| Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces | |
|---|---|
| Commandant en chef des Forces armées canadiennes | |
 Badge of the Canadian Armed Forces | |
| Canadian Armed Forces | |
| Type | Role |
| Abbreviation | C-in-C |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution Act, 1867 Letters Patent, 1947 |
| Formation | 1 July 1867 |
| First holder | Queen Victoria |
| Deputy | Chief of the Defence Staff |
Thecommander-in-chief of the Canadian Armed Forces (French:Commandant en chef des Forces armées canadiennes) exercises supremecommand and control overCanada's military, theCanadian Armed Forces. Constitutionally, command-in-chief is vested in theCanadian monarch, currently King Charles III. Since theLetters Patent, 1947, were signed by KingGeorge VI, thegovernor general of Canada—presentlyMary Simon—executes most of the duties of the sovereign, including in his role as commander-in-chief. Consequently, the governor general also uses the titleCommander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces. By protocol, the title used within international contexts isCommander-in-Chief of Canada.
TheConstitution 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."[1] However, beginning in 1904, the exercise of the duties of the commander-in-chief were delegated to thegovernor general of Canada, the monarch's representative in the country. TheMilitia 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, theletters 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,[2][3] while the governor general's title altered to suit the changes in the militia's structure. Following the passage of theNaval Service Act establishing theRoyal Canadian Navy in 1910, the viceroy was styledCommander-in-Chief of the Militia and Naval Forces and, after the creation of theRoyal Canadian Air Force in 1918, asCommander-in-Chief of the Militia and Naval and Air Forces. Following this, theLetters Patent, 1947, issued by King George VI, referred to the "Office of Governor General and Commander-in-Chief in and over Canada."[4][5] In 1968, following the unification of the Royal Canadian Navy, theCanadian 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.[6] Under theWestminster system'sconventions ofresponsible government, thecabinet—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.[6][7] 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 thatdeclared Canada at war with Nazi Germany, issued on September 10, 1939; it stated: "Whereas by and with the advice of OurPrivy Council for Canada, We have signified Our Approval for the issue of a Proclamation in theCanada 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."[8]
In exercising the duties of commander-in-chief, the governor general appoints thechief of the Defence Staff, as well as royalcolonels-in-chief of Canadian regiments (save for the monarch himself); approves new military badges and insignia (except for those bearingSt Edward's Crown, which may only be sanctioned by the sovereign); visits Canadian forces personnel within Canada and abroad; bestowshonours, decorations, and medals; and signscommission scrolls.[4] Since 2000, the governor general also awards theCommander-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.[9][10]
According toCanadian 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 theshoulder straps or boards, facing forward.[11]
| Royal Canadian Navy | Canadian Army | Royal Canadian Air Force | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) |
| Board | Sleeve | Board | Sleeve | Board | Sleeve |
| 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 |  KingEdward VII | 1904–1910 |  The Earl Grey |
| Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Militia and Naval Forces | |||
| 1910–1919 | .jpg) KingGeorge V | 1910–1911 | The Earl Grey |
| 1911–1916 |  Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn | ||
| 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 |
| 1921–1926 |  The Viscount Byng of Vimy | ||
| 1926–1931 |  The Marquess of Willingdon | ||
| 1931–1935 |  The Earl of Bessborough | ||
| 1935–1936 |  The Lord Tweedsmuir | ||
| 1936 |  KingEdward VIII | 1936 | |
| 1936–1952 | .jpg) KingGeorge VI | 1936–1940 | |
| 1940–1946 |  The Earl of Athlone | ||
| 1946–1952 |  The Viscount Alexander of Tunis | ||
| 1952–1968 |  QueenElizabeth II | 1952 | |
| 1952–1959 |  Vincent Massey | ||
| 1959–1967 |  Georges Vanier | ||
| 1967–1968 | .jpg) Roland Michener | ||
| Commanders-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces | |||
| 1968–2022 |  Queen Elizabeth II | 1968–1974 | Roland Michener |
| 1974–1979 | Jules Léger | ||
| 1979–1984 | .jpg) Edward Schreyer | ||
| 1984–1990 | .jpg) Jeanne Sauvé | ||
| 1990–1995 | Ramon John Hnatyshyn | ||
| 1995–1999 | Roméo LeBlanc | ||
| 1999–2005 |  Adrienne Clarkson | ||
| 2005–2010 |  Michaëlle Jean | ||
| 2010–2017 |  David Lloyd Johnston | ||
| 2017–2021 |  Julie Payette | ||
| 2021–2022 |  Mary Simon | ||
| 2022–present | .jpg) KingCharles III | 2022–present | |
| Military history | |
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