Michaeelle Jean

[M.Dancer]

She wasn't born a Canadian and thus I don't like some immigrant being annointed as Governor General. That is a mockery of the office (admittedly, the office is a bit of a joke).

All immigrants are 'just off the boat' by definition. It has nothing to do with time factors. It has everything to do with the fact that they grew up in another culture/country. That's all well and fine, but I want the Governor General to be born in Canada.

And the fact that plenty of GG's were foreign born is no concern for you ? Or do you want to focus on this one only.

I thought so.

Thus my earlier post.

Not only are the majority of GGs foreign born...they were never Canadian Citizens, period.

I like Michaelle Jean, and not just becasue she's drop dead gorgeous. She has shown quite a lot of gumption to visit the troops in theatre, and she gave them high praise. She clearly and articulately framed not only their mission but the real lefe need for their presecense in relation to the afghan children and women whose lives Canadians are fighting for.

And she is also drop dead gorgeous.

[Wilber]

What is beside the point is your lack of knowledge about her, obviously. But dont let that stop you from posting.

Apparently it doesn't stop you.

Fact: She's not born in Canada. My point: she's not born in Canada. So how am I wrong here?

Fact: She has no qualifications for a job with really low qualifications. My point: she lacks qualifications. So how am I wrong here?

Being born in Canada has never been a criteria for any public office in Canada.

I was skeptical of her appointment originally but now think she has done credit to her office.

She is also drop dead gorgeous.

[noahbody]

I find what not reasonable is the size of her staff and her budget. If I recall, Clarkson added 80-100 staff to the office to make it approximately 300. What a waste of money.

In my opinion, the GG has no reason to travel outside of Canada. The Queen's representative outside of Canada is the Queen.

[dpwozney]

With this woman as Governor-General of Canada, I am embarrassed for my country.

Do you deny that the Governor General of Canada is a corporation sole?

Do you disagree with statements claiming that a corporation is a fiction?

According to this web page document, the Governor General of Canada is a "corporation sole". A "corporation sole" is defined and recognized as being a corporation.

It is a fiction that a corporation is a person.

"A corporation is a fiction, by definition, ...", according to Patrick Healy in a statement that can be read here.

"A corporation is a 'fiction' as it has no separate existence, no physical body and no 'mind'", according to this presentation by Joanne Klineberg.

[M.Dancer]

I find what not reasonable is the size of her staff and her budget. If I recall, Clarkson added 80-100 staff to the office to make it approximately 300. What a waste of money.

In my opinion, the GG has no reason to travel outside of Canada. The Queen's representative outside of Canada is the Queen.

So you think we should tell the queen to go somewhere when we want her to go somewhere? Will Canada be the only one to have this special relationship or will Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda etc etc....get to plan her day too?

[noahbody]

I find what not reasonable is the size of her staff and her budget. If I recall, Clarkson added 80-100 staff to the office to make it approximately 300. What a waste of money.

In my opinion, the GG has no reason to travel outside of Canada. The Queen's representative outside of Canada is the Queen.

So you think we should tell the queen to go somewhere when we want her to go somewhere? Will Canada be the only one to have this special relationship or will Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda etc etc....get to plan her day too?

I'm saying it's outside the GG's role to go in the first place. It would make sense to be represented by our foreign affairs or ambassador if available. Give her a staff of 20 and a good travel agent.

[M.Dancer]

I find what not reasonable is the size of her staff and her budget. If I recall, Clarkson added 80-100 staff to the office to make it approximately 300. What a waste of money.

In my opinion, the GG has no reason to travel outside of Canada. The Queen's representative outside of Canada is the Queen.

So you think we should tell the queen to go somewhere when we want her to go somewhere? Will Canada be the only one to have this special relationship or will Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda etc etc....get to plan her day too?

I'm saying it's outside the GG's role to go in the first place. good travel agent.

I'm saying you are wrong.

[g_bambino]

I find what not reasonable is the size of her staff and her budget. If I recall, Clarkson added 80-100 staff to the office to make it approximately 300. What a waste of money.

In my opinion, the GG has no reason to travel outside of Canada. The Queen's representative outside of Canada is the Queen.

Sometimes the Queen represents Canada outside the country, and sometimes she doesn't - well, mostly she doesn't. But, though I wish the PM would advise her to do more, being the head of state of 16 countries, we can't expect EIIR to go on every state visit we desire. When the Queen is busy with other affairs, she has a direct representative in the GG to undertake her Canadian duties for her - and that includes international travel. An ambassador is not the representative of the Queen, and therefore not representative of the State.

I'm not sure that Mme. Clarkson increased Rideau Hall staff by that much - most of her cost increases were due to more travel - mostly national, and renovations to Rideau Hall and La Citadelle (including more visitors' facilities). Though I appreciate that she elevated the role of Governor General from the cobwebby humdrums it was slipping into under beaurocrat/politician GGs, it irks me that she did so only because she felt her position to be disjointed from, and possibly even above, the Queen herself. Though I haven't seen the figures yet, it seems Mme. Jean has gone to greater lengths to reduce costs around her office - though this has meant the sacrifice of such long-held traditions as the summer garden party and the New Year's Levee.

[dpwozney]

Sometimes the Queen represents Canada outside the country, and sometimes she doesn't - well, mostly she doesn't. But, though I wish the PM would advise her to do more, being the head of state of 16 countries, we can't expect EIIR to go on every state visit we desire.

Elizabeth the Second is not Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, contrary to the requirement in the Fifth Schedule, which states:

"Oath of Allegiance

I A.B. do swear, That I will be faithful and bear true Allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria.

Note. The Name of the King or Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for the Time being is to be substituted from Time to Time, with proper Terms of Reference thereto.".

[geoffrey]

There is no Queen of Ireland. The statement is wrong from the start.

Why even bother with having this GG position around anymore. It just costs alot of money. The only thing preventing the end of the position is a bunch of emotional monarchists.

[dpwozney]

The possibility exists that there has been a King and a Queen of the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland" ever since July 1, 1867 A.D.. With God all things are possible.

"And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible" (Mark 10:27).

The "Constitution of Canada" is claimed to be the "supreme law of Canada" and states that "...Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law...".

People have the freedom to believe in a present-day existence of the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland" if they so choose.

[noahbody]

I find what not reasonable is the size of her staff and her budget. If I recall, Clarkson added 80-100 staff to the office to make it approximately 300. What a waste of money.

In my opinion, the GG has no reason to travel outside of Canada. The Queen's representative outside of Canada is the Queen.

So you think we should tell the queen to go somewhere when we want her to go somewhere? Will Canada be the only one to have this special relationship or will Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda etc etc....get to plan her day too?

I'm saying it's outside the GG's role to go in the first place. good travel agent.

I'm saying you are wrong.

Yes, but you don't know what you're talking about.

[M.Dancer]

I find what not reasonable is the size of her staff and her budget. If I recall, Clarkson added 80-100 staff to the office to make it approximately 300. What a waste of money.

In my opinion, the GG has no reason to travel outside of Canada. The Queen's representative outside of Canada is the Queen.

So you think we should tell the queen to go somewhere when we want her to go somewhere? Will Canada be the only one to have this special relationship or will Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda etc etc....get to plan her day too?

I'm saying it's outside the GG's role to go in the first place. good travel agent.

I'm saying you are wrong.

Yes, but you don't know what you're talking about.

really....who give the accreditation to ambassadors? Who accepts the credential of ambassadors to Canada....Or more to the point, who is the head of state?

Now explain why the GG shouldn't be allowed to represent the Queen outside of Canada while representing Canada?

[ScottSA]

Of course the GG is the queen's representative here and abroad. She has every right to travel amount wasting bucketloads of money on ridiculous expeditions; that's all that's left of the carcass of the GGs job description.

People are more pissed off about who she is than what she does. Me for instance. If we're going to maintain offices that are largely ceremonial, and I have nothing in particular against that, then we ought not make a farce out of it by making damned good and sure the GG is first, an immigrant; second, an immigrant from a former French colony; and third, a former Quebec soveriegnist. And what's with the proclivity towards banal CBC reporters?

[M.Dancer]

Of course the GG is the queen's representative here and abroad. She has every right to travel amount wasting bucketloads of money on ridiculous expeditions; that's all that's left of the carcass of the GGs job description.

People are more pissed off about who she is than what she does. Me for instance. If we're going to maintain offices that are largely ceremonial, and I have nothing in particular against that, then we ought not make a farce out of it by making damned good and sure the GG is first, an immigrant; second, an immigrant from a former French colony; and third, a former Quebec soveriegnist. And what's with the proclivity towards banal CBC reporters?

Perhaps we should stick with tradition and have selected for us aging aristocrats who have made themselves tedious and dull around the palace and could use some time overseas, away from the court?

I wonder now that Prince Edward is straight, would he still be interested in being the Vice Queen.....

[ScottSA]

Perhaps we should stick with tradition and have selected for us aging aristocrats who have made themselves tedious and dull around the palace and could use some time overseas, away from the court?

That's the tradition, and at least it's better than radical Frenchwomen reporters from Haiti.

[M.Dancer]

Your definition of radical must have a lot of leeway.

Nevertheless, she could be radical or she could be a counterrevoilutionary, it is irrelevant, as she is the drop dead gorgeous woman who says what the government asks her to say. She may have allowance to frame the words her way, and the way she framed them in Khandahar earned her her months pay.

[noahbody]

I find what not reasonable is the size of her staff and her budget. If I recall, Clarkson added 80-100 staff to the office to make it approximately 300. What a waste of money.

In my opinion, the GG has no reason to travel outside of Canada. The Queen's representative outside of Canada is the Queen.

So you think we should tell the queen to go somewhere when we want her to go somewhere? Will Canada be the only one to have this special relationship or will Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda etc etc....get to plan her day too?

I'm saying it's outside the GG's role to go in the first place. good travel agent.

I'm saying you are wrong.

Yes, but you don't know what you're talking about.

really....who give the accreditation to ambassadors? Who accepts the credential of ambassadors to Canada....Or more to the point, who is the head of state?

Now explain why the GG shouldn't be allowed to represent the Queen outside of Canada while representing Canada?

It's a waste of tax dollars. If the govt wants to send her on ocassion in place of someone in foreign affairs to represent the country that's fine. But her trip should be arranged by foreign affairs. Clarkson's staff and budget increases to the GG office to accommodate an expanded role/vacation were unnecessary and ridiculous. They should be cut back to the days of Leblanc, as should the role of the GG.

[jdobbin]

It's a waste of tax dollars. If the govt wants to send her on ocassion in place of someone in foreign affairs to represent the country that's fine. But her trip should be arranged by foreign affairs. Clarkson's staff and budget increases to the GG office to accommodate an expanded role/vacation were unnecessary and ridiculous. They should be cut back to the days of Leblanc, as should the role of the GG.

Romeo Leblanc came to the west only once that I remember. Some say it contributed to western alienation.

[Mad_Michael]

All immigrants are 'just off the boat' by definition. It has nothing to do with time factors. It has everything to do with the fact that they grew up in another culture/country. That's all well and fine, but I want the Governor General to be born in Canada.

The tally might be even now, I would have to count again, but a decade ago or so, most GGs were foreign born

Foreign born? Only if you call Britain foreign. It is entirely suitable to draw the Queen's representative from Britain.

I'd be willing to cut some slack on this point of this immigrant woman actually came from a Commonwealth country where she could claim to be born and raised under the Queen.

But Haiti? That is absurd.

Lucky for Jean that she has the hideous example of Clarkson before her to have already killed any respect for the office so no one really cares anymore. Appoint Harper's dog to the job now, it wouldn't matter. Clarkson killed the office. Jean is just evidence that the office is indeed, pathetic.

[M.Dancer]

All immigrants are 'just off the boat' by definition. It has nothing to do with time factors. It has everything to do with the fact that they grew up in another culture/country. That's all well and fine, but I want the Governor General to be born in Canada.

The tally might be even now, I would have to count again, but a decade ago or so, most GGs were foreign born

Foreign born? Only if you call Britain foreign. It is entirely suitable to draw the Queen's representative from Britain.

As foreign as the the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is German. These so called aristos who came and went, with barely a thought are as foreign as any Tirkish guest worker. They came for the money and they did not stay. I'll take an immigrant who has chosen Canada, like my father, as the final resting place for their bones over these poms any day.

[M.Dancer]

It's a waste of tax dollars. If the govt wants to send her on ocassion in place of someone in foreign affairs to represent the country that's fine. But her trip should be arranged by foreign affairs. Clarkson's staff and budget increases to the GG office to accommodate an expanded role/vacation were unnecessary and ridiculous. They should be cut back to the days of Leblanc, as should the role of the GG.

Her trips are arranged by foreign affairs. She doesn't go anay where without Gov't approval and direction.

[g_bambino]

Elizabeth the Second is not Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, contrary to the requirement in the Fifth Schedule, which states:

"Oath of Allegiance

I A.B. do swear, That I will be faithful and bear true Allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria.

Note. The Name of the King or Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for the Time being is to be substituted from Time to Time, with proper Terms of Reference thereto.".

The Sovereign's style is set by the Royal Style and Titles Act, which sets her title as "Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith."

I'm not sure, however, how this is pertinent to the Governor General representing the Queen and Canada abroad.

[g_bambino]

Why even bother with having this GG position around anymore. It just costs alot of money. The only thing preventing the end of the position is a bunch of emotional monarchists.

We mostly see the GG performing a ceremonial role, however, the office holds a lot of power. Only the GG can call and prorogue Parliament, issue election writs, appoint and dismiss the Cabinet, appoint and dismiss ambassadors, etc., etc. If you don't want to bother having it, what do you propose as a replacement?

[jdobbin]

Why even bother with having this GG position around anymore. It just costs alot of money. The only thing preventing the end of the position is a bunch of emotional monarchists.

We mostly see the GG performing a ceremonial role, however, the office holds a lot of power. Only the GG can call and prorogue Parliament, issue election writs, appoint and dismiss the Cabinet, appoint and dismiss ambassadors, etc., etc. If you don't want to bother having it, what do you propose as a replacement?

I think you are quite correct on that. A republic ends up costing more according to a comparative study commissioned by the Monarchist League. Apparently, we get by pretty cheap on the system we do have.