While Judith Guichon has fulfilled her ceremonial duties as B.C.’s lieutenant-governor graciously and competently, she will be remembered most for how she fulfilled her constitutional duty.
Guichon will leave Government House in a few weeks, to be replaced by Janet Austin, CEO of the Metro Vancouver YWCA.
While the lieutenant-governor’s role is largely ceremonial, it is a useful role. She’s the needed and welcome nonpartisan face of government.
As the Queen’s representative in B.C., Guichon appeared at countless events, providing an official presence free of political flavour.
In matters of government, she presided over openings of the legislature and gave royal assent to bills. In those duties, a lieutenant-governor usually acts on the advice of the premier.
But last summer, she found herself involved in the nitty-gritty of government. With no party winning a majority of votes in the provincial election, Guichon had to decide who would be premier. Then-premier Christy Clark had urged Guichon to dissolve the legislature and call another election. It was an almost unprecedented situation in Canadian history.
Guichon deliberated, then asked NDP Leader John Horgan to form the government.
In doing so, she was acting on behalf of the people, who clearly did not have the appetite for one election following closely on the heels of another.
We are grateful to Guichon for proving that the vice-regal office is a necessary component of government, one that maintains order and stability in times of political uncertainty.
