Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces

The commander-in-chief of the Canadian Armed Forces () exercises supreme command and control over Canada's military, the Canadian Armed Forces. Constitutionally, command-in-chief is vested in the Canadian monarch, presently . 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.
==Rank insignia==
Unique commander-in-chief rank insignia is displayed on the applicable Canadian Armed Forces uniforms that the commander-in-chief may choose to wear on occasion. In accordance with the Canadian Forces Dress Instructions, the commander-in-chief may wear a flag officer's Navy uniform or a general officer's Army or Air Force uniform with, as appropriate or desirable, a flag or general officer cap badge; a special flag or general officer sleeve braid embellished with the commander-in-chief's badge (the crest of the Royal Coat of Arms of Canada); and a large, embroidered commander-in-chief's badge on the shoulder straps or shoulder boards, with the badges 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 	Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Land and Naval Militia 	Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Land and Naval Militia 	Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Land and Naval Militia
18671901 	Queen Victoria 	1898-1904 	The Earl of Minto
19011910 	King Edward VII 	19041910 	The Earl Grey
Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Militia and Naval Forces 	Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Militia and Naval Forces 	Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Militia and Naval Forces 	Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Militia and Naval Forces
19101919 	King George V 	19101911 	The Earl Grey
19101919 	King George V 	19111916 	Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
19101919 	King George V 	19161919 	The Duke of Devonshire
Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Militia and Naval and Air Forces	Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Militia and Naval and Air Forces	Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Militia and Naval and Air Forces	Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Militia and Naval and Air Forces
19191936 	King George V 	19191921 	The Duke of Devonshire
19191936 	King George V 	19211926 	The Viscount Byng of Vimy
19191936 	King George V 	19261931 	The Marquess of Willingdon
19191936 	King George V 	19311935 	The Earl of Bessborough
19191936 	King George V 	19351936 	The Lord Tweedsmuir
1936 	King Edward VIII 	1936 	The Lord Tweedsmuir
19361952 	King George VI 	19361940 	The Lord Tweedsmuir
19361952 	King George VI 	19401946 	The Earl of Athlone
19361952 	King George VI 	19461952 	The Viscount Alexander of Tunis
19521968 	Queen Elizabeth II 	1952 	The Viscount Alexander of Tunis
19521968 	Queen Elizabeth II 	19521959 	Vincent Massey
19521968 	Queen Elizabeth II 	19591967 	Georges Vanier
19521968 	Queen Elizabeth II 	19671968 	Roland Michener
Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces 	Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces 	Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces 	Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces
19682022 	Queen Elizabeth II 	19681974 	Roland Michener
19682022 	Queen Elizabeth II 	19741979 	Jules Léger
19682022 	Queen Elizabeth II 	19791984 	Edward Schreyer
19682022 	Queen Elizabeth II 	19841990 	Jeanne Sauvé
19682022 	Queen Elizabeth II 	19901995 	Ramon John Hnatyshyn
19682022 	Queen Elizabeth II 	19951999 	Roméo LeBlanc
19682022 	Queen Elizabeth II 	19992005 	Adrienne Clarkson
19682022 	Queen Elizabeth II 	20052010 	Michaëlle Jean
19682022 	Queen Elizabeth II 	20102017 	David Lloyd Johnston
19682022 	Queen Elizabeth II 	20172021 	Julie Payette
19682022 	Queen Elizabeth II 	20212022 	Mary Simon
2022present 	King Charles III 	2022present 	Mary Simon
==See also==
* Monarchy of Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces
* Colonel-in-Chief
== References ==
==External links==
* Department of National Defence: Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada
* Commander-in-Chief | The Governor General of Canada
Category:Commanders in chief
Category:Military history of Canada
Category:Military of Canada
Category:Monarchy of Canada