Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces

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Image:Queen Elizabeth II inspects the garde at Expo67, Montréal.jpg
Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, in her role as Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces inspects the guard at the opening of Expo 67, in Montreal.
Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, in her role as Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Militia and Naval and Air Forces, pictured with the crew of the HMCS St. Laurent in Stockholm, Sweden, June 11, 1956.
Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, in her role as Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Militia and Naval and Air Forces, pictured with the crew of the HMCS St. Laurent in Stockholm, Sweden, June 11, 1956.

In Canada, Commander-in-Chief can refer to both the position of supreme commander of the Canadian Forces, and to the title granted to the viceroy. Constitutionally, Command-in-Chief is vested in the Canadian monarch, though the duties have been delegated to the Governor General of Canada, who has consequently been bestowed with the title Commander-in-Chief.[1] By viceregal protocol, the title used with Canadian audiences is Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces, and in international contexts is Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

Contents

[edit] Constitutional provisions, title, and delegation

The Constitution Act, 1867 states that "The Command-in-Chief of the Land and Naval Militia, and of all Naval and Military Forces, of and in Canada, is hereby declared to continue to be vested in the Queen."[2] However, beginning in 1904, the exercise of the duties of the Commander-in-Chief was transferred to the Governor General of Canada, the monarch's representative in the country. The Militia Act from that year stated that "the Command-in-Chief of the Militia is declared to continue and be vested in the King, and shall be administered by His Majesty or by the Governor General as his representative." Following this, in 1905, the Letters Patent constituting the Office of the Governor General were amended to read the "Letters Patent constituting the Office of the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief."

Throughout the development of the Armed Forces the monarch has remained vested with Command-in-Chief,[3][4] while the Governor General's title altered to suit the changes in the militia. Following the establishment of the Canadian Department of the Naval Service in 1910, the viceroy was styled as the Commander-in-Chief of the Militia and Naval Forces, and after the creation of the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1919, as Commander-in-Chief of the Militia and Naval and Air Forces. Following this, Letters Patent issued by King George VI in 1947 referred to the Office of Governor General and Commander-in-Chief in and over Canada.[5][6] In 1968, following the unification of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Commander-in-Chief became the senior most officer of the Canadian Armed Forces, now the Canadian Forces.

Though all executive power is legally reposed in the Crown, the role of Commander-in-Chief is, however, primarily symbolic in practice; under the Westminster system's parliamentary custom and practice, the Prime Minister of Canada holds de facto decision-making power over the deployment and disposition of Canadian forces. Still, all declarations of war are issued with the approval of, and in the name of the monarch, and must be signed by the monarch or governor general, as was done with the proclamation that declared Canada at war with Nazi Germany, issued on September 10, 1939, which stated: "Whereas by and with the advice of Our Privy Council for Canada We have signified Our Approval for the issue of a Proclamation in the Canada Gazette declaring that a State of War with the German Reich exists and has existed in Our Dominion of Canada as and from the tenth day of September, 1939."[7]

In exercising the duties of Commander-in-Chief, the Governor General appoints the Chief of the Defence Staff, may appoint of royal Colonels-in-Chief of Canadian regiments, approves new military badges and insignia, visits Canadian Forces personnel within Canada and abroad, awards honours, and signs Commission Scrolls.[1]

[edit] Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces

Year Sovereign Year Represented by Governor General
Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Land and Naval Militia
1867-1901 Queen Victoria
1901-1910 King Edward VII 1904-1910 Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey
Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Militia and Naval Forces
1910-1919 King George V 1910-1911 Albert Grey
1911-1916 Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
1916-1919 Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire
Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Militia and Naval and Air Forces
1919-1936 King George V 1919-1921 Victor Cavendish
1921-1926 Julian Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy
1926-1931 Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon
1931-1935 Vere Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough
1935-1936 John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir
1936 King Edward VIII 1936
1936-1952 King George VI 1936-1940
1940-1946 Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone
1946-1952 Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis
1952-1968 Queen Elizabeth II 1952
1952-1959 Vincent Massey
1959-1967 Georges Vanier
1967-1968 Roland Michener
Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces
1968-present Queen Elizabeth II 1968-1974 Roland Michener
1974–1979 Jules Léger
1979–1984 Edward Schreyer
1984–1990 Jeanne Sauvé
1990–1995 Ramon John Hnatyshyn
1995–1999 Roméo LeBlanc
1999–2005 Adrienne Clarkson
2005-present Michaëlle Jean

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Governor General of Canada: Commander-in-Chief
  2. ^ Constitution Act, 1867
  3. ^ Canadian Forces Grievance Board: Case Summaries; ID: HAR-7088-3119; August 28, 2006
  4. ^ T-1809-06 In the Matter of Aralt Mac Giolla Chainnigh v. the Attorney-General of Canada; January 21, 2008
  5. ^ Letters Patent, 1947
  6. ^ Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces
  7. ^ Proclamation of a State of War between Canada and Germany
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