The most important function of the Governor General is to make sure that Canadians always have a government, no matter what happens to a government in power. He or she might have to decide what political party has the right to govern when there is doubt as to which one can form a majority in the House of Commons. These situations can arise, and in fact, have arisen in Ottawa and the provinces. The Governor General (or in the provinces, the Lieutenant-Governor) must from time to time make such a decision in order for the business of government to be carried on.
