Lieutenant Governor of Alberta

Infobox vice-regal
province = Alberta
shield = Shield-Alberta.png incumbent = Norman Kwong
his/her = His
appointed_by = Michaëlle Jean
first_lg = George H. V. Bulyea
date = September 1, 1905

The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta is the vice-regal representative of the Queen of Canada in the province of Alberta. The role of the Lieutenant Governor is to carry out the constitutional and ceremonial duties of the monarch in the province.

The Governor General appoints the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta on the advice of the Prime Minister, and in consultation with the Premier of Alberta. There is no set limit to a Lieutenant Governor's term, the traditional description being "at Her Majesty's pleasure."

The present Lieutenant Governor of Alberta is Norman Kwong, who has served in the role since January 20, 2005.

History

Since 1905, sixteen lieutenants governor have served Alberta; previously, what is now Alberta was part of the Northwest Territories, under the direction of the Lieutenant-Governors of Northwest Territories (1869-1905).

One of the few examples in Canada of the lieutenant governor exercising the Royal Prerogative against or without ministerial advice came when John C. Bowen, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta in 1937, denied Royal Assent to three bills passed through the Legislative Assembly; two of the bills would have put the province's banks under the control of the provincial government, while a third, the Accurate News and Information Act, would have forced newspapers to print government rebuttals to stories the provincial Cabinet objected to. All three bills were later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Canada and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. In retaliation for this move by Bowen, then Premier, William Aberhart, closed the vice-regal residence, removed the Lieutenant Governor's secretary and support offices, and took away his official car. [McWhinney, Edward; "The Governor General and the Prime Ministers"; Ronsdale Press, Vancouver; 2005; pg. 38-39]

Nearly seven decades later, Lois Hole, who served as Lieutenant Governor from 2000 until her death in 2005, publicly stated that she wished to discuss with her Premier, Ralph Klein, the proposed Bill 11, which was meant to allow private health care to compete with the public health care system. From this it was suspected that Hole might reserve Royal Assent to the bill; however, Hole eventually did allow the bill to pass. [McWhinney; pg. 94]

Lois Hole, a politician, businesswoman and educator, was the second woman to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, between 2000 and 2005; the first being Helen Hunley between 1985 and 1991. Norman Kwong, a former Canadian Football Leagueplayer and national chairman of the Canadian Consultative Council on Multiculturalism, was the first vice-regal of Chinese-Canadian descent in Alberta, from 2005 to present. The shortest mandate by a Lieutenant Governor of Alberta was Philip Primrose, from October 1, 1936, to his death on March 17, 1937. The longest was John C. Bowen, from March 23, 1937, to February 1, 1950.

Duties

The Lieutenant Governor, him or herself a recipient of the award as Chancellor of the Order, bestows the Alberta Order of Excellence on deserving Alberta citizens. Similarly, the viceroy becomes the Vice-Prior of, and is also appointed a Knight or Dame of, the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem upon their swearing in as Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant Governor also attends various functions throughout the province and abroad, either as the host or a guest of honour. In 2002 the Lieutenant Governor undertook 435 engagements, 332 in 2003, and 326 in 2004. [ [http://www.monarchist.ca/new/docs/Report.pdf Guthrie, Gavin and Aimers, John; "$1.54 per Canadian: The cost of Canada's constitutional monarchy, 2005"] ]

For more detailed information on the Vice-regal's responsibilities in Alberta see: Lieutenant Governor (Canada)

ymbols

The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta bears a personal flag that consists of a blue field bearing the shield of the Arms of Her Majesty in Right of Alberta, surmounted by a crown, and surrounded by ten gold maple leafs, symbolizing the ten provinces.

ee also

* List of Lieutenant Governors of Alberta
* Governor General of Canada
* Monarchy in Canada

References

External links

* [http://www.lieutenantgovernor.ab.ca/ Lieutenant Governor of Alberta]
* [http://www.parl.gc.ca/infoparl/30/4/30n4_07e_Neitsch.pdf/ Canadian Parliamentary Review]