<P> The incumbent will generally serve for at least five years , though this is only a developed convention , and the governor general still technically acts at Her Majesty 's pleasure ( or the Royal Pleasure ) . The prime minister may therefore recommend to the Queen that the viceroy remain in her service for a longer period of time , sometimes upwards of more than seven years . A governor general may also resign , and two have died in office . In such a circumstance , or if the governor general leaves the country for longer than one month , the Chief Justice of Canada ( or , if that position is vacant or unavailable , the senior puisne justice of the Supreme Court ) serves as Administrator of the Government and exercises all powers of the governor general . </P>
<P> The incumbent will generally serve for at least five years , though this is only a developed convention , and the governor general still technically acts at Her Majesty 's pleasure ( or the Royal Pleasure ) . The prime minister may therefore recommend to the Queen that the viceroy remain in her service for a longer period of time , sometimes upwards of more than seven years . A governor general may also resign , and two have died in office . In such a circumstance , or if the governor general leaves the country for longer than one month , the Chief Justice of Canada ( or , if that position is vacant or unavailable , the senior puisne justice of the Supreme Court ) serves as Administrator of the Government and exercises all powers of the governor general . </P>
who replaces the governor general in their absence
who replaces the governor general in their absence
the Chief Justice of Canada ( or , if that position is vacant or unavailable , the senior puisne justice of the Supreme Court )
the Chief Justice of Canada ( or , if that position is vacant or unavailable , the senior puisne justice of the Supreme Court )