The Lieutenant Governor

The Lieutenant Governor is the Queen's official representative in Ontario.

Appointed on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Canada, the Lieutenant Governor acts as the province's head of State, performing various legislative duties such as summoning and reading the Speech from the Throne at the start of a session to set forth the government's legislative priorities, providing Royal Assent to bills to make them laws, and dissolving Parliament for an election. The Lieutenant Governor presides at provincial events, visits communities and organizations around Ontario, and presents honours and awards to deserving citizens.

When an important government action doesn't gain the support (or confidence) of a majority of the MPPs, the government is defeated. If this happens, the Lieutenant Governor seeks another party leader who has the support of the Assembly or dissolves the Legislature, which results in an election for the people to decide.

Interesting Websites

• For a list of the Lieutenant Governors of Ontario 1867 to the present and other related historical information you can see the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario website.