Lieutenant Governor

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR is the Crown's representative in BC and therefore, theoretically at least, is the ultimate authority in the province. The lt gov is appointed by the gov gen on the prime minister's advice and originally acted as the eyes and ears of the federal government in the province. Today the appointment includes informal consultation with the premier and the lt gov is no longer considered a creature of Ottawa. The lt gov appoints the government; convenes, prorogues and dismisses the assembly; reads the Speech from the Throne; gives royal assent to all legislation; and has a variety of other responsibilities. However, most duties other than the purely ceremonial are exercised on the advice of the premier and assent to legislation is taken for granted. The lt gov's power to dismiss a premier was last used in 1903, before the emergence of identifiable political parties in the legislature. The lt gov last played an important role in selecting a premier in 1952 when Clarence WALLACE chose to allow W.A.C. BENNETT to form a government. The usual term of office runs 5 years, during which time the lt gov occupies Government House, the official residence. See also CARY CASTLE; see entries for individual lt govs. See chart for list of BC lt govs.