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Appendix 1Governors General of Canada Since 1867Appointed by the Sovereign under the advice of the Prime Minister, the Governor General usually holds office for five years. However, the term can continue beyond five years and is brought to an end by the installation or the swearing in of a successor. The Constitution Act, 1867 confers upon the Governor General certain basic powers of government: a recommendation from the Governor General must accompany all spending measures introduced in the House; it is the Governor General who gives Royal Assent to legislation; and it is the Governor General who summons, prorogues and dissolves Parliament. However, in administering the executive authority of the government, the Governor General acts solely upon the advice of the Ministry. In addition to these basic powers of government, the Governor General also has a number of ceremonial responsibilities. The list of Governors General of Canada since Confederation and the information on their appointment and term of office was kindly provided by Rideau Hall.
[1] Term of Office: The appointment of a Governor General is without a specific term and persists legally until brought to an end by the installation or the swearing in of a successor. By convention, the term is usually regarded as five years, but its actual length is determined by the Prime Minister’s recommendation to the Sovereign on the appointment of a successor. [2] Appointment Date: The appointment is made by the Sovereign on the basis of formal advice submitted by the Prime Minister who recommends the appointment in the form of a commission of appointment. The date of the commission becomes the appointment date. The appointment is then announced simultaneously in London and in Ottawa in the form of a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office. [3] Installation Date: The swearing in or installation formalizes the appointment of the Governor General and is the first official day of his/her term of office. [4] Last Day in Office: The last day of the Governor General’s term of office is usually the day of the installation or swearing in of his/her successor. However, in some cases, an Administrator was appointed from the last day in office of the Governor General until the installation of the successor. * Died in office. |
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