Lieutenant Governor of Quebec

Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
Post	Lieutenant Governor
Body	Quebec
Insigniasize	120
Insigniacaption	Coat of arms of Quebec
Flagsize	120
Flagcaption	Standard of the lieutenant governor
Incumbent	J. Michel Doyon
Incumbentsince	September 24, 2015
Department	Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
Style	His Honour the Honourable, (The Hon.)
Residence	Édifice André-Laurendeau
Appointer	Governor General of Canada
Appointer qualified	on the advice of the Prime Minister of Canada
Termlength	At His Majesty's pleasure
Formation	July 1, 1867
First	Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau
Salary	$157,731 (CA)
Website	[https://www.lieutenant-gouverneur.qc.ca/ lieutenant-gouverneur.qc.ca]

Contents

Role and responsibilities
Appointment and tenure
History
Official residence
List of lieutenant governors
See also

Lieutenant Governor of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor of Quebec is the viceregal representative in Quebec of the Canadian monarch, currently King Charles III. As the King's representative, the lieutenant governor performs the bulk of the monarch's constitutional and ceremonial duties within the province. The office is a core part of the Westminster system of parliamentary government in Quebec and dates back to Canadian Confederation in 1867.

Role and responsibilities

The lieutenant governor exercises the executive authority of the Crown in Right of Quebec, acting on the advice of the Premier of Quebec and the Executive Council. Key constitutional duties include ensuring the province always has a premier, summoning and dissolving the National Assembly of Quebec, and providing royal assent to bills passed by the legislature. The officeholder also represents the province at ceremonial events, hosts official functions, and presents provincial honors like the Order of Quebec and the Medal of the National Assembly. Furthermore, the lieutenant governor serves as the Colonel of the Regiment for the Royal 22<sup>e</sup> Régiment and acts as the official host for visiting members of the Royal Family, such as The Prince of Wales.

Appointment and tenure

The lieutenant governor is appointed by the Governor General of Canada, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister of Canada, typically following consultation with the Premier of Quebec. The appointment is made for an indefinite term, formally described as serving At His Majesty's pleasure, though by convention it usually lasts for about five years. The Letters Patent, 1947 issued by King George VI authorize the governor general to make such appointments. The Official Languages Act requires appointees to be fluent in both English and French, and the individual must take an Oath of Allegiance before assuming office.

History

The office originated with the appointment of the first Governor of New France, Samuel de Champlain, in the early 17th century. Following the British Conquest, the role evolved into a colonial governor. After Canadian Confederation, the position of lieutenant governor was formally established by the British North America Act, 1867, with Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau becoming the first incumbent. Historically significant lieutenant governors include Louis-Amable Jetté, who served during the Manitoba Schools Question, and Lise Thibault, the first woman to hold the office. The role has been shaped by key events in Quebec history, including the Quiet Revolution and the 1980 Quebec referendum.

Official residence

The lieutenant governor's primary office and official reception space is located within Édifice André-Laurendeau in Quebec City, which also houses the Ministry of Justice. The building, named for former Union Nationale minister André Laurendeau, is situated near the National Assembly and other key government buildings in the Parliament Hill district. While there is no dedicated gubernatorial mansion, the lieutenant governor historically used parts of the former Édifice G and other government properties for official functions.

List of lieutenant governors

Since 1867, over two dozen individuals have served as lieutenant governor. The first was Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau, a former Joint Premier of the Province of Canada. Notable 20th-century holders include Félix-Gabriel Marchand, a former premier, and Hugues Lapointe, a Van Doo veteran and son of former Prime Minister Ernest Lapointe. Lise Thibault served from 1997 to 2007, and the current lieutenant governor, J. Michel Doyon, a former president of the Quebec Bar, was installed in 2015. A complete chronological list is maintained by the Department of Canadian Heritage.