief Justice of Canada - Supreme Court of Canada - Administrator of the Government - Sir Lyman Poore Duff - 1940 - Robert Taschereau - 1967

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