Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia GOVERNMENT HOUSE Activity Report 2019-2020 Contents Visit by the Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda and Lady Sandra Williams Foreword 3 Mission, Mandate & Corporate Objectives 4 Introduction 5 Roles and Duties 6 Overall Activity Level 8 Promoting Nova Scotia 12 Preserving Government House 13 Milestone Events for 2019-20 13 Provincial & Federal Expenditures 14 Certification of Bills prior to Royal Assent 75th Anniversary of D-Day Commemorations with Her Excellency the Governor General 55th Anniversary of the National Flag 2 Foreword GOVERNMENT HOUSE Dear Friends, As Her Honour and I mark the halfway point in my time as Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, I am pleased to provide this annual accounting of my official activities for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The last year has afforded Her Honour and I the pleasure of participating in more than 322 events at Government House and throughout the province. As the ceremonial home of all Nova Scotians, I am delighted to note that more than 14,000 visitors came to the historic residence for tours or to attend events. In particular, I was honored to host a number of events that commemorated milestone anniversaries. In June 2019 we marked the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings during the Second World War. I was also happy to host a ceremony with the Dutch Ambassador to Canada and students from Armbrae Academy in which we planted tulip bulbs marking the 75th Anniversary of the start of the military campaign to liberate the Netherlands. As in previous years, we held flag raising ceremonies and receptions to mark National Acadian Day, Treaty Day and the International Francophonie Day. At Government House, we held 143 events, including diplomatic courtesy calls with Commonwealth and foreign representatives, investitures, awards ceremonies, volunteer recognition receptions, and a dinner to honour the 2019 Order of Nova Scotia appointees. I was also pleased to swear in the new Chief Justice of Nova Scotia Michael J. Wood. At the Annual Garden Party in June 2019, we marked the 50th anniversary of Official Bilingualism in Canada. We were also delighted to host a Pink Tea to celebrate the “Famous Five” and the 90th anniversary of the “Persons Case”. Her Honour and I were pleased to attend many events and ceremonies around Nova Scotia. These included several events for African Heritage Month including the launch and the unveiling of a postage stamp. We were also impressed by what we saw when we visited the Maritime Brain Tissue Bank and the homeless shelters Metro Turning Point and Frank MacKay House. Our interaction with the Canadian Armed Forces and the various protective services in Nova Scotia continues to be one of my priorities. Her Honour and I attended the departure on deployment and arrival from deployment ceremonies for several of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships. Additionally, I have been honored to invest members of the protective services with various Exemplary Service Medals and attend the annual Nova Scotia Fallen Police Officers’ Memorial Service in October 2019. The end of the fiscal year was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and this resulted in the cancellation of all public activities in the interest of public safety. I have been very impressed with the people in the public and private sectors who were compelled to continue working to ensure that all Nova Scotians were safe, healthy and had access to the basic necessities. We greatly appreciate their dedication and commitment. Arthur J. LeBlanc, ONS, QC Lieutenant Governor Launch of African Heritage Month 2020 3 MISSION STATEMENT To serve, support and maintain with excellence, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia and Government House. MANDATE To support the constitutional and symbolic role of the Lieutenant Governor as The Queen of Canada’s representative in Nova Scotia, and to maintain and enrich the traditions and heritage of Government House Halifax as the centre of official hospitality for the province and its people. Corporate Objectives The corporate objectives of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor reflect six goals central to the mandate of the Lieutenant Governor: • Constitutional/Legal • Crown-Indigenous Relations • Ceremonial • Community Engagement • Promoting Nova Scotia Visit to the Maritime Brain Tissue Bank • Preserving Government House Liberation of the Netherlands Tulip Planting Reception in Honour of Queen Elizabeth II Scholars 4 Introduction activities undertaken with, and on behalf of, Nova Scotians in communities across the province. To help Nova Scotians and visitors understand the role and responsibilities of the Lieutenant Governor, the Office offers a “general tour” programme along with a “talk & tour” program at the Lieutenant Governor’s official residence, Government House in Halifax. The administrative element of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor/Government House reports through the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs and receives its funding from an annual appropriation as part of the same department. As part of the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor/ Government House is committed to accounting for activities and expenditures. Support for the The Office of the Lieutenant Governor/ physical plant, systems and infrastructure of Government House supports the Lieutenant Government House is provided through the Governor in fulfilling his constitutional, state and Department of Transportation and Infrastructure ceremonial responsibilities. The Constitution Act Renewal. 1867, provides that there must be a Lieutenant The Office works closely with the provincial Governor of Nova Scotia who is appointed in the departments, Government of Canada, Mi’kmaq name of the Sovereign by the Governor General leaders, Canadian Armed Forces, Royal Canadian on advice of the Prime Minister. As the Mounted Police, Halifax Regional Police, Cape representative of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Breton Regional Police Service, New Glasgow Queen of Canada, who is Head of State, the Regional Police, Department of Canadian Lieutenant Governor, His Honour the Honourable Heritage and numerous non-governmental Arthur J. LeBlanc, is authorized and required to organizations over which the Lieutenant Governor execute all matters that pertain to his office presides as Patron or Honorary Patron. according to law and constitutional convention. By enabling the Lieutenant Governor to exercise The Office of the Lieutenant Governor/ his constitutional authorities and responsibilities Government House provides administrative and and to undertake duties as the representative of logistical support enabling the Lieutenant the Head of State, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to exercise the constitutional powers Governor directly contributes to maintaining a and responsibilities of the Office and to undertake stable and effective government. representational, ceremonial and civic duties. The autonomous nature of the Office is consistent with the Lieutenant Governor’s role to function with political neutrality. The Office also supports the Administrator of the Province who acts in the place of the Lieutenant Governor when the Lieutenant Governor is unavailable. Additionally, the Office is responsible for planning and implementing the Lieutenant Governor’s programme, awards, patronages and many other Treaty Day with Grand Chief and Mrs. Sylliboy 5 Roles and Duties of the Lieutenant Governor Constitutional/Legal The Lieutenant Governor granted Royal Assent to 51 bills and presided over three Royal Assent ceremonies. In addition to these duties, the Lieutenant Governor and Administrator signed 369 Orders-in-Council and eleven Proclamations. The Lieutenant Governor also signed and had sealed 113 notary public appointment commissions for the Department of Justice. There was no Speech from the Throne Ceremony/Opening of the Legislature in the fiscal year. The Lieutenant Governor presided over one swearing in ceremony of the Executive Council, organized by Government House in cooperation with the Executive Council Office. Swearing in of Michael J. Wood as Chief Justice of Nova Scotia and as Administrator of the Province Crown-Indigenous Relations In addition to hosting a ceremonial flag raising of the Mi’kmaq flag at Government House, that was followed by a reception, the Lieutenant Governor participated in four main events held on Treaty Day. His Honour was pleased to co-host a ceremony to launch the Nova Scotia Archives’ Online Resource of the Donald Marshall Jr. Royal Commission Archives. Work with Mi’kmaq leaders has also commenced to have a Government House Eagle Feather dedicated by Treaty Day 2020. 6 Ceremonial At Government House, the Lieutenant Governor A total of 114 citizens were invested with national hosted 143 in-house events. His Honour presided and provincial honours over the course of the year, over nine investitures for various Canadian and were accompanied by 541 guests. honours: Order of St. John, Order of Nova Scotia, On 7 November 2019, His Honour was pleased to Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, RCMP Long present the A.G. Huntsman Award for Excellence in Service Medal, Police Exemplary Service Medal, the Marine Sciences on behalf of the Royal Society Coast Guard Exemplary Service Medal, Corrections of Canada, and he presented the Duke of Exemplary Service Medal, Peace Officer Edinburgh Gold Awards on 2 December 2019. Exemplary Service Medal, Emergency Medical Each year the Lieutenant Governor presides