If the report is as damning as the sources in this article hint, it’s hard to imagine Her Excellency being able to justify remaining in office - partly because it’s tough to imagine the PM continuing to take responsibility for her. #cdnpoli /1 https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rideau-hall-governor-general-payette-1.5861952

So here’s a quick recap of what happens if the Governor General resigns, or in the extreme (and unprecedented) case of the Queen being asked to dismiss her. Assuming there isn’t a replacement already waiting in the wings. /2

First: why does this matter?

Well, that’s simple. The GG oversees the transition of power. Nobody has a majority in Parliament, so an election could happen at any time. It needs to be clear where authority is actually vested. So, here goes! /3

Assuming the office of GG is suddenly vacated and a replacement isn’t immediately ready to take over, the Constitution Act, 1867 specifies their powers devolve to the Administrator of Canada.

Under the Letters Patent, 1947 respecting the GG, that’s the Chief Justice. /4

The Chief Justice (and each of the puisne justices after him) as Administrator can exercise the full powers and authorities of the GG if the office is vacant (note: not true in the provinces). /5

Of course, for most of these duties, in theory there’s nothing to stop the Queen herself from coming here and exercising them, except that Her Majesty is 95 and those long flights are arduous (she stopped travelling outside the UK nearly a decade ago). /6

Of course, having the Administrator serve long term isn’t desirable. The Chief Justice already has a whole other job we’d rather he be doing!

So choosing a new permanent officeholder becomes a priority. /7

The steps for that are pretty straightforward:

1) The appointee is chosen (by the PM);
2) The Queen’s permission is sought (by the PM);
3) The appointee is announced (by the PM);

/8

4) The appointee is given their commission and - with their spouse - is invested as an Extraordinary Companion of the Order of Canada (by the Queen);

5) The appointee’s commission is read aloud in the presence of the Administrator and the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada;

/9

6) The Administrator administers the Oaths of Office to the appointee, with the PM and the Clerk of the Privy Council signing as witnesses. Process complete.

Usually steps 5 and 6 happen during an installation ceremony in the Senate Chamber - not a requirement!

/10

Once upon a time, the installation would happen in Quebec City (in the National Assembly’s Red Room), where the new GG would first arrive (by boat) on Canadian soil.

Anyway, if there’s already a candidate in the wings, this process can happen pretty quickly. 11/11