December 14, 2010
OTTAWA—His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, will grant Royal Assent during a formal ceremony in the Senate Chamber, on Wednesday, December 15, 2010, at 4:15 p.m.
His Excellency will grant Royal Assent to bills. He will then sign the attestation documents in the Chambers of the Senate Speaker. This will be the Governor General’s second Royal Assent since his installation ceremony on October 1, 2010. His first royal assent was by written declaration on November 18, 2010. For more information, please visit www.parl.gc.ca.
Royal Assent is granted by a representative of the Crown to approve a bill passed by the House of Commons and the Senate, making it into an Act of Parliament. Royal Assent is therefore the last stage in the legislative process and assembles the three constituent entities of Parliament (Crown, Senate, House of Commons). By tradition, Royal Assent is accorded in the Senate Chamber in the presence of members of the House and Senate. Since the Royal Assent Act of 2002, it may be signified by a written declaration by the governor general or by a deputy of the governor general (one of the justices of the Supreme Court).
The governor general presides over the swearing-in of the prime minister, the chief justice of Canada and cabinet ministers. It is the governor general who summons, prorogues and dissolves Parliament, delivers the Speech from the Throne, and grants Royal Assent to acts of Parliament. The governor general signs official documents. He acts on the advice of the prime minister and the government, but has the right to advise, to encourage and to warn.
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Media wishing to cover the ceremony and the signing of the attestation documents must be accredited by the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery and should contact
Collin Lafrance at 613-992-6517.
Marie-Ève Létourneau
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-0287
marie-eve.letourneau@gg.ca
Francine Pressault
Communications Officer
The Senate of Canada
613-944-4075
pressf@sen.parl.gc.ca
www.sen.parl.gc.ca
