Smallc Posted June 22, 2010 Report Posted June 22, 2010 Governor General Michaelle Jean is headed to the United Nations, CTV News has learned. Jean will be appointed special envoy for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reported Monday night. "Her main goal is to fight poverty and Haiti's appallingly high illiteracy (rate)," Fife said. "She'll not only spend time in Haiti, but also travel the globe to keep the world's eyes focused on Haiti and to raise funds." The prime minister "went to bat to get her this high-profile job," which starts in late September, Fife said. Story by CTV.ca News Staff Sounds like an interesting position. I hope she does as well at it as she has at her current job. Quote
Keepitsimple Posted June 22, 2010 Report Posted June 22, 2010 Sounds like an interesting position. I hope she does as well at it as she has at her current job. Perfect job for her.....and one that I think she would whole-heartedly embrace. Quote Back to Basics
Moonbox Posted June 22, 2010 Report Posted June 22, 2010 Sounds like an interesting position. I hope she does as well at it as she has at her current job. It will certainly be a more challenging and worthwhile role for her. At least now she'll have to actually do something other than play tea party. 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
sharkman Posted June 22, 2010 Report Posted June 22, 2010 This illustrates her divided loyalties, you'd think she'd be interested in representing Canada at the UN, not Haiti. Well, at least she no longer seems to support Quebec nationalism. Quote
g_bambino Posted June 22, 2010 Report Posted June 22, 2010 This illustrates her divided loyalties, you'd think she'd be interested in representing Canada at the UN, not Haiti. Well, at least she no longer seems to support Quebec nationalism. Does Canada have or need a special envoy to the UN? We have a permanent representative there already, but, while Jean has diplomatic experience, I don't think she yet has enough knowledge of the intricacies of foreign affairs bureaucracy to be a full-fledged ambassador. The special envoy post may well prepare her for a later role as an ambassador to somewhere (Haiti?) for Her Majesty's Canadian government. She's still only 52 years old. Quote
Smallc Posted June 22, 2010 Author Report Posted June 22, 2010 This illustrates her divided loyalties, you'd think she'd be interested in representing Canada at the UN, not Haiti. Well, at least she no longer seems to support Quebec nationalism. Yes, the fact that the PM wanted her to get the job talks only about her loyalties.... Quote
Borg Posted June 23, 2010 Report Posted June 23, 2010 (edited) Female visible minority in a politically correct country. Create a position for her ...... Why am I not surprised? Keeps her in a nice standard of living - where was she going to go if she got the boot? Seems to be a politically correct sympathy position. How does a regular working stiff get one of these plums? Wonder what it pays? Borg Edited June 23, 2010 by Borg Quote
M.Dancer Posted June 23, 2010 Report Posted June 23, 2010 - where was she going to go if she got the boot? Anywhere she wanted. I don't think there is a board room in Canada that wouldn't consider her seriously as a director...She could literaly write her own ticket, she has earned vast amounts of respect all across the nation. Quote RIGHT of SOME, LEFT of OTHERS If it is a choice between them and us, I choose us
bloodyminded Posted June 23, 2010 Report Posted June 23, 2010 (edited) Female visible minority in a politically correct country. Create a position for her ...... Why am I not surprised? Keeps her in a nice standard of living - where was she going to go if she got the boot? Seems to be a politically correct sympathy position. How does a regular working stiff get one of these plums? Wonder what it pays? Borg Not all that long ago, a regular working stiff still couldn't have gotten one of these plums...and a female visible minority? Forget it. Do you suppose they might have handed the job to some working class joe...were in not for Haitian women getting the sweet jobs? I don't think so. Things are now slightly less restrictive in the way you're complaining about...not more. Edited June 24, 2010 by bloodyminded Quote As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand. --Josh Billings
Moonlight Graham Posted June 23, 2010 Report Posted June 23, 2010 This illustrates her divided loyalties, you'd think she'd be interested in representing Canada at the UN, not Haiti. Well, at least she no longer seems to support Quebec nationalism. She is representing Canada, but in a position in UNESCO to help Haiti. She has some experience with Haiti since she lived there the first 10 years or so of her life, plus family links. There is probably some loyalty duality with her, its natural for someone to feel links to their original country (just look at Canadians during the World Cup). But in the end she will probably do some good work. Quote "All generalizations are false, including this one." - Mark Twain Partisanship is a disease of the intellect.
Smallc Posted June 24, 2010 Author Report Posted June 24, 2010 It will certainly be a more challenging and worthwhile role for her. At least now she'll have to actually do something other than play tea party. Continuing to pretend the position is unimportant doesn't somehow make it unimportant. It's a constitutional requirement, and an office similar to those in most other countries. The position of Governor General, IMO, deserves a great deal of respect. Quote
Bonam Posted June 24, 2010 Report Posted June 24, 2010 The position of Governor General, IMO, deserves a great deal of respect. A person deserves respect based on their deeds and their words, not on their title. A position may grant an individual certain powers, but respect must be earned. Quote
Smallc Posted June 24, 2010 Author Report Posted June 24, 2010 A person deserves respect based on their deeds and their words, not on their title. A position may grant an individual certain powers, but respect must be earned. Hence the reason I said that the position deserves more respect, regardless of the person occupying the position. This particular GG (again, IMO...though I think many would agree) deserves a great deal of respect. I would also say the same for the last one...if not the several before. Quote
g_bambino Posted June 24, 2010 Report Posted June 24, 2010 Hence the reason I said that the position deserves more respect, regardless of the person occupying the position. This particular GG (again, IMO...though I think many would agree) deserves a great deal of respect. I would also say the same for the last one...if not the several before. Jean was certainly far, far better than Clarkson. The former had her slip-ups, but she demonstrated a receptiveness to input and a willingness to atone that the latter never showed. Clarkson was arrogant to the core; she thought she knew everything there was about the constitution and the Office of Governor General and told those who were better versed on those matters that they weren't. Clarkson certainly elevated the viceregal post in the nation's collective consciousness, but did much damage to it in the process. Jean, on the other hand, learned quickly from her mistakes. Those prior to Clarkson were pretty non-descript: LeBlanc? Hnatyshyn? Schreyer? Bland. And Sauvé was a republican. Quote
Smallc Posted June 24, 2010 Author Report Posted June 24, 2010 I liked Clarkson....but you're right, she was arrogant. Quote
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