Registrar General of Quebec
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| Registrar General of Quebec | |
|---|---|
| Name | Registrar General of Quebec |
| Native name | Registraire général du Québec |
| Incumbent | J. Michael Fortin |
| Seat | Quebec City |
| Appointer | Lieutenant Governor of Quebec |
| Formation | 1867 |
| Website | Gouvernement du Québec |
Registrar General of Quebec
The Registrar General of Quebec is an official responsible for the registration and custody of instruments, records, and orders issued by the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec and executive instruments originating from the Executive Council of Quebec. The office acts as a formal channel for promulgation of statutes, proclamations, and commissions for offices such as the Premier of Quebec, ministers, and judges of the Court of Appeal of Quebec. Through coordination with institutions including the National Assembly of Quebec, the Ministère de la Justice (Québec), and the Sépaq-administered sites, the Registrar General plays a procedural role in the administration of provincial legal acts.
History
The post traces its roots to colonial administrative practices established under the Province of Canada and earlier colonial regimes such as New France and the British North America Act, 1867. After Confederation, the position was codified to manage the formalities of proclamations and the keeping of official records for the province established by the Constitution Act, 1867. Over time the Registrar General's remit evolved alongside institutions like the Cour du Québec and the Superior Court of Quebec, adapting to statutory changes enacted by successive legislatures including the governments of premiers such as Maurice Duplessis and René Lévesque. Twentieth-century reforms to public administration, influenced by commissions like the Crown Corporation reviews and public service modernization under leaders such as Jean Lesage, altered recordkeeping practices and fostered cooperation with agencies such as the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec.
Functions and Responsibilities
The Registrar General executes key formal acts: registering provincial statutes after assent by the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, publishing proclamations tied to the Civil Code of Quebec, and recording commissions for offices within institutions such as the Sûreté du Québec and the Régie du logement. The office validates instruments bearing the Great Seal of Quebec and maintains custody of registers that pertain to appointments to bodies like the Conseil exécutif du Québec and the Tribunaux administratifs du Québec. It also liaises with the Department of Justice (Canada) in matters of interjurisdictional authentication and collaborates with the Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie on documents requiring external recognition.
Organizational Structure
Situated within the provincial administrative apparatus, the Registrar General's staff work closely with the Secrétariat du Conseil exécutif and the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation for procedural alignment. Operational teams manage registries, archival transfer, and certification services; specialists coordinate with legal units from the Public Prosecution Service of Canada when necessary and with the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail on statutory notices. The office interacts with the Barreau du Québec and clerks of courts in systems linking provincial record retention to the Canada Gazette's federal equivalents.
Appointment and Term
The officeholder is appointed formally by the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec on the advice of the Premier of Quebec and serves at pleasure, subject to provincial statutes governing public appointments such as those administered by the Secrétariat du Conseil du trésor. Historically, appointments have coincided with cabinet changes involving figures like Paul Martin at the federal level in matters of intergovernmental practice and provincial premiers including Daniel Johnson Jr. and Lucien Bouchard. The tenure is typically aligned with administrative continuity rather than a fixed electoral term; changes often occur during executive transitions overseen by the Cabinet of Quebec.
Legal Framework
The Registrar General's authority is grounded in provincial statutes and constitutional instruments like the Constitution Act, 1867 that delineate provincial executive powers. Specific powers derive from acts administered by ministries including the Ministère de la Justice (Québec) and procedural rules connected to the Code civil du Québec. The office ensures compliance with statutory requirements for promulgation, the use of the Great Seal of Quebec, and certification under laws such as the Act respecting the Ministère de la Justice and other enabling regulations passed by the National Assembly of Quebec.
Notable Officeholders
Notable figures who have held the office have had backgrounds in provincial law and administration and have interacted with personalities such as Maurice Duplessis, René Lévesque, Robert Bourassa, and Jean Charest during periods of substantial legal or constitutional activity. Some registrars later moved into prominent roles within the Québec public service or as advisors to bodies like the Comité consultatif national de l'éthique. Their tenures occasionally coincided with landmark events involving the Supreme Court of Canada and provincial initiatives such as language legislation championed by politicians like Lucien Bouchard.
Interaction with Other Government Bodies
The Registrar General coordinates with the National Assembly of Quebec for statute registration, the Secrétariat du Conseil exécutif for cabinet orders, and the Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie for foreign authentication. It also engages courts including the Court of Appeal of Quebec and the Superior Court of Quebec for judicial commissions, and works alongside archival institutions like the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec for long-term record preservation. Intergovernmental exchanges involve federal counterparts such as the Department of Justice (Canada) and the Privy Council Office when documents require interprovincial or international recognition.