Smallc Posted June 26, 2009 Author Report Posted June 26, 2009 Tell me how and why we need that and what part of the job would be difficult to replace. Tell me what we would replace it with, and why it needs replacing. Quote
Moonbox Posted June 26, 2009 Report Posted June 26, 2009 No....the Queen of Canada is Canada's head of state, and though that office and the office of the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is occupied by the same person, the offices and the positions are quite separate. Yes I'm well aware of this but once again, it's all symbolic. The Queen's power in Canada is literally none-existent and thus so is the power of her representative here. Tell me what we would replace it with, and why it needs replacing. I'm not saying it needs replacing. I'm saying it's a largely unimportant and ceremonial position. You could replace it with anything. For all the REAL responsibilities the job entails, such as ensuring we have a government and overseeing/observing ceremony and procedures, we could make up any number of positions. The question is why bother? Quote "A man is no more entitled to an opinion for which he cannot account than he is for a pint of beer for which he cannot pay" - Anonymous
Jerry J. Fortin Posted June 26, 2009 Report Posted June 26, 2009 Yes I'm well aware of this but once again, it's all symbolic. The Queen's power in Canada is literally none-existent and thus so is the power of her representative here. I'm not saying it needs replacing. I'm saying it's a largely unimportant and ceremonial position. You could replace it with anything. For all the REAL responsibilities the job entails, such as ensuring we have a government and overseeing/observing ceremony and procedures, we could make up any number of positions. The question is why bother? The Governor General has considerably more responsibility than what you have outlined. Quote
Smallc Posted June 26, 2009 Author Report Posted June 26, 2009 Yes I'm well aware of this but once again, it's all symbolic. The question is why bother? And? The Presidents of Israel and Ireland are largely ceremonial and the President of the French Fifth Republic is halfway there. It doesn't take away from the office in anyway. The Governor General is the head of state (acting) and will be honoured as such. Quote
Moonbox Posted June 26, 2009 Report Posted June 26, 2009 (edited) The Governor General has considerably more responsibility than what you have outlined. You guys tell me what in here is considered really important decision making responsibility. Please. I beg you. Even the office's own website can't make it sound like much: Governor General of Canada Ceremonial. Pretty much all of it. And? The Presidents of Israel and Ireland are largely ceremonial and the President of the French Fifth Republic is halfway there. It doesn't take away from the office in anyway. The Governor General is the head of state (acting) and will be honoured as such. What's your point? What France does for show makes absolutely no difference to us at all. I couldn't care less. It's ceremony for the sake of ceremony. As I said earlier, the governor general died. Sad for his family, but why is this big news? I was really just asking. I don't care overmuch. You apparently do, for whatever reason, though I don't see why. Effectively, he was never the head of state because it was purely symbolic and he did not have the power to ACT as head of state. I guess we can have a state funeral for him and televise it, if only for symbolism's sake. If that makes you feel somehow better and more patriotic then go for it. Whatever floats your boat smallc. Edited June 26, 2009 by Moonbox Quote "A man is no more entitled to an opinion for which he cannot account than he is for a pint of beer for which he cannot pay" - Anonymous
Smallc Posted June 26, 2009 Author Report Posted June 26, 2009 Effectively, he was never the head of state because it was purely symbolic and he did not have the power to ACT as head of state. Effectively he was never the head of state, but he was the acting and the defacto head of state. I'm not sure that you know what a head of state is. I think you're confusing a head of state and a head of government which are two very separate office in Canada, unlike in Mexico. Quote
jdobbin Posted June 26, 2009 Report Posted June 26, 2009 The debate over the Governor General's office seems a discussion for another time. Leblanc was a decent enough fellow. He made it a first in a few categories as Governor General by his very appointment. He never had any major decisions in the position as say, our present Governor General has. His time as a politician and public servant were marked with important achievements, namely asserting and enforcing the economic zone out into the oceans around Canada. This has been a boon for Canada and has made Newfoundland a have province. He was a partisan appointment to be sure to the position but I thought Preston Manning and Lucien Bouchard were poor sports for not attending his swearing in. I often wonder if Manning had some second thoughts about it later in life. As for Bouchard, he was a sourpuss about a lot of stuff and continues to this day it seems. Leblanc opened up Rideau Hall and moved events all over the country. In many ways, he set a new tone for the Governor General's office. I was particularly proud of the speech he made welcoming Nunavut as a territory. Overall, he was a credible public servant doing the best the job he could and left a few legacies behind as guidelines to others who came behind him. Quote
Moonbox Posted June 26, 2009 Report Posted June 26, 2009 Effectively he was never the head of state, but he was the acting and the defacto head of state. I'm not sure that you know what a head of state is. I think you're confusing a head of state and a head of government which are two very separate office in Canada, unlike in Mexico. No I know the difference I just question the purpose of the role. Either way it does't matter. Jdobbin is right. Leblanc did some good things for the maritimes, debating the position is probably best left for another thread. I don't think the recreational arguing on my part is necessary given his death, regardless of my views. Quote "A man is no more entitled to an opinion for which he cannot account than he is for a pint of beer for which he cannot pay" - Anonymous
Smallc Posted July 3, 2009 Author Report Posted July 3, 2009 http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/sto...uneral-843.html Quote
Moonbox Posted July 3, 2009 Report Posted July 3, 2009 The whole town is showing up! Quote "A man is no more entitled to an opinion for which he cannot account than he is for a pint of beer for which he cannot pay" - Anonymous
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.