Molloy to be sworn in as viceroy on March 21

Respected Saskatoon lawyer and author Tom Molloy will be sworn in as the province’s next lieutenant-governor on March 21.

Premier Scott Moe announced the date of the investiture Friday.

“I look forward to Mr. Molloy assuming the role of Saskatchewan’s lieutenant-governor,” Moe said in a news release. “The role comes with a rich history of service to our province; Mr. Molloy ’s background as a lawyer and negotiator will see the people of Saskatchewan well served in the years ahead.”

Molloy, who was named the province’s next lieutenant-governor by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will replace Vaughn Solomon Schofield, who has served since 2012.

Under the Canadian Constitution, Molloy will serve for a minimum of five years.

As lieutenant-governor of Saskatchewan, Molloy will serve as the representative of the Queen in the province and behave in a nonpartisan and apolitical manner. He will participate in ceremonies and celebrations, present awards, and offer advice to the government when he believes it’s warranted.

Molloy is perhaps best known for his work negotiating numerous agreements and treaty settlements with Indigenous people, including as the chief negotiator for the Government of Canada in the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement, which led to the creation of the Territory of Nunavut in 1999.

He was also involved in the implementation of the British Columbia Treaty Process and resolved the offshore claim by the Inuit of Northern Quebec in Nunavut, Newfoundland and Labrador.