Governor General

[cakadu]

Linda, my guess is that the Lt Governors were put in place to ensure that the bidding of the monarch was upheld, and likely they answered to the Gov. General at one time. Sorry, I used to know all these things, having had them pounded into my head by my schoolmarm' mother.

The 'new canadian' issue is a bit disconcerting. I think we have some very influential, and respected FIRST CANADIANS that could have filled that role very well. I am thinking of Tom Jackson for one.

He has done one heck of a lot more for this country than Adrienne and the new GG will ever do, and he is still working tirelessly for causes such as homeless etc.

Good Lorg, even Stompin' Tom is more deserving than this so called new canadian !!! At least he knew enough about the entire country to write songs about it !!!

[grassfarmer]

I'm kind of intrigued by this story - can anyone tell me if any other Commonwealth country has a Governer General post. I've never heard of it anywhere else but equally I wasn't aware that Canada had one until I moved here. I personally think the Queen is a great figure head and well worth the money it costs to keep her - why Canada needs a "junior queen" to be her ceremonial double is not immediately obvious. In the UK the Government is answerable to the Queen supposidly - why not make the Canadian Government the Queen's reps here and do away with the GG post?

[grassfarmer]

grassfarmer, I wonder if the Queen would want many of our federal legislators to be her representatives !!!
I don't know if Australia has a Governor General or not, but I do think it is time that Canada eliminated the position. I grew up with parents that paid great respect to the Royal Family and I am not against the monarchy. I feel that the Queen as a figure head is not something we need to change but its time we did away with the GG position when all it is by the look of things is a political pat on the head for somebody that the Liberals think will enhance their popularity in Quebec.
It would seem that we could have a member of the Royal family here for special occasions without having a vice regal representative costing us millions each year.
We have been a nation for well over a century so its time we acted like one.

[farmers_son]

There are Governor Genenals in each of the following members of the Commonwealth: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St Christopher and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.

See:

http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page345.asp

Emrald1: Re your comment “when all it is by the look of things is a political pat on the head for somebody that the Liberals think will enhance their popularity in Quebec.” It is my impression that the Liberals picked someone that will enhance federalist cause in Quebec. Yesterday on Question Period a journalist from Le Devour basically came out and said the appointment of Michaelle Jean to Governor General will hurt the separatist cause in Quebec.

I recall that there were attempts to have Jean Beliveau accept the Governor General position but he refused. Having a Governor General who comes from Quebec should increase the visibility of the position in that province and presuming she does a good job will therefore build support for the federalist cause.

[farmers_son]

Again, farmers_son the government is making a decision for all of Canada based on trying to win over, appease or otherwise cater to Quebec, and that is something I do not agree with.
If we need a Governor General the person should be chosen for their background as a GREAT CANADIAN, not which province they will be able to sway !!! You can bet your boots that Martin never gave any serious thought to appointing anyone from a region other than Quebec, although there are deserving and well qualified individuals in every province I am sure.

[grassfarmer]

Thanks for that link farmers_son, that was an interesting read and a whole lot of information that I was ignorant of.

[farmers_son]

Well, Quebec is a part of Canada, still, and fighting the separatists remains something that is necessary on an ongoing basis.

In addition to catering to the Quebecois, it could be said that this appointment is catering to the Haitian community, the larger immigrant community, the women vote, the journalistic community, the Catholics. Michaelle Jean and her husband are an inter-racial couple. The only interest groups, other than perhaps farmers, missed are the gays and the handicapped. It is significant that she speaks five languages which will let her reach new Canadians.

There is a tradition of alternating Anglophones and Francophones and this time around someone from Quebec or at least fluent in French was sure to be chosen.

I would have preferred Jean Beliveau, but as he is seventy four and I believe has had health problems Jean probably wasn’t an option. If not Michaelle Jean , then who else keeping in mind the tradition of alternating Anglophones and Francophones.

[farmers_son]

Farmers_son are you suggesting that if the lady had not been available or had declined that there was no other choice ?

Have we ever had a First Nations Governor General ? It would seem that should be also given consideration as they have been here longer than the rest of us . I feel very strongly that the appointment should consider what the individual has given to Canada, it should be an honor bestowed on a deserving Canadian that has made contributions to the country in some significant way. Mme Jean may very well be an excellent Governor General but that is not the issue, it is about what the criteria is for the position of Queens representative. I note that even Duceppe was critical of the appointment so obviously it isn't sitting well with all Quebecers.

[farmers_son]

Senator Aurelien Gill, an Innu from the Lac St. Jean region has been mentioned as a possible candidate. The Lieut. Gov. of Quebec, Lise Thibault is a name that is mentioned in the press. Also Monique Mercure and Monique Bégin were touted by Le Devoir as candidates. None of these people are well known out of Quebec so it is difficult for an Albertan such as myself to comment if they would have been a better choice.

I agree when you say “that the appointment should consider what the individual has given to Canada, it should be an honor bestowed on a deserving Canadian that has made contributions to the country in some significant way.”

Yes Duceppe was critical of the appointment, which may be the best recommendation for Michaelle Jean as Governor General that a person could have.

[farmers_son]

If the appointment is to try and convince Quebec to remain in confederation perhaps you are right, however, I feel we have spent enough to appease Quebec,the appointment of a Governor General should have nothing to do with one province staying in confederation.