# Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces

The commander-in-chief of the Canadian Armed Forces (French: Commandant en chef des Forces armées canadiennes) exercises supreme command and control over Canada's military, the Canadian Armed Forces. Constitutionally, command-in-chief is vested in the Canadian monarch, currently King Charles III. Since the Letters Patent, 1947, were signed by King George VI, the governor general of Canada—presently Mary Simon—executes most of the duties of the sovereign, including in his role as commander-in-chief. Consequently, the governor general also uses the title Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces. By protocol, the title used within international contexts is Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

## 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 and be vested in the Queen." However, beginning in 1904, the exercise of the duties of the commander-in-chief were delegated to the governor general of Canada, the monarch's representative in the country. The Militia Act from that year stated, "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, while the governor general's title altered to suit the changes in the militia's structure. Following the passage of the Naval Service Act establishing the Royal Canadian Navy in 1910, the viceroy was styled Commander-in-Chief of the Militia and Naval Forces and, after the creation of the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1918, as Commander-in-Chief of the Militia and Naval and Air Forces. Following this, the Letters Patent, 1947, issued by King George VI, referred to the "Office of Governor General and Commander-in-Chief in and over Canada." 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 most senior officer of the Canadian Armed Forces.
As all executive power is legally reposed in the Crown, the role of commander-in-chief is the only constitutional means by which decisions are made over the deployment and disposition of the Canadian Armed Forces. Under the Westminster system's conventions of responsible government, the cabinet—which advises the sovereign or his viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers—generally exercises the Crown prerogative powers relating to the Canadian forces. Still, all declarations of war are issued with the approval, and in the name, of the monarch and must be signed by either the sovereign or the governor general, as was done with the proclamation that declared Canada at war with Nazi Germany, issued on September 10, 1939; it 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."
In exercising the duties of commander-in-chief, the governor general appoints the chief of the Defence Staff, as well as royal colonels-in-chief of Canadian regiments (save for the monarch himself); approves new military badges and insignia (except for those bearing St Edward's Crown, which may only be sanctioned by the sovereign); visits Canadian forces personnel within Canada and abroad; bestows honours, decorations, and medals; and signs commission scrolls. Since 2000, the governor general also awards the Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation to units in the Canadian Forces and allied militias that have performed extraordinary deeds or activities in highly hazardous circumstances in active combat. An insignia pin is presented to members and the unit receives a scroll and may fly a special banner.

## Governor general's rank insignia

According to Canadian Forces Dress Instructions, the governor general may wear the uniform and corresponding cap/hat badge of a flag/general officer, with a special flag/general officer sleeve braid embellished with the governor general's badge, and a large embroidered governor general's badge on the shoulder straps or boards, facing forward.
| Royal Canadian Navy | Royal Canadian Navy | Canadian Army | Canadian Army | Royal Canadian Air Force | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Board | Sleeve | Board | Sleeve | Board | Sleeve |

## Commanders-in-chief of the Canadian Armed Forces

| Year | Sovereign | Year | Represented by Governor General |
| Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Land and Naval Militia ||||
| 1867–1901 | Queen Victoria | 1898–1904 | The Earl of Minto |
| 1901–1910 | King Edward VII | 1904–1910 | The Earl Grey |
| Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Militia and Naval Forces ||||
| 1910–1919 | King George V | 1910–1911 | The Earl Grey |
| 1910–1919 | King George V | 1911–1916 | Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn |
| 1910–1919 | King George V | 1916–1919 | The Duke of Devonshire |
| Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Militia and Naval and Air Forces ||||
| 1919–1936 | King George V | 1919–1921 | The Duke of Devonshire |
| 1919–1936 | King George V | 1921–1926 | The Viscount Byng of Vimy |
| 1919–1936 | King George V | 1926–1931 | The Marquess of Willingdon |
| 1919–1936 | King George V | 1931–1935 | The Earl of Bessborough |
| 1919–1936 | King George V | 1935–1936 | The Lord Tweedsmuir |
| 1936 | King Edward VIII | 1936 | The Lord Tweedsmuir |
| 1936–1952 | King George VI | 1936–1940 | The Lord Tweedsmuir |
| 1936–1952 | King George VI | 1940–1946 | The Earl of Athlone |
| 1936–1952 | King George VI | 1946–1952 | The Viscount Alexander of Tunis |
| 1952–1968 | Queen Elizabeth II | 1952 | The Viscount Alexander of Tunis |
| 1952–1968 | Queen Elizabeth II | 1952–1959 | Vincent Massey |
| 1952–1968 | Queen Elizabeth II | 1959–1967 | Georges Vanier |
| 1952–1968 | Queen Elizabeth II | 1967–1968 | Roland Michener |
| Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces ||||
| 1968–2022 | Queen Elizabeth II | 1968–1974 | Roland Michener |
| 1968–2022 | Queen Elizabeth II | 1974–1979 | Jules Léger |
| 1968–2022 | Queen Elizabeth II | 1979–1984 | Edward Schreyer |
| 1968–2022 | Queen Elizabeth II | 1984–1990 | Jeanne Sauvé |
| 1968–2022 | Queen Elizabeth II | 1990–1995 | Ramon John Hnatyshyn |
| 1968–2022 | Queen Elizabeth II | 1995–1999 | Roméo LeBlanc |
| 1968–2022 | Queen Elizabeth II | 1999–2005 | Adrienne Clarkson |
| 1968–2022 | Queen Elizabeth II | 2005–2010 | Michaëlle Jean |
| 1968–2022 | Queen Elizabeth II | 2010–2017 | David Lloyd Johnston |
| 1968–2022 | Queen Elizabeth II | 2017–2021 | Julie Payette |
| 1968–2022 | Queen Elizabeth II | 2021–2022 | Mary Simon |
| 2022–present | King Charles III | 2022–present | Mary Simon |