Hunt for new GG is on! Michelle Jean is out.

[Mr.Canada]

Too young. They appear to be looking for someone with gray hair. Given his supposed opposition to appointing ex-politicians (or, one assumes, media celebs) I can't, for the life of me, think of anyone other than military people who are older, well-known and distinguished. Does Paul Desmarais want to be GG? How about Marc Garneau?

I doubt it could be a hyper partisan either. Paul Desmarais is certainly a power player and knows the right people for sure and he's a federalist. I don't know if he'd want it or not though is the thing. Damn, the more I think about this guy the more I like it.

I could see Garneau being more likely choice but he ran for the Liberals last time out didn't he? Tory supporters wouldn't like it as he ran for the Grits. Too bad he's a Liberal he would've probably made a decent GG too.

[Smallc]

Hillier ,same reason MacKenzie would be lousey at the job. Besides these guys could not possibly spend the taxpayers money frivulously.

You don't know how the office works, do you? The governor general does what their government advises. They don't choose where money is spent.

[ToadBrother]

I doubt it could be a hyper partisan either. Paul Desmarais is certainly a power player and knows the right people for sure and he's a federalist. I don't know if he'd want it or not though is the thing. Damn, the more I think about this guy the more I like it.

I could see Garneau being more likely choice but he ran for the Liberals last time out didn't he? Tory supporters wouldn't like it as he ran for the Grits. Too bad he's a Liberal he would've probably made a decent GG too.

I'd like to see a constitutional expert in there. Of course, no PM would ever ever ever do that.

[ToadBrother]

Anything the Tories do drives the non Tories crazy and vice versa.

I don't really see the GG as being that important anymore or necessary these days. I don't think that that particular office matters all that much.

An unsurprising view from Tories. They seem to feel the same way about Parliament too.

[Mr.Canada]

An unsurprising view from Tories. They seem to feel the same way about Parliament too.

Lol. Very nice Tb.

[Smallc]

Lol. Very nice Tb.

So, how would our government system work without the Governor General?

[ToadBrother]

So, how would our government system work without the Governor General?

I guess we'd have a PM without even theoretical constitutional constraints. He's not answerable to Parliament. He doesn't have an actual Executive figure that could reign him in.

I think Tories have become the enemies of Parliamentary democracy.

[capricorn]

Here's my two cents. I think appointing the first Aboriginal GG would be a great move on Harper's part. I did a little research along this line and I think Phil Fontaine would be a great choice. He's now 65 and quite vibrant for his age.

He has an impressive bio, has name recognition and he is dignified. A few highlights from wiki.

In 1991, he was elected grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and served for three consecutive terms.

In 1997 he was elected national chief of the Assembly of First Nations for the first time.

Following his first term as national chief, Fontaine was appointed chief commissioner of the Indian Claims Commission. Under his term the land claim of the Kahkewistahaw First Nation was resolved, resulting in a $94.6 million agreement for the Saskatchewan band. Fontaine resigned from the ICC in 2003 in order to run for national chief once again.

In July 2003, Fontaine was elected to his second term as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. He ran again and was re-elected in July 2006 with almost 76 percent of the vote, defeating Bill Wilson of British Columbia.[1] In his third term, Fontaine said that he would attempt to bring the $5 billion Kelowna Accord negotiated in 2005 with the Liberal government of Paul Martin back to the table. The deal, aimed at improving living conditions and education for aboriginal people, was cancelled by the succeeding Conservative government.

In 2005, Fontaine successfully negotiated the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, which will mean a financial contribution of more than $5 billion dollars to survivors and programs for them. The IRSSA, which includes a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, was ratified by the federal Conservative government in May, 2006. In June, 2007, Fontaine, Prime Minister Harper, and Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice announced a process to establish an independent tribunal to adjudicate Specific Land Claims.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Fontaine

[Smallc]

Ick. I think he represents much of the victim mentality that is rather unhelpful. It would certainly be symbolic though.

Edited April 4, 2010 by Smallc

[capricorn]

I think he represents much of the victim mentality that is rather unhelpful.

Well then, that should please the millions of "victims" we have in this country.

[nicky10013]

Too young. They appear to be looking for someone with gray hair. Given his supposed opposition to appointing ex-politicians (or, one assumes, media celebs) I can't, for the life of me, think of anyone other than military people who are older, well-known and distinguished. Does Paul Desmarais want to be GG? How about Marc Garneau?

The Globe is now reporting that Harper offered Hansen the job but Hansen turned him down.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/let-the-wild-viceregal-speculation-begin/article1522010/

[Mr.Canada]

The Globe is now reporting that Harper offered Hansen the job but Hansen turned him down.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/let-the-wild-viceregal-speculation-begin/article1522010/

It's false no offer was ever made directly or indirectly to Rick Hansen. He informed talk radio today that it was just rumor.

[Bonam]

Here's my two cents. I think appointing the first Aboriginal GG would be a great move on Harper's part.

I would be disappointed if an appointment to a post such as the GG was made based primarily on racial considerations.

[bush_cheney2004]

I would be disappointed if an appointment to a post such as the GG was made based primarily on racial considerations.

Why? There is precedent for doing so based solely on language as well.

[Smallc]

Why? There is precedent for doing so based solely on language as well.

Not solely. I actually don't have a problem with symbolic appointments to the position. The position is as much a symbol of Canada as it is a constitutional necessity. When it comes to constitutional issues, they have access to enough constitutional experts to help the GG make any decisions.

[Bonam]

Why? There is precedent for doing so based solely on language as well.

I didn't say I haven't been disappointed before.

Not solely. I actually don't have a problem with symbolic appointments to the position. The position is as much a symbol of Canada as it is a constitutional necessity. When it comes to constitutional issues, they have access to enough constitutional experts to help the GG make any decisions.

If the GG is gonna need the guidance of all these experts and not know much about the consitution themselves, then why should they be in this post? A symbol of Canada should be someone that embodies Canadian values... democracy, human rights, education, sustainability, bilingualism. Being an Inuit or a black person does not a symbol of Canada make.

[Smallc]

If the GG is gonna need the guidance of all these experts and not know much about the consitution themselves, then why should they be in this post? A symbol of Canada should be someone that embodies Canadian values... democracy, human rights, education, sustainability, bilingualism. Being an Inuit or a black person does not a symbol of Canada make.

Well then Phil Fontaine fits perfectly. I don't think Capricorn was suggesting that he be made GG solely because he was native. Neither was I. I was simply saying that it can be good to highlight our diversity with the appointment, as the last two have...and I consider the last two to have been very good choices.

Edited April 4, 2010 by Smallc

[bush_cheney2004]

... Being an Inuit or a black person does not a symbol of Canada make.

No shit!

[Bonam]

I was simply saying that it can be good to highlight our diversity with the appointment, as the last two have...and I consider the last two to have been very good choices.

I don't dispute that the last two have been fine choices. But I am getting really tired of all these platitudes like "highlighting our diversity". We've highlighted our diversity to death. The page is soaked through in highlighter fluid. We get it, Canada is diverse. Pick people based on merit only, with ZERO consideration on race.

Edited April 4, 2010 by Bonam

[Smallc]

I think the symbolism is more important than you realize. It tells the world that here, you can ascend to the highest attainable office in the land, no matter who you are. Men, women, and people of many backgrounds have held the post...something to be proud of, I would say.

[Bonam]

I think the symbolism is more important than you realize. It tells the world that here, you can ascend to the highest attainable office in the land

Highest in some constitutional sense I suppose, but I think it is the office of Prime Minister that most would see as being of greater relevance in this regard.

no matter who you are. Men, women, and people of many backgrounds have held the post...something to be proud of, I would say.

Great, it's been held. Like I said, we've highlighted it enough. Can we get back to merit now?

[bush_cheney2004]

....Great, it's been held. Like I said, we've highlighted it enough. Can we get back to merit now?

Good idea...but "merit" is...ummmm...racist!

[Smallc]

Highest in some constitutional sense I suppose, but I think it is the office of Prime Minister that most would see as being of greater relevance in this regard.

The Prime Minister occupies the highest political office. The Governor General occupies the highest attainable office which is beyond politics. Another, similar office would be the Chief Justice of Canada, who is also the Administrator of Canada in the absence of the Governor General.

The office of the Prime Minister is seen as being more relevant...an unfortunate result of media neglect of the Governor General. The office is relevant and rather interesting.

[Bonam]

The office is relevant and rather interesting.

All the more reason to fill it based on merit alone.

[Smallc]

All the more reason to fill it based on merit alone.

Well, merit can sometimes be a subjective thing....most of the previous office holders were put there because of merit in some form or another. Language though can never be ignored in Canada. By convention, it is the turn of an anglophone to hold the office.