Posted by DMM on October 19, 2009, 4:38 pm, in reply to "Who Creates Letters-Patent?"
142.108.157.225
The Letters Patent of 1947 regarding the office of the Governor General in Canada was signed by His Majesty King George VI. That's the "George R" at the top of the document.
Yes, Prime Minister King signed at the bottom --- as do prime ministers, registrars general, and sometimes other officials on official proclamations and documents. The proclamation of the flag (1965) and the patriation of the constitution (1982) are two such examples. The Attorney General for Canada, then Jean Chretien, also signed the constituton proclamation (immediately below Her Majesty's signature).
It is the sovereign's signature that gives the document authority.
Contrary to the opinion sometimes attributed to Mme. Clarkson and others, the 1947 document was not an irrevocable transferral of authority. Section 15 of the Letters Patent states: "And We do hereby reserve to Ourselves, Our heirs and successors, full power and authority from time to time to revoke, alter, or amend these Our Letters Patent as to Us or them shall seem fit." Any revocation or amendment would, naturally, be done of the advice on the Government of Canada.
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