654 THE FEDERATIONS AND THE UNION [PART Iv
that the Senate has never made the slightest sign of being
a stronghold of provincial interest: on the contrary, the
constant agitation for its reform?! indicates quite clearly
that it has no federal character at all.
§ 3. THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR
As in the case of the Imperial control over the Colonies,
the Dominion control over the provinces is in part secured
by the appointment of the chief executive officer, the
Lieutenant-Governor. He holds office for five years, but
he may be dismissed before that time for reason assigned,?
which must be communicated to Parliament within a week
if it is sitting, or within a week of its meeting if it is not in
session at the time when the order is made. The officer is
expected to observe the rules of responsible government in
his dealings with the province, and he as a rule doesso. It
was indeed contended in the case of Mr. Luc Letellier 3 that a
Lieutenant-Governor was a constitutional monarch, and for
any act done as head of the provincial authority subject
to no control from the Dominion Government. This doctrine
was denounced by Sir John Macdonald, and his view was
approved by the Secretary of State. It is, indeed, obvious
that the Lieutenant-Governor cannot stand towards the
Dominion Government in any other position than does a
(Governor of a Colony to the Imperial Government.
The cases of Mr. Letellier and of Mr. McInnes ¢ which
have been cited above in connexion with the relation of
a Governor to his ministers show clearly the difficulties
of the position where, as in the Dominion, the Lieutenant-
Governor is normally chosen from the party in power and
knows that he can indirectly help that party at the elections
to the Federal Parliament. For it must be remembered
that Federal ministers frankly intervene in provincial politics,
from which they have most of them graduated to the politics
t Canadian Annual Review, 1907, p. 426; 1908, pp. 34-6; 1909, pp.
225, 226 ; 1910, pp. 255, 256; above, pp. 588, 589.
* No Court could question the reason; it is a political matter, but
a cause must be assigned to facilitate a parliamentary contest.
¥ Parl. Pap., C. 2445. ¢ Canada Sess. Pap., 1900, No. 174,
