View source for King's Printer

{{Short description|Office in the Kingdom of England and its successors}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}

The '''King's Printer''' (known as the '''Queen's Printer''' during the reign of a female monarch) is typically a bureau of the national, state, or provincial government responsible for producing official documents issued by the [[King-in-Council]], [[Minister of the Crown|Ministers of the Crown]], or other departments. The position is defined by [[letters patent]] under the [[royal prerogative]] in Canada and the United Kingdom.

==Canada==
===Federal===
The King's Printer for [[Canada]], so titled as to distinguish it from the equivalent position in each of [[Provinces and territories of Canada|the Canadian provinces]], is the individual in [[Ottawa]] responsible for the [[publishing]] and [[printing]] requirements of the [[King-in-Council|King-in]]-[[King's Privy Council for Canada|federal-Council]]. The [[Minister of Public Works and Government Services (Canada)|Minister of Public Works and Government Services]] is empowered by the [[Department of Public Works and Government Services Act]] to appoint the King's Printer for Canada on behalf of the sovereign.<ref>{{citation| last=Elizabeth II| author-link=Elizabeth II| url=http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/laws/stat/sc-1996-c-16/latest/sc-1996-c-16.html| date=5 May 2008| title=Department of Public Works and Government Services Act| series=19.1-19.2| location=Ottawa| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| access-date=4 October 2009}}</ref>

===Provincial and territorial===
====Alberta====
The [[Alberta]] King's Printer is the position, created in 1906, that oversees the administration of [[Crown copyright]] in the province, as well as publishing and distributing copies of legislation, regulations, and related material, including the ''[[Alberta Gazette]]'',<ref>{{citation| last=Elizabeth II| author-link=Elizabeth II| url=http://www.canlii.org/en/ab/laws/regu/alta-reg-44-1970/latest/alta-reg-44-1970.html| date=11 December 2008| title=Queen's Printer Regulations| series=2| location=Edmonton| publisher=Alberta Queen's Printer| access-date=5 October 2009}}</ref> in both [[hard copy]] and electronic forms. Such print and digital media is also distributed by the King's Printer to libraries around Alberta, as well as being sold at a dedicated bookstore in [[Edmonton]] and via the [[Internet]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.qp.alberta.ca/about_us.cfm| last=Queen's Printer| title=Queen's Printer > About Alberta Queen's Printer| publisher=About Alberta Queen's Printer| access-date=4 October 2009}}{{Dead link|date=June 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The King's Printer themself is appointed by the [[Lieutenant Governor of Alberta]]-in-[[Executive Council of Alberta|Council]].<ref>{{citation| last=Elizabeth II| author-link=Elizabeth II| url=http://www.canlii.org/en/ab/laws/stat/rsa-2000-c-q-2/latest/rsa-2000-c-q-2.html| date=1 January 2002| title=Queen's Printer Act| series=1| location=Edmonton| publisher=Alberta Queen's Printer| access-date=5 October 2009}}</ref>

====British Columbia====
[[File:Queen's Printer building, Victoria, British Columbia 14.jpg|thumb|King's Printer building in [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]], [[British Columbia]] houses the offices for the King's Printer for British Columbia]]
In [[British Columbia]], the office of the King's Printer and Comptroller of Stationery for British Columbia is a branch of the province's Procurement and Supply Services department, and not only supplies paper and electronic copies of all legislation, regulations, and related materials, including the ''[[British Columbia Gazette]]'', but also operates a book and gift store called Crown Publications,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.crownpub.bc.ca/| last=Queen's Printer| title=Crown Publications| publisher=Queen's Printer for British Columbia| access-date=4 October 2009}}</ref> and provides to the public printing, copying, and binding services.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://pss.gov.bc.ca/pubs/publishing-services.html| last=Queen's Printer| title=PSS > QP Publication Services > QP Publishing Services| publisher=Queen's Printer for British Columbia| access-date=4 October 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102194012/http://pss.gov.bc.ca/pubs/publishing-services.html| archive-date=2 January 2010| url-status=dead}}</ref> Once legislation has been granted [[Royal Assent]], the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly must provide to the King's Printer a certified copy of the new law,<ref>{{citation| last=Elizabeth II| author-link=Elizabeth II| url=http://www.canlii.org/en/bc/laws/stat/rsbc-1996-c-394/latest/rsbc-1996-c-394.html| date=1 April 2004| title=Queen's Printer Act| series=3| location=Victoria| publisher=Queen's Printer for British Columbia| access-date=5 October 2009| ref={{harvid|Elizabeth II (British Columbia)|2004}}}}</ref> as well as the journals of all sessions of the legislature.<ref>{{Harvnb|Elizabeth II (British Columbia)|2004|loc=4.a}}</ref>

====Manitoba====
King's Printer for Manitoba was established in 1870 at the founding of Manitoba. The current King's Printer is the Deputy Minister of Finance, however the function is delegated to the Communications and Engagement Division of [[Manitoba Finance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oic.gov.mb.ca/OICDocs/2022/01/President%20of%20the%20Executive%20Council.220118.Executive%20Government%20Organization%20Act.42022.pdf|title=Order in Council – Assignment of Acts}}</ref> Under the Queen's Printer Act of Manitoba, the King's Printer has three roles: 
* it is the official source of Government of Manitoba statutory publications including acts and regulations, the Manitoba Gazette, and the CCSM (Continuing Consolidation of the Statutes of Manitoba);<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/queensprinter/|title=Province of Manitoba - Queen's Printer}}</ref>
* it is responsible for arranging or entering into contracts on behalf of the government with respect to publishing, advertising and communication services;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.canlii.org/en/mb/laws/stat/ccsm-c-q10/latest/ccsm-c-q10.html|title=Queen's Printer Act, Manitoba}}</ref> and
* it holds all Crown copyright in the province, including provincial logos and marks, with most material available for use under open use license <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legal/copyright.html|title=OpenMB Information and Data Use Licence}}</ref>

In these roles, the King's Printer of Manitoba, represented by the Communications and Engagement Division, continues a 150-year tradition of communicating the work of the Manitoba government to the public.

====New Brunswick====
A King's Printer for New Brunswick is appointed by the [[Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick]] on the advice of their [[Executive Council (Commonwealth countries)|Executive Council]],<ref>{{citation |last=Elizabeth II |title=Queen's Printer Act |date=3 June 2005 |url=http://www.gnb.ca/legis/bill/pdf/55/2/Bill-5.pdf |access-date=6 October 2009 |series=2 |location=Fredericton |publisher=Queen's Printer for New Brunswick |ref={{harvid|Elizabeth II (New Brunswick)|2005}} |author-link=Elizabeth II}}</ref> and thereafter publishes the regulations, acts of the provincial parliament, and ''[[The Royal Gazette (New Brunswick)|The Royal Gazette]]'',<ref>{{Harvnb|Elizabeth II (New Brunswick)|2005|loc=3.2}}</ref> and supplies them to libraries across the province and for sale to the public.<ref>{{Harvnb|Elizabeth II (New Brunswick)|2005|loc=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Office of the Attorney General of New Brunswick |title=Departments and Agencies > Attorney General > Acts and Regulations > Queen's Printer |url=http://www.gnb.ca/0062/acts/ |access-date=6 October 2009 |publisher=Queen's Printer for New Brunswick}}</ref>

==== Newfoundland and Labrador ====
A King's Printer for Newfoundland and Labrador is appointed by the Minister of Digital Government and Service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=King's Printer |url=https://www.gov.nl.ca/dgsnl/printer/ |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=Government of Newfoundland and Labrador}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-16 |title=KING'S PRINTER ACT |url=https://www.assembly.nl.ca/Legislation/sr/statutes/k01.htm |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=Newfoundland Legislative Assembly}}</ref>

==== Nova Scotia ====
The King's Printer for Nova Scotia publishes the Royal Gazette.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nova Scotia Office of the Registrar of Regulations - Royal Gazette Part 1 |url=https://novascotia.ca/just/regulations/rg1.htm |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=novascotia.ca}}</ref>

====Ontario====
{{main|King's Printer for Ontario}}
The King's Printer for Ontario holds Crown copyright in that province, and all material hence bears the mark ''© King's Printer for Ontario''.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.ontario.ca/en/general/004222| last=Office of the President of the Executive Council of Ontario| author-link=Executive Council of Ontario| title=Copyright Information: © Queen's Printer for Ontario| publisher=Queen's Printer for Ontario| access-date=5 October 2009| archive-date=18 October 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091018051609/http://www.ontario.ca/en/general/004222| url-status=dead}}</ref> The department must, by law, print the ''[[Ontario Gazette]]''.<ref>{{citation| last=Elizabeth II| author-link=Elizabeth II| url=http://www.canlii.org/en/on/laws/stat/rso-1990-c-o3/latest/rso-1990-c-o3.html| date=1 January 2003| title=Official Notices Publication Act| series=1| location=Toronto| publisher=Queen's Printer for Ontario| access-date=5 October 2009}}</ref>

====Prince Edward Island====
The [[Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island]] appoints a King's Printer for the province,<ref>{{citation| last=Elizabeth II| author-link=Elizabeth II| url=http://www.canlii.org/en/pe/laws/stat/rspei-1988-c-q-1/latest/rspei-1988-c-q-1.pdf| date=19 May 1994| title=Queen's Printer Act| series=1| location=Charlottetown| publisher=Queen's Printer for Prince Edward Island| access-date=6 October 2009| ref={{harvid|Elizabeth II (Prince Edward Island)|1994}}}}</ref> who is an officer of the Department of the Provincial Treasury and is overseen by the minister of the Crown for that department.<ref>{{Harvnb| Elizabeth II (Prince Edward Island)| 1994| loc=2}}</ref> The King's Printer is required by law to publish the ''Royal Gazette'',<ref>{{Harvnb| Elizabeth II (Prince Edward Island)| 1994| loc=3}}</ref> as well as copies of all legislation, journals of the legislature, and other material printed as the cost of the [[Monarchy in Prince Edward Island|King in Right of Prince Edward Island]].<ref>{{Harvnb| Elizabeth II (Prince Edward Island)| 1994| loc=4}}</ref>

==== Quebec ====
The equivalent agency for Quebec is the Québec Official Publisher.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Québec Official Publisher |url=https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/content/editoff |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca}}</ref>

====Saskatchewan====
The Office of the King's Printer in [[Saskatchewan]] is based in [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]] and has the duty of publishing and distributing official copies of all legislation, regulations, and related material, including the ''[[Saskatchewan Gazette]]'', and any other publications ordered by the [[Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan]]-in-[[Executive Council of Saskatchewan|Council]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.qp.gov.sk.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.display&id=E7EF18B5-F27F-45E5-98CDEC7359D9C917| last=Queen's Printer| title=Queen's Printer > About Queen's Printer| publisher=Queen's Printer for Saskatchewan| access-date=4 October 2009}}</ref> The King's Printer also holds Crown copyright on behalf of the [[Monarchy in Saskatchewan|King in Right of Saskatchewan]], and has the ability to release, in exceptional circumstances, such copyright on a one-time basis.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.qp.gov.sk.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.display&id=78D82F52-0E92-4934-9C5521C6046079BF| last=Queen's Printer| title=Queen's Printer > Copyright| publisher=Queen's Printer for Saskatchewan| access-date=4 October 2009}}</ref> The Queen's Printer themself is appointed by the [[Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan]]-in-[[Executive Council of Saskatchewan|Council]].<ref>{{citation| last=Elizabeth II| author-link=Elizabeth II| url=http://www.canlii.org/en/sk/laws/stat/rss-1978-c-q-3/latest/rss-1978-c-q-3.pdf| date=1 April 2004| title=Queen's Printer's Act| series=2.1| location=Regina| publisher=Queen's Printer for Saskatchewan| access-date=5 October 2009| ref={{harvid|Elizabeth II (Saskatchewan)|2004}}}}</ref> Once legislation in has been granted Royal Assent, the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly must provide to the King's Printer a certified copy of the new law,<ref>{{Harvnb| Elizabeth II (Saskatchewan)| 2004| loc=9.1}}</ref> as well as the journals of all sessions of the legislature.<ref>{{Harvnb| Elizabeth II (Saskatchewan)| 2004| loc=9.2}}</ref>

==== Northwest Territories ====
The official printer of the Northwest Territories is known as the Territorial Printer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual Statutes of the Northwest Territories |url=https://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/en/annual-statutes/ |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=www.justice.gov.nt.ca |language=en-CA}}</ref>

==== Nunavut ====
The official printer is known as the Nunavut Official Editor/Territorial Printer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to the Nunavut Legislation website {{!}} Legislation |url=https://www.nunavutlegislation.ca/en |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=www.nunavutlegislation.ca}}</ref>

====Yukon====
In Yukon, the King's Printer has been in existence since 1976. It performs its basic function as a legislative printer, comptroller of stationery, printer for the departments, publisher of The Yukon Gazette, and printer of the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yukon Legislation - Gazettes by year |url=https://laws.yukon.ca/cms/gazettes-by-year.html |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=laws.yukon.ca}}</ref>

==United Kingdom==
{{details|British Bible monopolies campaigns}}
The holder of the letters patent has the nearly exclusive right of printing, publishing and importing the [[King James Bible|Authorised Version of the Bible]] and [[Book of Common Prayer]] within the United Kingdom's jurisdiction. There are three exceptions which apply to this right. One is that the office of King's Printer only extends to [[England]], [[Wales]] and [[Northern Ireland]]. Within [[Scotland]] the rights to the King James Bible are administered for the Crown by the [[Bible Board]], which holds the office of His Majesty's sole and only Master Printers and which licenses the printing of the Bible, New Testament and Book of Psalms.<ref>Stair Memorial Encyclopaedia of the Laws of Scotland, Vol 7. The Crown, paragraph 851 "The Master Printer and the Bible Board".</ref> The other two exceptions are that separate sets of letters patent grant the [[Oxford University Press]] and [[Cambridge University Press]] the right to print and distribute the Authorised Version of the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer regardless of who holds the office of King's Printer.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Queen's Printer's Patent |url=http://www.cambridge.org/about-us/who-we-are/queens-printers-patent |website=Cambridge University Press |access-date=14 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807214118/http://www.cambridge.org/about-us/who-we-are/queens-printers-patent |archive-date=7 August 2018}}</ref>

In 1767 Charles Eyre received a patent as the King's Printer and a few years later [[Andrew Strahan]] operated with Eyre in the same role. Following Strahan's retirement in 1819 his nephews [[Andrew Spottiswoode|Andrew and Robert Spottiswoode]] continued to work as the King's Printer and were later to run the firms Spottiswoode and Co. and [[Eyre & Spottiswoode]]. From 1875 George Edward Eyre and William Spottiswoode were "printers to the Queen's most excellent majesty for Her Majesty's Stationery Office". In 1901 after the accession of King Edward VII the firm of Eyre & Spottiswoode was "re-appointed King's Printer".<ref>[https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Eyre_and_Spottiswoode Eyre and Spottiswoode], gracesguide.co.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2018.</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=27318 |date=28 May 1901 |page=3634}}</ref>

The [[Office of Public Sector Information|Controller of HMSO]] is appointed by Letters Patent to the office of King's Printer of Acts of Parliament. {{asof|2016}}, the office of King's Printer of Acts of Parliament is held by the Chief Executive and Keeper of [[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]], [[Jeff James (public servant)|Jeff James]].<ref name=":0" />

===Devolved===
Section 92 of the [[Scotland Act 1998]] establishes the office of King's Printer for Scotland, and provides for it to be held by the King's Printer of Acts of Parliament. The King's Printer for Scotland is responsible for administering Crown copyright in [[Act of the Scottish Parliament|Acts of the Scottish Parliament]], Scottish subordinate legislation and works made by the Scottish Governemnt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/46/section/92|title=Scotland Act 1998|website=www.legislation.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Government/queensprinterforscotland|title=Queen's Printer for Scotland|last=Scottish Government|date=19 December 2012|website=www.gov.scot}}</ref> {{asof|2016}}, the office of the King's Printer for Scotland is Jeff James.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b4f2d93ed915d437a936d89/03.07.18-_EUWA__TNA_Factsheet__1_.pdf|title=EU (Withdrawal) Bill Factsheet 11: The role of the Queen's Printer|year=2016|access-date=13 August 2024|website=assets.publishing.service.gov.uk}}</ref>

The Legislation (Procedure, Publication and Repeals) (Wales) Bill would formally establish the King's Printer for Wales ({{langx|cy|Argraffydd y Brenin ar gyfer Cymru}}).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Haines |first=Chris |date=2024-10-23 |title=Counsel general sets out plan to declutter Welsh law |url=https://nation.cymru/news/counsel-general-sets-out-plan-to-declutter-welsh-law/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250224094449/https://nation.cymru/news/counsel-general-sets-out-plan-to-declutter-welsh-law/ |archive-date=2025-02-24 |access-date=2025-06-18 |work=Nation.Cymru}}</ref>

The equivalent office for Northern Ireland is the Government Printer for Northern Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Torrance |first=David |date=2024-11-28 |title=The United Kingdom constitution - a mapping exercise |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9384/CBP-9384.pdf |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=House of Commons Library}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Office of Public Sector Information]]
* [[United States Government Publishing Office]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Canadian monarchy}}

[[Category:State publishers]]
[[Category:Printers]]
[[Category:Monarchy of Canada]]
[[Category:Law of the United Kingdom]]