What does Queen Elizabeth 2 do for Canada?

Answer 1

Her Majesty the Queen of Canada is the Canadian head of State.

It is said that "the Queen reigns, but does not rule." The Queen, as head of State, exercises most executive functions of government only on the advice of the Canadian prime minister and ministers. Therefore, though the Queen is head of State and is vested with the executive government and authority of Canada (as per s. 9 of the Constitution Act, 1867), most key decisions rest with the prime minister (the head of Government) who is responsible to the elected House of Commons.

Answer 2

Her Majesty the Queen serves as the Canadian head of State.

The Queen is represented by the Governor General of Canada, a vicereign appointed by Her Majesty on the advice of the prime minister. The Governor General performs most of the Queen's functions. Executive government and authority for Canada is vested in Her Majesty the Queen, as per s. 9 of the Constitution Act, 1867. The Queen exercises executive functions almost always on the advice of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada. The Queen's exercise of these functions on the advice of Canadian ministers is styled the Queen-in-Council, and is the executive branch of government.

The Queen is one of the three components of the Parliament of Canada, the other two being the Senate, and the House of Commons. Once both Houses have agreed to pass a bill, it is brought to the Queen's representative for royal assent. No bill can be enacted without the royal assent of the Queen or one of the Queen's representatives. The Governor General can choose to reserve a bill for the personal royal assent of the Queen. The Queen can also disallow federal legislation within two years of its passage (a power of the Queen's alone, i.e., not exerciseable by any of the Queen's representatives). These powers are referred to as the Queen-in-Parliament, and is the legislative branch of government.

The Queen is also the foundation of the Canadian justice system, with justice carried out in the name of the Sovereign, as the Found of Justice. The authority of the courts to make decisions in the Queen's name is styled the Queen on the Bench, and is the legislative branch of government.