Commissioner of Yukon

Governor General and Vice Regals at 2025 Vice Regal Conference

Office of the Governor General

The Commissioner’s role

The Commissioner is appointed by the Government of Canada. They are an important figure in the legislature and the Government of Yukon.

The Commissioner is responsible for:

ensuring that the Yukon has a Premier in the case of resignation or death or if the government resigns following a defeat in the legislature or in an election;
ensuring continuity of government and maintaining democratic freedoms;
swearing-in Members of the Yukon Legislative Assembly;
delivering the Speech from the Throne at the opening of each legislative session;
summoning, proroguing and dissolving the legislature;
providing assent to bills passed by the Yukon Legislative Assembly, enabling them to become law;
signing Orders-in-Council, Commissioner’s warrants, statutory appointments and dispositions of Commissioner’s lands on the advice of Cabinet; and
representing the interests of the Yukon’s people by attending official functions, community and social events and handing out honours and awards.

The Commissioner of Yukon is unable to authenticate legal documents. If you need a document authenticated you will need to go to Global Affairs Canada.

Literary Program

Reference Library

In October 2021, a Reference Library was launched at Taylor House. It contains more than 275 books and documents dating from 1894 to newly released books which are available to the public for research or personal interest. There are history books, novels, short stories, picture books, First Nations books, children’s books and annual reports.

Little Free Library

In June 2021, a Little Free Library was installed on the grounds of Taylor House. This library, made to look like Taylor House, is a place where people can take a book and leave a book for free.