What is the Governor General's role?

The Governor General is the federal vice-regal representative of the Canadian monarch (currently King Charles III, since September 8, 2022). The office was established at Confederation in 1867 and is governed by the Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor General of Canada, 1947 (which transferred most of the monarch's prerogative powers to the Governor General). The current Governor General is Mary Simon, appointed July 26, 2021 as Canada's first Indigenous Governor General.

The Governor General performs three principal functions. First, as head of state in Canada, the Governor General performs ceremonial duties including swearing in the Prime Minister and Cabinet, presenting honours and awards, hosting state visits, and representing Canada abroad. Second, as part of the legislative process, the Governor General reads the Speech from the Throne (the Throne Speech) to open each session of Parliament and grants Royal Assent to bills passed by the House of Commons and Senate (a bill becomes law only with Royal Assent). Third, the Governor General exercises certain constitutional reserve powers including dissolving Parliament, summoning new Parliaments, and appointing the Prime Minister.

The Governor General is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister and serves a term of approximately five years (with extensions at the monarch's pleasure). Recent Governors General include David Johnston (2010 to 2017), Julie Payette (2017 to 2021, resigned), and Mary Simon (since 2021). The Governor General lives at Rideau Hall in Ottawa (the official vice-regal residence since 1867) and at the Citadelle of Quebec (the secondary residence since 1872).

The Governor General is supported by the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General (OSGG), the Chancellery of Honours (which administers the Order of Canada and other federal honours), and the Canadian Heraldic Authority. The Governor General is the Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces (a title delegated from the Sovereign). Ten provincial Lieutenant Governors perform parallel functions in each province, appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the federal Prime Minister.