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.

Precedence and privileges

In the order of precedence, the Governor General outranks all individuals except the monarch. While in office the Governor General, as well as his or her spouse (the Viceregal Consort), is styled "His Excellency" or "Her Excellency." Moreover, Governors General are appointed to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada upon retirement (unless they are already members), and are entitled to the style "The Right Honourable" for life. During his or her term in office, the Governor General is also the Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, the Chancellor of the Order of Military Merit, and the Chancellor of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces. Hence, the Governor General is entitled to wear the badges or insignia of these orders along with any other decorations.

Related Topics:
Order of precedence - Viceregal Consort - Queen's Privy Council for Canada - The Right Honourable - Order of Canada - Order of Military Merit - Order of Merit of the Police Forces

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The Governor General's flag is a blue flag bearing a crowned lion holding a red maple leaf in its paw; the design was adopted in 1981. The flag takes precedence over all other flags, save only the Queen's Personal Canadian Flag. The flag may be flown from a vehicle in which the Governor General is travelling, or from a building in which the Governor General is present or is residing. On state visits abroad, however, the Governor General typically uses the national flag, which is a more recognizable Canadian symbol.

Related Topics:
Governor General's flag - 1981 - Queen's Personal Canadian Flag - National flag

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The Vice-Regal Salute is the anthem used to greet the Governor General. The Salute comprises the first six bars of the royal anthem (God Save the Queen) and the first four and last four bars of the national anthem (O Canada). On state visits abroad, O Canada alone is used to salute the Governor General.

Related Topics:
Anthem - Bars - God Save the Queen - O Canada

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The Governor General receives an annual salary of $110,126. His or her official residence is Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario. A Governor General's wife is known as the Chatelaine of Rideau Hall; however, no equivalent exists for husbands of Governors General. Since 1872, Governors-General have also resided in the Citadel (La Citadelle) in Quebec City, Quebec for a part of each year (normally several weeks).

Related Topics:
$ - Rideau Hall - Ottawa - Ontario - Chatelaine - 1872 - Citadel - Quebec City - Quebec

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