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The Lieutenant Governors of British Columbia: A History

Marcus Bell

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The Lieutenant Governors of British Columbia

by University Press

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7111 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	325 pages

The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia is the viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch in the province of British Columbia. The Lieutenant Governor is appointed by the Governor General of Canada on the advice of the Prime Minister of Canada, and serves at the pleasure of the monarch.

The Lieutenant Governor's role is primarily ceremonial, but they also have some important constitutional responsibilities. These responsibilities include:

Assenting to provincial legislation
Issuing proclamations
Appointing provincial officials
Granting pardons

The Lieutenant Governor also serves as the head of the provincial honours system, and awards medals and honours to British Columbians who have made significant contributions to the province.

History of the Office

The office of Lieutenant Governor was created in 1871, when British Columbia joined the Dominion of Canada. The first Lieutenant Governor was Sir James Douglas, who had previously served as the Governor of the Colony of British Columbia.

Since 1871, there have been 30 Lieutenant Governors of British Columbia. The longest-serving Lieutenant Governor was Sir Albert Edward Richards, who served from 1946 to 1950. The current Lieutenant Governor is Janet Austin, who was appointed in 2018.

Role in Government

The Lieutenant Governor is a non-partisan figure who is above the political fray. They are responsible for ensuring that the provincial government is operating in accordance with the Constitution of Canada and the laws of British Columbia.

The Lieutenant Governor also plays an important role in promoting the province and its people. They travel extensively throughout British Columbia, meeting with citizens from all walks of life.

The Lieutenant Governors of British Columbia have played a vital role in the province's history. They have represented the Crown, ensured the stability of the provincial government, and promoted the province and its people. The Lieutenant Governor is a symbol of British Columbia's rich history and its bright future.