Canada bids adieu to beloved Governor General
It was a thrilling moment for me to sit in the front row of the Senate chamber on October 1 to witness the swearing in of the 29th Governor General of Canada. The ceremony itself is replete with historic references, linking the Governor General back 400 years to Samuel de Champlain, the king's vice-roi in New France.
But there are other very historic Canadian offices, like the Usher of the Black Rod for example, who are pretty much completely unknown outside of Ottawa. History alone does not do it for Canadians.
The Governor General, on the other hand, has had a remarkable resurgence. The media was full of stories of the last few days of Michaëlle Jean, the outgoing Governor General. Jean was much beloved by Canadians. She carved out a unique niche in an era when elected politicians have not been personally popular in Canada.
The appointment of David Johnston, however, signals a new era for the office of Governor General.
Until 1952, Governors General were minor British royalty assigned to the task by the British monarch. Vincent Massey, appointed in 1952, was the first born in Canada and started the next phase. Until Adrienne Clarkson's appointment in 1999, all Governor Generals were born in Canada and had a political or military background.
Clarkson was unique in that she was born outside Canada, in Hong Kong, and was a media personality. Given that the role of the Governor General was largely ceremonial, this seemed to be a good choice. Jean is Haitian-born and worked for Radio Canada. The media background helped both Clarkson and Jean to have a positive public profile and develop the stature of the office.
But two recent events have made the office much more visible. First is the war in Afghanistan. One of the roles of the Governor General is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. With the Canadian military serving a significant role in that conflict, the Commander-in-Chief becomes more visible and important. Even if the Governor General does not make any real decisions, it becomes a more important office.
Jean took the role of Commander-in-Chief very seriously. She attended repatriation ceremonies and quickly earned the respect of the military. She wore military dress uniforms, particularly notable during the 2009 Remembrance Day ceremony. The military gave Jean a big send-off just days before she stepped down as Governor General. The Chief of the Defence Staff General Walter Natyncyk is reported to have whispered, "You will always be in our hearts," to Jean.
Second is, of course, the role Jean played in granting the prime minister's unusual request for prorogation in December 2008. Jean did not have constitutional knowledge to draw on and sought out advisors. While Jean ultimately granted the request, she left the prime minister waiting while she considered it. Not only did she communicate gravitas but let Canadians know that it was her decision.
David Johnston's appointment is again an evolution of the office. Prime Minister Stephen Harper named a committee of six eminent persons to provide a short list of candidates. The committee included non-partisan persons associated with politics and academics from across Canada. This was an attempt to put the governor general beyond partisan politics but ensure that the candidates would be able to fulfill the constitutional mandate of the office.
With on going minority governments in Canada, it is likely that the Governor General will be called upon to make important decisions that require constitutional finesse.
So, back to the front row seat in the Senate chamber for the swearing in; will Johnston be able to garner the respect of the military, make constitutional decisions and earn the love of the Canadian people? Probably not all three. This Governor General will make the office his own and put his stamp on the role. The ceremony itself showed a man who is warm and generous and willing to laugh at his own mistakes. That is a good start for any public figure.
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