Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia

Responsibilities and Role

The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia is the provincial viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, King Charles III. The Lieutenant Governor is appointed by the Governor General of Canada on the advice of the Prime Minister of Canada. The Lieutenant Governor's duties include:

• Assenting to bills passed by the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
• Summoning, proroguing, and dissolving the Legislative Assembly
• Appointing members of the Executive Council of British Columbia
• Exercising the Crown's prerogative of mercy
• Performing ceremonial duties

Eligibility and Appointment

To be eligible for appointment as Lieutenant Governor, a person must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years of age, and a resident of British Columbia. The Lieutenant Governor is appointed for a term of five years and may be reappointed for additional terms. The Lieutenant Governor's salary is set by the provincial government.

Current Lieutenant Governor

The current Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia is Janet Austin, who was appointed on July 24, 2018. Austin is the 30th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and the first Indigenous person to hold the position.

Historical Note

The office of Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia was created in 1871, when British Columbia joined the Canadian Confederation. The first Lieutenant Governor was Joseph William Trutch.