The Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) is a corporation sole established under the Public Guardian and Trustee Act. The current Public Guardian and Trustee is Jay Chalke, Q.C., appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council to a second six-year term effective February 28, 2006.

The PGT mandate is to serve:

• Children and youth under the age of 19 by protecting their legal and financial interests;
• Adults who require assistance in decision-making through protection of their legal rights, financial interests and personal care interests; and
• Heirs and beneficiaries of deceased persons when there is no one willing or able to administer their estates, the estates of missing persons, and the beneficiaries of personal trusts.

The PGT provides services through 224 funded employee positions to approximately 32,110 clients and administers approximately $765 million of trust assets.

When managing the financial affairs of an individual, estate or trust, the PGT observes prudent business practices and is bound by both common law and statutory fiduciary principles associated with a Trustee or Agent.

As a result of obligations created by statutory law, PGT exercises quasijudicial authority in specific situations. In addition, PGT provides the court with reliable and independent advice when the property or financial interests of minors, adults with legal disabilities, or estates, are at risk.

In carrying out its client decision-making responsibilities, the PGT is independent of government.

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