Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
Flag of the lieutenant governor of Manitoba
Emblem of the lieutenant governor of Manitoba
Incumbent Anita Neville since 24 October 2022
Viceroy
Style	Her Honour the Honourable
Residence	Government House, Winnipeg
Appointer	The governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Term length	At the governor general's pleasure
Formation	15 July 1870
First holder	Sir Adams George Archibald

The lieutenant governor of Manitoba is a very important person in the Canadian province of Manitoba. They are the official representative of the King or Queen of Canada in Manitoba. This means they act on behalf of the monarch, who is also the head of state for all of Canada.

The lieutenant governor of Manitoba is chosen in a similar way to other provincial representatives across Canada. Their main job is to carry out most of the King's or Queen's duties in the province. These duties include both official government tasks and special public events. The current lieutenant governor, the 26th person to hold this role, is Anita Neville. She has been serving since October 24, 2022.

What Does the Lieutenant Governor Do?

The lieutenant governor of Manitoba has many important responsibilities. These include both official government duties and various public appearances.

Official Duties and Honours

The lieutenant governor plays a key role in the government of Manitoba. They are automatically a member and the leader of the Order of Manitoba. This special group recognizes people who have done amazing things for the province. The lieutenant governor presents awards to these deserving individuals.

They also become a knight or dame of justice in the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem. This is another important honour. The lieutenant governor gives out other provincial awards and special honours named after them. These awards often celebrate good causes or partnerships with other groups.

Public Appearances and Symbols

The lieutenant governor attends hundreds of events each year. They might host events or be the special guest. For example, in 2006, the lieutenant governor of Alberta attended 334 events!

At these events, you can often see the lieutenant governor's special flag. This flag is blue and has the coat of arms of Manitoba on it, topped with a crown. It also has ten gold maple leaves, which stand for Canada's ten provinces. In Manitoba, the lieutenant governor is second only to the King or Queen in terms of importance at official events. They are even more important than other members of the royal family or the King's federal representative.

History of the Role

The position of lieutenant governor of Manitoba began in 1870. This was when Manitoba officially joined Canadian Confederation, becoming a province of Canada.

Early Days and Notable Figures

The role developed from an earlier position, the lieutenant governor of the Northwest Territories. For a while, the same person held both jobs. Since 1867, 24 people have served as lieutenant governor of Manitoba. Some of these individuals were pioneers in their roles. For example, Pearl McGonigal was the first woman to be lieutenant governor of the province. Yvon Dumont was the first Métis person to hold the position.

The shortest time served by a lieutenant governor was Adams George Archibald, from August 1870 to October 1872. The longest was Roland Fairbairn McWilliams, who served from November 1, 1940, to August 1, 1953. The first two lieutenant governors, Adams George Archibald and Alexander Morris, had a lot of power in the province. They almost acted like premiers, which is the head of the provincial government. This changed when Joseph-Édouard Cauchon took office.

Important Moments in History

In 1919, the Manitoba legislature tried to pass a law called The Initiative and Referendum Act. This law aimed to remove the lieutenant governor from the law-making process in the province. However, Lieutenant Governor James Albert Manning Aikins did not approve the bill. Later, a court in England ruled that the law was not allowed because it affected a federal appointment.

In March 1988, Lieutenant Governor George Johnson had to make a big decision. The government at the time lost its majority in the legislature. This happened when one of its members voted against the budget, which is a very serious matter for a government. Johnson then decided to call an election. The premier, Howard Pawley, announced he would resign. However, Johnson kept Pawley as premier until after the election. This was to make sure that the new leader of the party could face the legislature if they won. The party did not win the election.

See also

• Monarchy in the Canadian provinces
• Government of Manitoba
• Lieutenant governors of Canada

Images for kids

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  William Johnston Tupper, 12th lieutenant governor of Manitoba, from 1934 to 1940

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  Standard of the lieutenant governor of Manitoba from 1905 to 1984

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  Standard of the lieutenant governor of Manitoba from 1870 to 1905