Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba |
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Flag of the lieutenant governor of Manitoba
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Emblem of the lieutenant governor of Manitoba
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 Anita Neville since 24 October 2022 |
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| 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 the King's representative in Manitoba. This person acts for the monarch (the King) in the province. The lieutenant governor is chosen by the governor general (Canada's top representative of the King) on the advice of the prime minister. Their main job is to carry out the King's duties in Manitoba. The current lieutenant governor is Anita Neville, who started her role on October 24, 2022. She is the 26th person to hold this important position.
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What Does the Lieutenant Governor Do?
The lieutenant governor of Manitoba has many important government tasks and also takes part in various special events and traditions.
Important Duties and Awards
The lieutenant governor is the leader of the Order of Manitoba. This is a special award given to people who have done great things for the province. The lieutenant governor helps choose these people and gives them their awards. They also give out other provincial awards. Some awards are even named after the lieutenant governor. These awards often celebrate good causes or charities. The lieutenant governor attends many events each year, either as the host or a special guest.
Symbols and Importance
When the lieutenant governor is at an event, you might see their special flag. This flag is blue and shows the coat of arms of Manitoba with a crown above it. It also has ten gold maple leaves around the shield. These leaves stand for the ten provinces of Canada. In Manitoba, the lieutenant governor is second in importance only to the King. They are even more important than other members of the royal family or the King's federal representative.
History of the Office
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The job of lieutenant governor of Manitoba began in 1870. This was when Manitoba joined Canadian Confederation. The role grew from an earlier position, the lieutenant governor of the Northwest Territories. For a while, the same person was the lieutenant governor for both Manitoba and the Northwest Territories. Later, they also served as lieutenant governor for the Keewatin District. This continued until 1905, when Keewatin became part of the Northwest Territories again.
Notable Lieutenant Governors
Since 1867, 24 people have served as lieutenant governor of Manitoba. Some of them were the first to achieve certain things. For example, Pearl McGonigal was the first female lieutenant governor of the province. Yvon Dumont was the first Métis lieutenant governor. The shortest time someone served was Adams George Archibald, from August 1870 to October 1872. The longest time 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. They acted almost like a premier. 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 would have removed 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 Westminster ruled that the law was not allowed. This was because it affected someone appointed by the federal King, making it outside the province's power.
Another important event happened in March 1988. Lieutenant Governor George Johnson had to use his special powers. The New Democratic Party (NDP) government lost its small majority in the legislature. One of its members, Jim Walding, joined an opposition party. He then voted against the proposed budget, which was a very important vote. Because of this, Johnson ended the legislature and called for an election. The premier at the time, Howard Pawley, announced he would resign. Johnson, however, kept Pawley as premier until after the election. This was so that the new NDP leader could face the legislature and show they had support, if the NDP won. The NDP did not win that election.
See also
- Monarchy in the Canadian provinces
- Government of Manitoba
- Lieutenant governors of Canada
