Deputy Governor General of Canada

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Under s. 14 of the Constitution Act, 1867, the Governor General may appoint a person or persons to act as a deputy, and to exercise any powers delegated to them. Presently, the judges of the Supreme Court of Canada serve as deputies to the Governor General for the purpose of giving royal assent to bills passed by Parliament, signing official documents or receiving credentials of newly appointed High Commissioners and Ambassadors. When Supreme Court of Canada judges exercises the power of Governor General, they are styled as the Honourable the Deputy of Her Excellency the Governor General in the House of Commons and Senate. [1] General usage of Deputy of the Governor General is also permitted. [2]

[edit] Administrator of Canada

The role of deputy to the Governor General is different to that of Administrator of Canada. The Letters Patent Constituting the Office of the Governor General of Canada, 1947, provide that in the death, removal, incapacity or absence of more than one month the Chief Justice of Canada shall serve as Administrator of Canada, exercising all the powers and functions of the Governor General until a new Governor General is appointed. In the absence or incapacity of the Chief Justice, the role of Administrator falls on the senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court.

[edit] References

Constitution Act, 1867 [3]

About the Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada [4]

Letters Patent Constituting the Office of the Governor General of Canada [5]