6.3: What is the Role of the Lieutenant Governor?

Speech from the Throne - a speech given explaining what upcoming plans are being made, by the government, for the next session in the Legislature.

Constitutional Monarchy - a system of government where a king or a queen is the head of the state.

History of the Lieutenant Governor

Lieutenant (pronounced left-tenant in Canada and Britain)

Lieu - French for 'place' or position

Tenant - the act of filling a position

Our Lieutenant Governor takes the place of the monarch when the Queen or King is not able to be present or preside.

Canada is a representative democracy and a constitutional monarchy.  This means the Queen or King is a "figurehead" of our country.  Since our monarch cannot be present at our sittings in Ottawa, the Governor-General takes their place as a representative for the monarch.  

Every province has a similar representative; they are Lieutenant Governors (LG).  

The Prime Minister recommends a person to represent the monarch for each province and the Governor General appoints the Lieutenant Governor to the position.

Duties of the Lieutenant Governor 

• Invites the new leader of the party that wins the election to become premier

• Calls the Legislature into session by issuing a Royal Proclamation

• Reads the Speech from the Throne

• Closes of the Legislature Assembly for elections

• Serve a 5-year term

• Gives Royal Assent to laws

  • • • A European tradition

      • The Monarch would pass laws by making it a decree or a statement

      • When Parliament took over this task, the monarch kept the right to give approval. Now the Lieutenant Governor or the Governor General do this as a representative of the King