Governor-General of Canada

The Governor-General of Canada (Fr. Gouverneur général) is the representative in Canada of the Queen of the United Kingdom, who is also Queen of Canada, the country's head of state. (The Prime Minister of Canada is the head of government.) The Governor-General is named by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Although state power rests legally with the Governor-General - Parliament sits at his or her pleasure, Royal Consent is necessary for all laws passed by Parliament, and the Governor-General is the commander-in-chief of the Canadian Armed Forces - real political power rests with the Prime Minister, Parliament, and the provincial governments. The Governor-General's is a formal, ceremonial, and cultural office. Current and past Governors-General use the title "Right Honourable" (Très honorable), like the Prime Minister.

The Queen also has representatives in each provincial government: Lieutenant Governors (lieutenants gouverneurs) who are nominally appointed by the Governor-General but in practice appointed by the Prime Minister.

See Also List of Canadian Governors General