Summary of the Evaluation of the Lieutenant Governors’ Program (State Ceremonial and Protocol) 2012-13 to 2016-17

What is a lieutenant-governor?

The Lieutenant Governors (LGPs) in Canada’s ten provinces are provincial officers who are representing Her Majesty the Queen in their respective province. Their existence is mandated by the Canada’s Constitution Act, 1867. They are appointed by the Governor General in Council and their salaries are fixed and provided by the Parliament of Canada. The LGPs play a constitutional role, as well as a ceremonial role in their province and their community.

Program description

The Lieutenant Governors’ Program (LGP) provides LGPs with $836,080 in funding each year in the form of a federal grant. This funding can be used to defray costs related to the following elements:

• Administrative costs that are not covered by the provincial government
• Hospitality costs that are not covered by the provincial government
• Travel costs that are not covered by the provincial government

Relevance

• The LGP continues to be relevant because it is at the heart of the constitutional monarchy political system.
• The LGP is aligned with some governmental and departmental priorities related to Canadian identity.
• The LGP remains a federal responsibility enshrined in the Constitution.

Performance

Overall, the LGP achieved its outcomes.

Immediate outcomes

The LGPs participate in ceremonial activities (for example, representing the Queen) and community outreach activities (for example, speeches during ceremonies).

The table below indicates the estimate number of annual activities per province.

Intermediate outcomes

The LGPs :

• are aware of and fully assume their constitutional role;
• assume their role of recognizing excellence in their province (award prizes, medals and distinctions);
• support community organizations in their province;
• advance the promotion of the Canadian political system and Canadian values in their speeches; and,
• have developed various approaches to accessibility for the Canadian population (access to the official residence, websites, social media, etc.).

The table below indicates the number of organizations per province for which the LGPs acted as honorary patrons in 2016.

Ultimate outcomes

There is little data available to confirm that the ultimate outcomes have been achieved. Nonetheless, the LGP certainly makes it possible to support actions that aim to increase Canadians’ knowledge and appreciation for Canada’s shared values and history and get them to express their Canadian identity at events.

Efficiency

• The costs of this program are limited because of the small number of recipients and the nature of the grant.
• The LGP complements other Canadian Heritage programs and completes the financial support that the LGPs receive from the provinces, but there is no overlap between the two.