Michaëlle Jean: Will she have another term?

[August1991]

Her best year down, it's one to go for Gov.-Gen. Michaelle Jean, who celebrates the anniversary of her greatest political feat today amid expectations she'll be replaced in mid-2010.

It's been one year since Prime Minister Stephen Harper's darkest day, his humbling 2008 crawl across Sussex Drive to Rideau Hall seeking Ms. Jean's help to save his government from being toppled by a Liberal-led coalition.

Don Martin

Michaëlle Jean became Governor-General in 2005 when PM PM was Prime Minister. I thought her nomination was ill-advised. At the time (a minority Liberal government), I would have preferred someone like Jean Béliveau (assuming that he would have accepted). Remember the scandal of her husband's (and her) associations.

Some four years later, I have to say that Jean has been an admirable Head of State. Paul Martin was right. I am particularly impressed with Jean's connection to Canada's military. My cynical opinion is that her livelihood as GG depends on DND logistics. But I think her trips to Afghanistan are heartfelt. She's a smart woman.

So, here's the question.

Will Harper find someone new to live in 1 Sussex? Or will he renew Jean's contract and leave her in the position of GG? (I suppose that he could extend her current contract for a year to 2011 but for me, that amounts to a renewal.)

Her term ends in September 2010 so Harper has to decide before then.

Last point: I wonder whether the two made a deal in December when Jean prorogued Parliament.

Edited December 5, 2009 by August1991

[g_bambino]

I have to say that Jean has been an admirable Head of State.

Not head of state.

Her term ends in September 2010.

Doesn't have a term.

But, no, I think she will be replaced as the Queen's representative either next year or early in 2011, barring any parliamentary instability around that time. There's rumour that Mary Simon is being eyed by the Privy Council Office; however, outing her consideration like that pretty much undermines the chances that her name will be put forward to Her Maj.

[+]

Edited December 5, 2009 by g_bambino

[paulfrottawa]

Don Martin

Michaëlle Jean became Governor-General in 2005 when PM PM was Prime Minister. I thought her nomination was ill-advised. At the time (a minority Liberal government), I would have preferred someone like Jean Béliveau (assuming that he would have accepted). Remember the scandal of her husband's (and her) associations.

Some four years later, I have to say that Jean has been an admirable Head of State. Paul Martin was right. I am particularly impressed with Jean's connection to Canada's military. My cynical opinion is that her livelihood as GG depends on DND logistics. But I think her trips to Afghanistan are heartfelt. She's a smart woman.

So, here's the question.

Will Harper find someone new to live in 1 Sussex? Or will he renew Jean's contract and leave her in the position of GG? (I suppose that he could extend her current contract for a year to 2011 but for me, that amounts to a renewal.)

Her term ends in September 2010 so Harper has to decide before then.

Last point: I wonder whether the two made a deal in December when Jean prorogued Parliament.

The only thing Liberals have done right since saying no to Iraq.

[madmax]

Michaelle Jean Stays.

The last thing the CPC need is a best selling tell all book from a GG who followed through for the PM.

[Fortunata]

If Jean really did give Harper a hard time during his slither to keep power, or any type of ultimatum, she will be gone. Harper has surrounded himself with yes people, filled the Senate with sycophants and he will undoubtedly want the same in Rideau Hall in case he needs another ruling in his favour.

[Wilber]

If Jean really did give Harper a hard time during his slither to keep power, or any type of ultimatum, she will be gone. Harper has surrounded himself with yes people, filled the Senate with sycophants and he will undoubtedly want the same in Rideau Hall in case he needs another ruling in his favour.

I'm thinking that no PM has ever chosen a GG that they thought might turn out to be a thorn in their side. Like it or not the GG is largely a political appointment and Jean was Martin's.

[Smallc]

The appointment is made by politicians. That doesn't necessarily mean that it's always political. Jean seems to have been able to separate the politics from her job. Not everyone will of course...but then that's a risk that would exist no matter the selection method.

[Wilber]

The appointment is made by politicians. That doesn't necessarily mean that it's always political. Jean seems to have been able to separate the politics from her job. Not everyone will of course...but then that's a risk that would exist no matter the selection method.

Any appointment made by politicians is political. That's not to say they don't make some good choices or that their motives are sinister but politics is always a factor.

[Smallc]

In reality, politics is almost always a partial factor anyway. We all make decisions based on beliefs and allegiances sometimes.

[KeyStone]

I predict that she stays.

She has done everything asked of her, from shutting down parliament for six weeks at the bequest of Mr. Harper to propping up the seal hunt.

A trained seal couldn't be more obedient.

[Smallc]

She's done the proper thing. That's what she's done. Except for a couple of mishaps, she's been a positive force for the recognition of the office.

[capricorn]

I'm thinking that no PM has ever chosen a GG that they thought might turn out to be a thorn in their side. Like it or not the GG is largely a political appointment and Jean was Martin's.

To date, the Afghan file has been the most difficult for Harper. Jean came in handy for Harper in her overt support for our military. I'm thinking specifically of her visits to Afghanistan and wearing the military uniform on Remembrance Day. Those are powerful images. Now that our combat mission is coming to a close, I'm not sure he wants a GG that conjures up images of the war. IMO he may want a fresh face with no such association.

[Argus]

She's done the proper thing. That's what she's done. Except for a couple of mishaps, she's been a positive force for the recognition of the office.

I agree. I was against the appointment. I saw it as cynical ethnic politics. "Hey, we get a woman, a black and a Quebec francophone all rolled into one! Think of the votes!" But she's done a good job, regardless, and I also think she's been quite dutiful and caring with regard to the military, and in particular casualties returning home. Mind you, I think she looks silly in that uniform...

[ZenOps]

If I could vote for her I would.

Anyone who is willing to eat raw seal heart cut right from the animal - is a keeper.

That she is a she, and black and was francophone is merely a bonus.

[cybercoma]

I can't see any good reason for Harper to replace her. On the other hand, I can think of several drawbacks to replacing her. I expect she'll stay.

[jbg]

If Jean really did give Harper a hard time during his slither to keep power, or any type of ultimatum, she will be gone. Harper has surrounded himself with yes people, filled the Senate with sycophants and he will undoubtedly want the same in Rideau Hall in case he needs another ruling in his favour.

I would call what Harper did quite justified. If anything, Dion, Layton and Duceppes "slithered" together to try to overturn an election. If CPC strength had dropped it might have been another story. But CPC strength rose by around 15 ridings.

If anyone "slithered"...

[jbg]

...to propping up the seal hunt.

A trained seal couldn't be more obedient.

Was the seal hunt in Saskatchewan?

[M.Dancer]

I can't see any good reason for Harper to replace her. On the other hand, I can think of several drawbacks to replacing her. I expect she'll stay.

The big question is, does she want to continue?

She has a young daughter, who may want more time with her mother.

She is young and may want to pursue other challenges.

[ToadBrother]

I predict that she stays.

She has done everything asked of her, from shutting down parliament for six weeks at the bequest of Mr. Harper to propping up the seal hunt.

A trained seal couldn't be more obedient.

Doing what her ministers ask her to do has been the Regal and Vice-regals' job since 1688. I wish people would read some history, and some constitutional history at that. Parliament is supreme.

[ToadBrother]

I would call what Harper did quite justified. If anything, Dion, Layton and Duceppes "slithered" together to try to overturn an election. If CPC strength had dropped it might have been another story. But CPC strength rose by around 15 ridings.

If anyone "slithered"...

They all slithered. What the Opposition tried to do certainly wasn't below board, though it was ill advised. What Harper did was clever, but a dangerous precedent.

[jbg]

I wish people would read some history, and some constitutional history at that.

You're asking alot particularly of the illiterati such as Whoweeeeeeeeeee.

They all slithered. What the Opposition tried to do certainly wasn't below board, though it was ill advised. What Harper did was clever, but a dangerous precedent.

I think what Harper did and Michaëlle Jean approved was the least of all evils. Both another election while the financial world was falling off the cliff and a coup d'etat would have been far more dangerous.

[ToadBrother]

I think what Harper did and Michaëlle Jean approved was the least of all evils. Both another election while the financial world was falling off the cliff and a coup d'etat would have been far more dangerous.

I contend she had little choice. She was asked by Her Prime Minister to do something that wasn't unconstitutional, and the constitution demanded that she prorogue.

Still, the precedent has been set. Every minority (or hung, if you're in many other Westminster parliaments) government out there is going to be eying this. It was the choice of lesser evils, perhaps, in that it invoked the least amount of constitutional questions, but it still wasn't a good choice. I think, long-term, it would have been better to let the Tories fall, but that wasn't constitutionally possible.

And it wasn't a coupe d'etat. Parliament decides who will govern. People do not vote for a government, they vote for a Parliament. Period. You're betraying as much ignorance of our system as some of the other posters here.

[August1991]

The big question is, does she want to continue?

She has a young daughter, who may want more time with her mother.

She is young and may want to pursue other challenges.

When you're at the top like that, even family life is quite pleasant. Obama may see his kids more now than he ever did. Same for Harper. (I think Bush Jnr said accurately during the transfer of power that Obama would bear a heavy burden but just down the hall, he would have the support of his two delightful daughters.)

The people who suffer are the Number Twos (ministers etc) and the ones who really suffer are the various assistants. They have no private life at all.

As to the GG position, it is one of the easiest in Canada. Jean is treated as a Head of State abroad, even if she travels privately, and within Canada, she's the Commander-in-Chief so she has all the apparatus of Canada's military at her disposal.

Anyway Morris, people in positions such as this are ambitious in a way that you and I are not. Jean would easily rationalize accepting a second term (assuming the thought even a rose) by saying that her daughter will have chances that she would never get if Jean returned to civvy street.

[August1991]

Were you right?

[jbg]

So, here's the question.

Will Harper find someone new to live in 1 Sussex? Or will he renew Jean's contract and leave her in the position of GG? (I suppose that he could extend her current contract for a year to 2011 but for me, that amounts to a renewal.)

Her term ends in September 2010 so Harper has to decide before then.

Last point: I wonder whether the two made a deal in December when Jean prorogued Parliament.

I guess we know the answer.