Questions and Answers

• How do you become a Lieutenant Governor?
• How long does someone get to be a Lieutenant Governor?
• Why is the Lieutenant Governor important to Nova Scotia?
• What is the Speech from the Throne?
• What is Government House?
• What do I do if I meet the Lieutenant Governor?
• Who was the first Lieutenant Governor in Nova Scotia?
• Who is our current Lieutenant Governor?

How do you become a Lieutenant Governor?
Canada is governed by a Head of State and a Head of Government. The Head of Government in Canada is the Prime Minister. The Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II, Sovereign of Canada. The Queen's representative in Canada is the Governor General.

For each province, The Governor General, on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoints a Head of State at the provincial level to carry out responsibilities in the province. The Provincial Head of State is the Lieutenant Governor.

It is a high honour to be appointed the role of Lieutenant Governor and like Her Honour, Mayann Francis, Lieutenant Governors are well known for the contributions they have made to the country. Being a Lieutenant Governor means giving up personal time to participate in public events and meeting many new people.

How long does someone get to be a Lieutenant Governor?
Much like the Governor General, the provincial Lieutenant Governors remain in their role for a period of five years. Sometimes this is extended for a few months until the next Lieutenant Governor is appointed.

Lieutenant Governors are given the title "Your Honour" while they are in office and the title "The Honourable" for life.

Why is the Lieutenant Governor important to Nova Scotia?
The Lieutenant Governor gives Royal Assent (which means approval) to every Bill before it can become law. The Lieutenant Governor has the power and authority to refuse to pass a law if it is not in the best interest of Nova Scotians. The Lieutenant Governor can also dismiss a government that has acted in an unconstitutional manner. While this has never happened in our country's history, it is the best safeguard we have to protect our constitution. This makes the Lieutenant Governor the guardian of responsible government at the provincial level.

Also, the Canadian Crown is an important part of Canada's heritage, and a symbol of national pride. Through a very active social schedule, the Lieutenant Governor plays a key role in our community to establish a connection between our ideals and traditions.

What is the Speech from the Throne?
The Speech from the Throne is a document that is prepared by the Ministers of the Crown (the Premier and Ministers responsible for government departments) and outlines the government's plans for the next session of the Legislature. The speech also includes information on the state of the economy and significant events.

As part of Her Honour's ceremonial role, the Lieutenant Governor is responsible for reading the Speech from the Throne before each session of Legislature. In Nova Scotia, the Lieutenant Governor customarily wears the Windsor Suit when reading the speech. This tradition that goes back to the days of King George of England!

What is Government House?
Government House is the official residence and office of the Lieutenant Governor. You may fine it hard to believe, but this stately structure (just past the corner of Spring Garden Road and Barrington Street) was once in Halifax's suburbs.

Governor Sir John Wentworth was the man responsible for building Government House. Sir John Wentworth came to Nova Scotia in 1792 from New Hampshire. He and his wife, Lady Wentworth, wanted to build the finest home in North America. The cornerstone of Government House was laid in 1800, making it is the oldest Government House in North America. It is here that members of the Royal Family stay when they visit our province.

Official events are scheduled and thousands of people attend functions at Government House every year, including the New Year's Day Levée and the Garden Party held on the grounds in June.

What do I do if I meet the Lieutenant Governor?
The Lieutenant Governor is the representative of the Queen. If you saw Her Majesty (or even Prince William or Prince Harry, for that matter!) on the streets of Halifax, we're sure you would act with respect.

The Lieutenant Governor and her Consort (His Honour, the husband of the Lieutenant Governor) are to be recognized according to the guidelines of proper etiquette and protocol. If you're attending an important function where Their Honours will be present, refer to the protocol pages to learn all you need to know. If, however, you happen to see Her Honour passing on the street, basic politeness would include addressing the Lieutenant Governor or His Honour as "Your Honour." Once you've got this down, the rest is easy.

Who was the first Lieutenant Governor in Nova Scotia?
Before 1786, the Crown's representative in Nova Scotia normally held the rank of Governor. However, once Sir Guy Carleton was appointed Governor General of British North America, all provincial Governors were re-titled Lieutenant Governor. The first Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia to hold this title was Sir John Wentworth. Today, the title Governor and Lieutenant Governor are often used interchangeably.

Who is our current Lieutenant Governor?
Her Honour Mayann E. Francis is our 31st Lieutenant Governor since confederation and the first African Nova Scotian to be appointed to the role.

As a career public servant, Her Honour brings a unique perspective to her role as the Queen's representative. A firm believer in formal education, Her Honour earned a bachelor of arts degree from Saint Mary's University, a master's degree in public administration from New York University, a certificate in equal opportunity studies from Cornell University and a certificate in theological studies from the Atlantic School of Theology.

Early in her career she was an x-ray technician, department store switchboard operator and paralegal. She then became a pioneer in senior positions within the provincial governments of Nova Scotia and Ontario. She was instrumental in advancing diversity and equality through her human resources roles at Dalhousie University and the District Attorney's office in Kings County, New York.

As a former director and CEO of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission and Ombudsman for the province, Her Honour brings a strong emphasis on the celebration of equity and inclusion to her role as Lieutenant Governor. She sees Nova Scotia as one big community with a variety of people and backgrounds. As Lieutenant Governor she will ensure the richness of our diversity will be represented and honoured.

She says together Nova Scotians can explore ways they can make a difference, for themselves, for their communities and their province. "Underlying everything I want to do as Lieutenant Governor is a central vision of what it means to be a healthy and strong community. In some measure, my concern for communities has been part of every aspect of my career and personal journey. Whether as a senior public servant, a volunteer with service organizations or a newspaper columnist, community has been at the heart of my goals. Now, as Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, I can move my concern for communities to an enhanced level."