▁two - store y ▁building ▁consists ▁of ▁a ▁centre ▁block ▁fl ank ed ▁by ▁slightly ▁lower ▁wings ▁on ▁the ▁east ▁and ▁on ▁the ▁west . ▁The ▁exterior ▁is ▁of ▁rough , ▁red ▁sand stone ▁quar ried ▁at ▁Sign al ▁Hill , ▁trim med ▁with ▁English ▁Port land ▁stone . ▁ ▁The ▁construction ▁of ▁the ▁new ▁Government ▁House ▁was ▁meant ▁to ▁reflect ▁the ▁proper ▁status ▁of ▁the ▁governor ▁of ▁a ▁province ▁that ▁was ▁now ▁a ▁proper ▁British ▁col ony , ▁and ▁a ▁key ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Empire . ▁The ▁principal ▁rooms ▁for ▁entertain ing — a ▁sal on , ▁d ining ▁room , ▁and ▁ball room — al ong ▁with ▁the ▁main ▁entrance ▁hall ▁were ▁laid ▁out ▁in ▁such ▁a ▁manner ▁as ▁to ▁allow ▁for ▁cer emon ial ▁process ions , ▁and ▁pom p ▁bef itting ▁a ▁governor . ▁ ▁The ▁Lieutenant - G overn or ' s ▁residence ▁is ▁where ▁the ▁Canadian ▁Royal ▁Family ▁and ▁visit ing ▁foreign ▁dign itar ies ▁are ▁gre et ed . ▁ ▁Inside ▁are ▁also ▁reception ▁rooms , ▁offices ▁and ▁support ▁facilities ; ▁the ▁Lieutenant - G overn or ' s ▁office ▁is ▁the ▁site ▁of ▁swe aring - in ▁cer emon ies ▁for ▁Cab inet ▁minister s , ▁where ▁Royal ▁Ass ent ▁is ▁granted , ▁and ▁where ▁the ▁Lieutenant - G overn or ▁receives ▁the ▁Premier . ▁ ▁The ▁site ▁was ▁designated ▁a ▁National ▁Historic ▁Site ▁of ▁Canada . ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁ ▁Government ▁H ouses ▁of ▁Canada ▁ ▁Government ▁H ouses ▁of ▁the ▁British ▁Empire ▁