What is the name of the Governor General?
Quick answer: Louise Arbour. In our practice tests 70% of 105 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “Richard Wagner”.
Why is this the correct answer?
Louise Arbour became Canada's 31st Governor General on June 8, 2026. The Governor General is the Sovereign's representative in Canada. Office-holders change, so check the current name before your test.
Study Tip
This person holds the distinction of being the first Indigenous Governor General.
Try it yourself
Can you answer these 3 citizenship test questions?
1. Which party is the Official Opposition at the federal level?
2. What does it mean to say that Canada is a constitutional monarchy?
3. Firefighting is the responsibility of which level of government?
The real test has 20 questions in 45 minutes. You need 15 correct to pass.
Take the full citizenship practice testWhat should you know about this topic?
The Governor General is the representative of the Sovereign in Canada. King Charles III is Canada's King and Head of State, and because he lives in the United Kingdom, the Governor General carries out most of his duties in Canada. As of October 2026, the Governor General is Louise Arbour, who was installed in June 2026. Arbour is a former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The Governor General is appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister, usually for about five years. Duties include giving Royal Assent to bills passed by Parliament so they become law, opening Parliament with the Speech from the Throne, swearing in the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and presenting honours such as the Order of Canada. The Governor General is also Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces. Each province has a Lieutenant Governor who represents the Sovereign at the provincial level.
Discover Canada explains that in a constitutional monarchy, the Sovereign and Governor General are above party politics, while the elected Prime Minister and Cabinet govern. Because officeholders change, check the current name before your test. This topic links to questions about the Crown, the three parts of Parliament, and how a bill becomes law. In the provinces, the Lieutenant Governor plays a similar role, giving Royal Assent to provincial laws.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- Julie Payette: Julie Payette was Governor General from 2017 to 2021; she is a past holder of the office.
- David Johnston: David Johnston was Governor General from 2010 to 2017; he is a past holder of the office.
- Richard Wagner: Richard Wagner has been Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, not Governor General.
What is the most common mistake?
Test takers sometimes choose a past Governor General or a Supreme Court judge. Always learn the name of the person in office at the time of your test.
How can you remember the answer?
Arbour sounds like "harbour": the King's representative is the safe harbour for the Crown's duties in Canada.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
70% of 105 practice answers from about 64 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "Richard Wagner", chosen 12% of the time. The data covers practice tests on BecomeACitizen.ca from March 31, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
How hard is this question compared with others?
It is the 41st hardest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the How Canadians Govern Themselves chapter is 77% correct, and the average across all questions is 75%. You need 75% to pass the real test.
These are practice questions written from the official Discover Canada guide. IRCC does not publish the real test questions. See the full ranking in the 20 most-missed citizenship test questions or browse more How Canadians Govern Themselves questions.
Practice This Chapter
Test yourself with questions from How Canadians Govern Themselves. Timed mock tests, instant scoring, and detailed explanations.
Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?
This question is from the How Canadians Govern Themselves section of the Canadian citizenship test. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Discover Canada study guide. You need to score at least 75% (15 out of 20 correct) to pass.
This chapter has 47 questions in our database. Studying chapter by chapter is one of the most effective ways to prepare, as it helps you build deep understanding of each topic before moving to the next.
How should you study for the citizenship test?
Start by reading the complete how-to-pass guide, then work through each chapter in the study mode. When you feel ready, take a full exam simulation with the real 45-minute time limit.