Manitoba Lieutenant Governor

Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba

The Honourable Anita R. Neville, P.C., O.M.

Role & Responsibilities

The Office of Lieutenant Governor dates back to the creation of Manitoba in 1870 as the fifth province of Canada and the first western province. Before 1870, authority in this territory was shared by Indigenous bands and the Hudson’s Bay Company.

The Lieutenant Governor is the representative of His Majesty The King, in the Province of Manitoba, and as such, takes precedence over everyone in the province except the Sovereign. The Lieutenant Governor personifies the Crown, which is both the apex and the unifying link in the constitutional and political structure of the province – executive, legislative and judicial. It is a clearly different role from that of the Premier, who is the Head of Government and the leader of the party with the most support in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.

The Crown symbolizes the unity of the people and helps maintain our distinctiveness as Canadians. The Crown is above party politics and it gives citizens a non-partisan focus for their loyalty to the province. As The King’s representative, Her Honour acts on behalf of Manitoba as a whole in the Vice-Regal role, rather than those who voted for the party in power at any given point in time.

Constitutional Role

As the guardian of responsible government in Manitoba, the Lieutenant Governor facilitates the smooth functioning of the Constitution and ensures that the democratic will of Manitobans and their elected representatives is respected.

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Ceremonial & Celebratory Role

In addition to the Lieutenant Governor’s constitutional role, Her Honour annually undertakes hundreds of ceremonial, official and community functions to fulfil her Vice-Regal responsibilities.

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Lieutenant Governor in Council

The position of Lieutenant Governor is apolitical and thus the Lieutenant Governor does not get involved in any political activity, intervene in day-to-day issues and decisions made by Manitoban government ministries, or advocate for groups or individuals seeking to change government policy.

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The Crown and Indigenous Peoples

The relationship between the Crown and Indigenous peoples in Manitoba is ever evolving and is an important focus of the Lieutenant Governor.

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Appointment & Support of Office

The Governor General in Council appoints the Lieutenant Governor on the advice of the Prime Minister of Canada, for a period of not less than five years. Because it is not a term appointment, a Lieutenant Governor continues in office until a successor is appointed and installed.

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