New Governor-General

Bakunin · August 9, 2005

I can see poor little Paulie sitting around rubbing his knuckles against his furrowed brow trying to think of ways to make a "statement" or at least, put some kind of mark on his pathetic term in office. And along comes this opportunity! Jean Chretien already beat him to the first immigrant and person of colour. But gosh darn it he's going to go him one better! He'll appoint the first black!
Argus, of course states it best.
PM PM is so unoriginal. He just purely imitated Chretien. (Chretien segued Trudeau - when Trudeau named Shreyer GG, he segued Diefenbaker's Vanier.)

Something else.

"I've never been a token ... and never will be," said Ms. Jean, who was flanked by her film-producer husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and their six-year-old adopted Haitian daughter, Marie-Eden. "I will represent the Crown in Canada and I believe in that institution -- the oldest in our history. From Samuel de Champlain to Michaelle Jean, we went a long way. I want every citizen to know that this institution belongs to all of us."
Ottawa Citizen
The GG position is all about tokenism, about symbols. That is exactly what her new position is. The only possible substance is the final protection of legality - and the possible designation of a first minister. But the GG position is primarily a token, a symbol, a way to identify Canadians.

The new GG is a TV journalist. Good image. Face, hair, make-up, voice. She has a good accent in French. Make no mistake; she understands perfectly the notions of image, symbols, tokens.

Something else? Her husband makes movies about FLQ terrorists.

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Yeah, i heard many rumor about his husband being a die hard sovreignist... Anyway according to a recent poll more than 3 out of 4 quebeckers think its a waist of money. if they really wanted to unite the country they should have tought about getting rid of monarchy instead....

Canuck E Stan · August 9, 2005

From Paul Jackson's column in the Sun:

Jean's neatly crafted 'bio' is meant to paint her as a valiant lady who achieved considerable fame after supposedly fleeing the evil regime of Papa Doc Duvalier's Haiti. Came here penniless, couldn't even speak English, and worked her way to the top doing menial jobs. That's the image the Liberals like.

It's so heartening and inspiring.

In reality, she came from a privileged Haitian family, hardly like some truly wretched Cuban refugee clinging to a raft. Went to university in Montreal, Florence, Milan and Perugia, Italy and mastered French, English, Spanish and Italian.

Commendable, but hardly the stuff of a destitute refugee climbing steadily to the top through minimum wage jobs.

It's all a bit like Alice in Wonderland.

She came from a privileged Haitian family, how come we didn't hear about her family, but were led to believe she was a poor refugee? Anybody know anything about her "priviledged" family?

mirror · August 10, 2005

Jean speaks 5 languages and is a French citizen. What a fantastic role model for our young Canadians!

Governor general a French citizen

August1991 · August 10, 2005

Selon mes sources bien informées, qui tous une une très grande admiration pour Michaëlle, celle-ci aurait des opinions politiques très tranchées. Notamment, elle aurait souvent manifesté son nationalisme québécois, son penchant en faveur de la souveraineté du Québec et son opposition à cette institution vétuste qu'est la représentation de la Reine d'Angleterre au Canada.
Pourquoi alors accepter ce poste? Selon mes sources, à nouveau, c'est tout simplement parce que Michaëlle a plusieurs causes qui lui tiennent à coeur : la pauvreté, notamment chez les enfants, la violence faite aux femmes, la situation en Haïti, etc.

Some Blog

Perhaps I am wrong, but I have the impression that there will be a backlash against this nomination. We'll see.

Riverwind · August 10, 2005

Perhaps I am wrong, but I have the impression that there will be a backlash against this nomination. We'll see.

It would be an unbelievable act of incompetence if PM PM did choose a closet separatist for the GG post - especially during a period of time where we will likely have another referendum. This could be a decision that will put the nail in the coffin of his career.

mcqueen625 · August 10, 2005

As if she can or will represent the Crown. She was not even Canadian born, and comes from a French speaking country, so as far as I'm concerned she cannot represent the Crown of England, which is what the Governor General's job is supposed to be all about. It is supposed to be above the Parliament of Canada, not to be merely a ceremonial trapping of a bygone era, and should be held by someone loyal to the Crown of England. If it cannot be that, then it is time to do away with the position, and save the Canadian taxpayer $millions per year in wasted money.

As someone else has pointed out in this thread, the post of G.G. has become just another expensive rubber stamp for government policy, just like our Senate. This post should be abolished as just another expensive trapping from a bygone era, or put it back to it's original prominance of being able to be above political interfereence. Right now all it has become is a position filled by a political hack who is willing to go along with government policy, just like our outdated Senate.

BHS · August 10, 2005

Jean speaks 5 languages and is a French citizen. What a fantastic role model for our young Canadians!
Governor general a French citizen

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That's just ridiculous. What a great role model for young Canadians - take out citizenship in another country! Being solely Canadian won't get you anywhere in life, least of all in Canada!

I'm going to laugh hysterically if she says one word in favour of seperation, if there's another referendum during her tenure. It would be the ne plus ultra of our ridiculous system of Prime Ministerial appointments to have the Crown's appointed representative in Canada favour the disolution of the state and system that made her appointment possible.

See, when you elect your government officials, you get to find these things out about a person before they become the de facto head of state.

kimmy · August 10, 2005

Perhaps I am wrong, but I have the impression that there will be a backlash against this nomination. We'll see.
It would be an unbelievable act of incompetence if PM PM did choose a closet separatist for the GG post - especially during a period of time where we will likely have another referendum. This could be a decision that will put the nail in the coffin of his career.

An act of incompetence... but from PMPM, hardly "unbelievable".

Appointing a black woman would seem like a surefire way to keep people from blasting your choice... criticize Ms Jean, and you run the risk of being tarred a racist. But if there's anything to this separatist issue, that would surely trump any amount of political correctness in this debate.

Has anybody actually watched her husband's movie? A movie about FLQ terrorists isn't *necessarily* sympathetic. Does anybody have any other information as to either his or her feelings towards Quebec sovereignty? I've found no discussion of the subject in the mainstream press, just a few message boards.

-k

Argus · August 10, 2005

Jean speaks 5 languages and is a French citizen. What a fantastic role model for our young Canadians!
Governor general a French citizen

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What role model? Because she's French?

Weren't you going to answer my question about how come she's a "great Canadian"? Is it because she has Black skin? Because she's female? Because she's an immigrant? What? Are all CBC reporters "Great Canadians"?

August1991 · August 10, 2005

Has anybody actually watched her husband's movie? A movie about FLQ terrorists isn't *necessarily* sympathetic.

You can see a clip of Jean-Daniel Lafond here in interview promoting his documentary. You can watch a clip of the documentary "Liberté en colère" here. (All clips in French.)

Note that the PQ under Parizeau returned to power in September 1994 and the NFB documentary was shown on R-C in November 1994 before the 1995 referendum.

The R-C web site refers to "Communism in Canada, A Lost Ideal?" and Lafond's documentary brings together years later Charles Gagnon and Pierre Vallieres. (That's kind of like years later putting Gorbachev beside a resurrected Brezhnev and asking them what went wrong.)

Canadian taxpayers paid for this documentary (NFB) and then its promotion and showing (R-C). Come to think of it, this couple has never had to convince anyone but a bureaucrat to give them money. Such is modern Canada.

I always thought John Ralston Saul was a poseur but Jean-Daniel Lafond is the real thing, un intellectuel. To be honest though, they are only the spouse and not the principal.

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Before Vincent Massey, GGs (and their spouses) were foreign-born. It seems we've returned to that tradition, probably for the same reason. Canadians of whatever language are ultimately impressed by the elocution of a foreign accent.

g_bambino · August 11, 2005

is it still legally binding even though we have achieved independence from the crown?

Canada has not "achieved independence" from the Crown, but rather has achieved independence from Britain. We now, along with 15 other countries, share the Crown; and within Canada it operates as a distinct legal entity from the Crown in Australia or the Crown in the UK.

g_bambino · August 11, 2005

Yeah, i heard many rumor about his husband being a die hard sovreignist... Anyway according to a recent poll more than 3 out of 4 quebeckers think its a waist of money. if they really wanted to unite the country they should have tought about getting rid of monarchy instead....

That the abolition of the monarchy from Canada would be irrelevant to the Quebec sovereignty issue has already been discussed.

g_bambino · August 11, 2005

Before Vincent Massey, GGs (and their spouses) were foreign-born. It seems we've returned to that tradition, probably for the same reason. Canadians of whatever language are ultimately impressed by the elocution of a foreign accent.

Though I think it's a little too soon to deem it a "tradition," I can't see an issue with having Governors General who aren't born in Canada. One does not necessarily have to be born in this country to be Canadian, and it can't help but be acknowledged that Canada has always been a country of immigrants, and has always possessed a mindset more accepting of internationalism.

However, that said, I do not feel someone should be given a post simply because they are an immigrant, and I wonder just how much the Liberals are politicising this appointment by trying to appeal to their favourite source of votes -- immigrants. It's a possibility, but then Mme. Jean may just be an accomplished individual who will do well as the Queen's representative.

Bakunin · August 11, 2005

Hey ! august read this:

Selon Le Devoir et The Globe and Mail, le journal indépendantiste Le Québécois publiera un texte en septembre pour évoquer le passé indépendantiste de M. Lafond.
L'auteur, l'écrivain René Boulanger, qui dit le connaître personnellement, a pris la plume pour le dénoncer dans le reste du pays. Il évoque les relations que M. Lafond a longtemps entretenues avec d'anciens membres du FLQ, non seulement dans le cadre de son travail de cinéaste mais aussi dans la vie de tous les jours.

Selon M. Boulanger, Jean-Daniel Lafond est un pur indépendantiste qu'une enquête de sécurité n'a sûrement pas pu ignorer. L'auteur écrit qu'il ne frayait pas avec des politiciens de pacotille mais avec des révolutionnaires.

M. Lafond lui aurait déjà raconté que la bibliothèque de sa résidence avait été construite par l'ex-felquiste Jacques Rose et qu'elle contenait un double fond pour cacher des armes, si nécessaire.

...In other word the guy looks like a crasy extremist. However no media seems to care... What about the GG, is she agreeing with him on those issue ? is She crasy too ? she doesn't look like crasy but we never know.... All this thing remember me of the myriam bédard couple.....

August1991 · August 11, 2005

Bakunin, IMV, the real question is why Jean (and Lafond) accepted the position.

She may not have hard feelings about sovereignty and perhaps he respected her choice to accept the job. Martin seems to want to co-opt (obtain the co-operation of) such people. Perhaps he said that they could fulfil their roles (GG and spouse of GG) in ways that they would be comfortable, and without having to compromise their principles.

Who knows?

I am certain though that Trudeau would never have made such an appointment.

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Lafond seems like an interesting person to invite to a dinner party, if you like that kind of thing. And no-one can have a career like Jean's without a strong streak of ambition.

BTW, do you have a link to teh above quote?

shoop · August 11, 2005

Michaelle Jean - a great Canadian and a great choice IMO. And gotta love that CBC connection.
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I wonder if we gotta love the separatist connections as well?

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...354/?hub=Canada

Yet another 'brilliant' move by Mr. Dithers backfiring when faced with the light of public scrutiny.

Isn't a separatist, by definition, excluding from being considered a great Canadian?

Bakunin · August 11, 2005

Bakunin, IMV, the real question is why Jean (and Lafond) accepted the position.
She may not have hard feelings about sovereignty and perhaps he respected her choice to accept the job. Martin seems to want to co-opt (obtain the co-operation of) such people. Perhaps he said that they could fulfil their roles (GG and spouse of GG) in ways that they would be comfortable, and without having to compromise their principles.

Who knows?

I am certain though that Trudeau would never have made such an appointment.

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Lafond seems like an interesting person to invite to a dinner party, if you like that kind of thing. And no-one can have a career like Jean's without a strong streak of ambition.

BTW, do you have a link to teh above quote?

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It was from an article of "la presse":

http://www.vigile.net/05-8/11.html#2

I don't really know what to think, She seems like a good person but i would like to learn more about her position on different issue wich im pretty sure we will never know except if it also leak in the newspaper. And i want to know what is up with Lafond.... When a well known felquiste build you a bookshelf... with a secret place to hide guns... you surely not have a normal life.

here is another article

Michaëlle Jean et les felquistes

Le Canada anglais ne semble pas avoir remarqué encore qu'il ait fait un film sur le FLQ, avec comme scénariste Francis Simard, l'un des membres les plus en vue de la cellule qui a enlevé le ministre Pierre Laporte lors de la célèbre Crise d'octobre. Jean-Daniel Lafond l'a probablement connu lors d'un lancement des éditions VLB qui appartenaient dans les années 90 à Jacques Lanctôt, autre membre très connu du FLQ, qui avait enlevé le consul britannique James Richard Cross, déclenchant ainsi l'engrenage des événements d'octobre.

Qui aurait dit que la future Gouverneure Générale du Canada ait accueilli dans ses murs l'un des révolutionnaires les plus recherchés avec son frère Paul par toutes les polices canadiennes. Je ne suis pas certain qu'elle se sentait à l'aise avec toutes les fréquentationsde son mari mais en même temps je présume qu'elle a assez de grandeur pour ne pas désavouer cette période de leur vie commune. Toujours est-il que c'est Jacques Rose, l'habile menuisier qui avait conçu la cache de la rue Queen Mary qui lui a refait son bureau avec sa précieuse bibliothèque. Jean-Daniel Lafond en était si fier qu'il me confie que Jacques Rose, qui n'avait pas perdu la main pour les cachettes mystérieuses, avait fait un double-fond au cas où Jean-Daniel voudrait y cacher des armes. Évidemment, Jean-Daniel en était ravi même s'il doutait d'avoir un jour à se servir de ce double-fond. Mais enfin, ça met tout de même du piquant dans la vie.

shoop · August 11, 2005

It truly is sad that Martin made such a weak choice.

Gotta love this quote from the CTV piece.

"Gilles Rheaume, president of the Quebec-based organization against Canadian corruption and propaganda and a former president of the Societe St-Jean Baptiste.

Rheaume said Thursday that Prime Minister Paul Martin should have checked Jean's credentials more carefully and called him "an amateur to name a person who many believe is a sovereigntist, to name this person head of state.'' "

AMATEUR

What a brilliant adjective to describe Mr. Dithers.

August1991 · August 12, 2005

Shoop, good point. The CTV article refers to "Gilles Rheaume, president of the Quebec-based organization against Canadian corruption" without saying what the organization is. (The CTV's description is vaguely hilarious, and despite the "the", I'm still trying to find the organization's name. Société d’histoire des Riches-Lieux???)

As Lloyd Bentsen said about Dan Quayle, Gilles Rhéaume is no Pierre Bourgault.

Toujours est-il que c'est Jacques Rose, l'habile menuisier qui avait conçu la cache de la rue Queen Mary qui lui a refait son bureau avec sa précieuse bibliothèque. Jean-Daniel Lafond en était si fier qu'il me confie que Jacques Rose, qui n'avait pas perdu la main pour les cachettes mystérieuses, avait fait un double-fond au cas où Jean-Daniel voudrait y cacher des armes. Évidemment, Jean-Daniel en était ravi même s'il doutait d'avoir un jour à se servir de ce double-fond.

Bakunin, weird, if true. Does the gun registry require such a hiding place?

August1991 · August 12, 2005

Si Michaëlle Jean avait refusé ce poste, elle aurait été qualifié d'héroïne par beaucoup de souverainistes, mais imaginez une seconde la réaction des siens. Michaëlle Jean est aussi la fille de son peuple, elle n'oublie pas d'où elle vient. Entre deux combats, la souveraineté du Québec ou la dignité des siens, Michaëlle a fait son choix, sachant très bien qu'elle ne serait pas ménagée. Mais l'Histoire lui dira bravo parce que la souveraineté des uns n'a pas de sens sans la dignité des autres.
Sur quelle planète certains souverainistes croient-ils vivre ? J'apporte à leur connaissance qu'à Montréal, un détenu sur six est noir. Que malgré les efforts, les lois et les institutions, il y a encore des discriminations et souvent de grandes injustices commises à l'égard des Noirs.

Le Devoir - Mohamed Lofti

This is rich.

"Michaelle Jean had to accept the position because, even if she is a souverainiste, her refusal of the job would have been a greater renouncing of the oppressed minorities in this world. IOW, she must play politics to 'advance' a greater cause."

Traiter Michaëlle Jean de vendue, comme certains ont écrit, c'est faire preuve de manque de lucidité et de générosité à d'autres causes tout aussi nobles que la souveraineté du Québec.

Vendue? Jean? Wow!

Cette nomination pourrait s'avérer dans l'intérêt même d'un éventuel Québec souverain. Elle contribuerait d'une certaine manière à préparer le terrain pour de meilleures relations entre ce qu'on appelle les minorités visibles et la majorité. Les nouveaux arrivants et les autres. Souverain ou pas, le Québec a besoin de plus d'harmonie entre les différentes communautés qui le composent. Michaëlle Jean incarne des principes universels de fraternité.

WTF?

"Jean's appointment will contribute to a sovereign Quebec or at least a better understanding between Quebec's different communities."

Is this what PM PM wanted when he made this nomination?

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Sorry, I just finished Johnson's book about Harper and I had to agree with his clarity. To be honest, there's no longer a Trudeau around to argue logically the case, nor is there a Levesque around to be reasonable and fair.

We're on our own with Charest, Landry, Harper, Layton and Martin. I'll agree with Johnson that Harper has been consistent.

ROC, English Canada, whatever really, really must decide what it wants.

We're at a crossroads.

August 16, 2005

If there is any job that should be non-political it surely must be the GG. Now we are immersed is a "is she or is she not a separatist" diatribe. Personally I don't give a rat's ass about that but let's find an impartial way to the select the person. Maybe a committee made up of members of the Order of Canada who make six or so suggestions to the PM who, after reviewing with the opposition leaders, makes a choice.

I would like to see a pot-bellied accountant from Flin Flon who has never made a political statement in his life but who loves his country become our GG.

shoop · August 16, 2005

Let's have a toast to Quebec independence, and film it.

Michaelle Jean's

Boy the PMO must have done a very thorough background check on her. :rolleyes:

Mr. Dithers head must be near explodin'. You gotta know in his heart and soul he wants to dump her at this point, but can't appear dithering, can't anger left-wing of party....

August1991 · August 16, 2005

"A sovereign Quebec? An independent Quebec?"he asked rhetorically. "Yes, I applaud with both hands and I promise to attend all the St-Jean Baptiste Day parades."

WTF?

This whole story is turning into farce. Taken alone in isolation, the following two paragraphs are hysterical (according to my sense of humour). This is what Reuters has put out for international consumption:

"We would expect the head of state to be supportive of the state," Stephen Harper, leader of the official opposition Conservative Party, said in a radio interview.

Neither Jean nor her husband, both of whom are also French citizens, have commented since Martin named her to be the next governor general on August 4. She will be Canada's first black governor general, a largely ceremonial post.

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Layton is clearly preaching to the choir in the following quote. He's being a demagogue, in my book. (Sorry for the gratuitous, anti-NDP dig, but I can't help myself.)

Jean was not without her defenders, however, including NDP Leader Jack Layton who said her past views are less important than her current ones. "It's time to look forward," said Layton. "Here we have an accomplished woman who has said she loves this country and is willing to take on the responsibilities of being a spokesperson for it. I think that's something that should be celebrated."

Macleans

I was wondering why the Left wants so much to defend this nomination. Kinsella referred to the Conservatives appearing to be "angry white men" but I wonder if rather it's the Left which is angry. They want to "stick it to the Establishment". I dunno.

If this nomination goes through, there will be many Canadians who will feel bewildered. They have been told that they are bigots if they think that marriage should be reserved for a woman and a man. They have been told that they are intolerant if they question the loyalties of their head of state. They have been told that their health system is the envy of the world but everyone must wait for a doctor who, when finally seen, is always in a hurry.

In a democracy, an elite varies at risk with the common sense of common people. In a democracy? Even in a dictatorship.

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What do I make of the "separatist" angle to this story? (Are the separatists leaking the story to foment an anti-French Anglo reaction?) Call me naive. I think Boulanger is peeved that Jean and Lafond accepted the job. The "separatists" are appalled that some people can be bought so easily, or that they were dupes to believe them in the first place. I'm sure Boulanger takes pleasure in insulting PM PM and Lapierre. I find Boulanger's style irritating, and angry.

Is Jean a bridge to the soft-nationalists and if ROC rejects her, they're rejecting Quebec? Look. The GG is a symbol of Canada, and the Queen. Everyone in Quebec expects the GG to be Canadian. You don't take on Andre Boisclair by choosing a Quebec-nationalist-but-Canadian GG.

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For a moment, I had some sympathy for Jean - foisted into this weird scandal - but then I changed my mind. If anyone accepts to appear in the public spotlight (and Jean cannot plead ignorance), then one must also accept the price. And I thought further. I would never appear on national television with my six year old daughter in tow, as some kind of prop. I would have told the PMO handlers, no way.

cybercoma · August 16, 2005

Even if Jean is the most extreme seperatist ever to reside in Quebec, when has a GG ever had any influence over anything besides spending? More specifically their own spending. *glares in clarkson's general direction*

shoop · August 16, 2005

If this nomination goes through, there will be many Canadians who will feel bewildered.
They have been told that they are intolerant if they question the loyalties of their head of state. They have been told that their health system is the envy of the world but everyone must wait for a doctor who, when finally seen, is always in a hurry.

In a democracy, an elite varies at risk with the common sense of common people. In a democracy? Even in a dictatorship.

The Liberals could be facing a boatload of problems in the fall.

The Canadian Medical Association is meeting to discuss healthcare and they look like they are ready to endorse private care.

The story about Michaelle Jean's separatist leanings definitely has legs.

Kinsella had the best quote of the day about Jean:

"I could be up in Ottawa, sitting around a boardroom table, wondering who the Hell ever thought it was a good idea to hand a crypto-separatist the keys to Rideau Hall."

I don't even understand what he means by crypto-separatist. Just know it is another nail in Mr. Dithers coffin.