Mary May Simon Appointed Governor General

Summary#

This is the Proclamation Announcing the Appointment of the Governor General: SI/2021-41, publicly confirming that Mary May Simon was appointed Governor General of Canada by Queen Elizabeth II. The Commission appointing her is dated July 21, 2021, the proclamation was issued on July 26, 2021, and it was published in the Canada Gazette on August 18, 2021.

What it does#

• Announces that Mary May Simon has been appointed Governor General and Commander‑in‑Chief in and over Canada by a Commission from Queen Elizabeth II dated July 21, 2021.
• Records that the Commission was read publicly in the presence of the Chief Justice (or another judge of the Supreme Court of Canada) and members of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, and that Mary May Simon took the required oaths.
• States that she has entered on the duties of the office and asks that government officers continue in their positions.

Who's affected#

• Federal government leaders, ministers and public servants who work with or for the Crown.
• The Queen's Privy Council for Canada, courts present at the reading of the Commission, and the vice‑regal office (the Governor General’s household).
• All Canadians in a symbolic sense, since the Governor General represents the Crown in Canada.

Why it matters#

• It marks the formal, public start of a new Governor General’s term.
• The Governor General is the Crown’s representative in Canada and carries out ceremonial and constitutional duties — for example, participating in official ceremonies, swearing in governments, and providing royal assent to laws.
• For most people this is a ceremonial and constitutional milestone rather than a change that affects day‑to‑day life.