Other people that should have been GG.

[Big Blue Machine]

What credintials does she have? She was a journalist...

Why not have a retired general, like Australia?

[jdobbin]

What credintials does she have? She was a journalist...

Why not have a retired general, like Australia?

Any General that you have in mind? Perhaps a former Conservative candidate general?

[gerryhatrick]

What credintials does she have? She was a journalist...

Why not have a retired general, like Australia?

From wiki:

As a student at the University of Montreal, Jean received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Italian and Hispanic languages and literature and, from 1984 until 1986, taught Italian Studies while completing a Master of Arts degree in comparative literature. Jean attended the universities of Florence, Perugia, and the Catholic University of Milan to continue her studies in language and literature.

While attending university, Jean worked at a shelter for battered women from 1979 until 1987. She later helped establish a network of shelters for women and children across Canada. Jean also worked in organizations that helped immigrants to Canada and then later worked for Employment and Immigration Canada (now Human Resources and Skills Development Canada} and at the Conseil des Communautés culturelles du Québec. Jean began writing about the experiences of immigrant women.

...

Jean was an award-winning reporter, filmmaker, and broadcaster. She and Lafond have made several films, including the award-winning, Haïti dans tous nos rêves (Haïti in all Our Dreams). In the film, she meets her uncle, the poet and essayist René Depestre, who fled from the Duvalier dictatorship into exile in France and wrote about his dreams for Haïti, to tell him Haïti awaits his return. She has hosted and produced news and documentary programming for television on both the English and French services of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She was most recently the host of CBC Newsworld's The Passionate Eye and RDI's Grands Reportages, as well as an occasional anchor of Radio-Canada's Le Téléjournal.

Very impressive qualifications, I'd say.

It's too bad there aren't some qualifications for posting on forums....such as the most basic of research abilities.

[Ricki Bobbi]

Very impressive qualifications, I'd say.

It's too bad there aren't some qualifications for posting on forums....such as the most basic of research abilities.

What is so impressibe about those qualifications? How is experience in journalism a qualification for being the titular head of state?

[gerryhatrick]

Very impressive qualifications, I'd say.

It's too bad there aren't some qualifications for posting on forums....such as the most basic of research abilities.

What is so impressibe about those qualifications? How is experience in journalism a qualification for being the titular head of state?

Her qualifications, as per my quote, go far beyond just journalism.

Did you even read the quote from wiki within my post that you are responding to??

[gc1765]

What qualifications did her predecessor, Adrienne Clarkson, have that Michaelle Jean doesn't?

[gerryhatrick]

This is a stupid thread.

Our current GG has many qualifications and qualities beyond being a journalist. The original poster was ignorant of that and a subsequent appears ignorant of that even though it was quoted quote clearly, so perhaps there's a partisan dislike of the current GG.

Beyond that though, what "qualifications" should a GG have if not the varied and worthy ones Jean has?

Either previous military experience or perhaps GG school? Should she have taken GG courses in university?

One word describes this thread: duh.

[uOttawaMan]

The use of wikipedia as a source, then the subsequent mocking of anothers "inability to research " a topic is quite simply the best thing I've read on these forums in a while.

[Ricki Bobbi]

The use of wikipedia as a source, then the subsequent mocking of anothers "inability to research " a topic is quite simply the best thing I've read on these forums in a while.

Great point! The unreliability of Wikipedia has been proven many times .... and now onto the man who provide tonight's high point of unintentional comedy.

This is a stupid thread.

Our current GG has many qualifications and qualities beyond being a journalist. The original poster was ignorant of that and a subsequent appears ignorant of that even though it was quoted quote clearly, so perhaps there's a partisan dislike of the current GG.

Beyond that though, what "qualifications" should a GG have if not the varied and worthy ones Jean has?

Either previous military experience or perhaps GG school? Should she have taken GG courses in university?

One word describes this thread: duh.

Hmmm, let's look at those many qualifications and qualities beyond journalism.

She spent years studying languages and literature. Then worked at women's shelters and with immigrant women.

What would be lacking? Experience or training in the law or working with parliament. Experience working with high level government officials. International work experience (outside of junkets paid for by Radio Canada.). Experience working with high level bureaucrats or politicians from foreign countries.

Kinda missing all of those. Thanks again for keeping the tone upbeat and respectful though...

[Riverwind]

Great point! The unreliability of Wikipedia has been proven many times....

Compared to what? A book written by someone with an agenda or an ax to grind? Any yahoo can post garbage on a website - it is much tougher to post garbage on on wikipedia. I find that wikipedia one of the better sources of information on the Internet because many articles are subjected to a fairly rigorous peer review.

[Ricki Bobbi]

Compared to what? A book written by someone with an agenda or an ax to grind? Any yahoo can post garbage on a website - it is must tougher to post garbage on on wikipedia. I find that wikipedia one of the better sources of information on the Internet because many articles are subjected to a fairly rigorous peer review.

Really? Would this peer review be equivalent to the peer review of academic journals?

Who exactly would have reviewed the article on Michaelle Jean?

[Riverwind]

Who exactly would have reviewed the article on Michaelle Jean?

Check the history and discussion yourself. The article has had input from a number of people including 'gbambino' which could be the same person that was posting on this board.

What you fail to understand is _all_ sources of information are subject to bias and errors. Wikipedia is one of few sources that are self-correcting which, IMO, makes it useful. In any case, if you think the article is factually wrong then the onus is on you to prove it. I trust the opinions of the multiple contributors to wiki much more than I trust your singular opinion. Most other people who think about it would likely come to same conclusion.

[sharkman]

The use of wikipedia as a source, then the subsequent mocking of anothers "inability to research " a topic is quite simply the best thing I've read on these forums in a while.

Ah yes, some things are just priceless, aren't they?

[Ricki Bobbi]

Check the history and discussion yourself. The article has had input from a number of people including 'gbambino' which could be the same person that was posting on this board.

What you fail to understand is _all_ sources of information are subject to bias and errors. Wikipedia is one of few sources that are self-correcting which, IMO, makes it useful. In any case, if you think the article is factually wrong then the onus is on you to prove it. I trust the opinions of the multiple contributors to wiki much more than I trust your singular opinion. Most other people who think about it would likely come to same conclusion.

Please. If you want to argue for something like wikipedia, but then don't take the onus to prove it.

Sure is easy to argue taking the stance you took. Again missing the point on the unreliability of Wikipedia while you are too lazy to prove your own point.

[Leafless]

Very impressive qualifications, I'd say.

It's too bad there aren't some qualifications for posting on forums....such as the most basic of research abilities.

What is so impressibe about those qualifications? How is experience in journalism a qualification for being the titular head of state?

Exactly, what's so impressive about a BA or MA these days?

http://www.varsity.utoronto.ca/archives/11...ws/poverty.html

She worked for the CBC as a broadcaster and it was her husband who was the filmmaker.

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

But the important thing in this is not so much her qualifications but what was the really SPECIAL THING she did for the country?

Is working for the CBC something outstanding?

[gerryhatrick]

The use of wikipedia as a source, then the subsequent mocking of anothers "inability to research " a topic is quite simply the best thing I've read on these forums in a while.

That is empty rhetoric. Wikipedia is a useful source and is relatively well policed, especially when it comes to details.

Do you deny the usefulness of wikipedia or the accuracy of the details I provided on GG Jean?

If not then you're wasting our time.

[gerryhatrick]

Please. If you want to argue for something like wikipedia, but then don't take the onus to prove it.

Sure is easy to argue taking the stance you took. Again missing the point on the unreliability of Wikipedia while you are too lazy to prove your own point.

Good grief.

Please, if you're going to attack wikipedia now, explain exactly what (if anything) in this wiki description of GG Jean is wrong:

As a student at the University of Montreal, Jean received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Italian and Hispanic languages and literature and, from 1984 until 1986, taught Italian Studies while completing a Master of Arts degree in comparative literature. Jean attended the universities of Florence, Perugia, and the Catholic University of Milan to continue her studies in language and literature.

While attending university, Jean worked at a shelter for battered women from 1979 until 1987. She later helped establish a network of shelters for women and children across Canada. Jean also worked in organizations that helped immigrants to Canada and then later worked for Employment and Immigration Canada (now Human Resources and Skills Development Canada} and at the Conseil des Communautés culturelles du Québec. Jean began writing about the experiences of immigrant women.

...

Jean was an award-winning reporter, filmmaker, and broadcaster. She and Lafond have made several films, including the award-winning, Haïti dans tous nos rêves (Haïti in all Our Dreams). In the film, she meets her uncle, the poet and essayist René Depestre, who fled from the Duvalier dictatorship into exile in France and wrote about his dreams for Haïti, to tell him Haïti awaits his return. She has hosted and produced news and documentary programming for television on both the English and French services of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She was most recently the host of CBC Newsworld's The Passionate Eye and RDI's Grands Reportages, as well as an occasional anchor of Radio-Canada's Le Téléjournal.

Otherwise, why are you bringing up this wiki accuracy tangent?

[Leafless]

Qualifications has nothing to do with the appointment of the GG.

Michael Jean was simply picked by Liberal Paul Martin in an effort to win immigrant and Quebec votes period.

Michael Jean did nothing 'outstanding' or 'special' for the country of Canada to justify her winning this position.

This posting dramatically indicates the power of a Canadian PM in an effort to bolster Liberal support rather than do the right thing and choose someone who has contributed to Canada in a tireless and dedicated manner.

[Higgly]

I think she is a great choice. An immigrant from a life of extraordinary hardship in one of the poorest and most violent countries on the planet (Haiti) who has taken what this country has to offer and made something of herself.

Isn't that what we are all about? Isn't it her job to represent us? When the world looks at her, they are supposed to see us. Do you really want the world to see us as a retired general? What does that say about our country?

Besides, she's bilingual, and just a bit hot !

[Ricki Bobbi]

Qualifications has nothing to do with the appointment of the GG.

Michael Jean was simply picked by Liberal Paul Martin in an effort to win immigrant and Quebec votes period.

Michael Jean did nothing 'outstanding' or 'special' for the country of Canada to justify her winning this position.

This posting dramatically indicates the power of a Canadian PM in an effort to bolster Liberal support rather than do the right thing and choose someone who has contributed to Canada in a tireless and dedicated manner.

Qualifications *should* have something to do with the appointment of the GG.

Martin's pathetic attempt at winning votes, neither of which worked, can't justify this unqualified choice.

Less than four years left to live with this travesty...

[Leafless]

Qualifications *should* have something to do with the appointment of the GG.

Martin's pathetic attempt at winning votes, neither of which worked, can't justify this unqualified choice.

Contribution to Canadian society in a way that reflects up and beyond ones normal contribution could be considered a characteristic quality concerning dedication to ones country and is a major concern regarding the decision for the appointment of a governor general.

IMO this would be an 'attribution' totally separate from one would refer to normally as qualifications relating to education, experience etc.

And while were at it, no one person could possibly decide this without including a personal bias.

It is for this reason that a Canadian governor general should be elected by Canadian citizen's in a totally democratic manner from a list of nominated candidates.

[Ricki Bobbi]

Contribution to Canadian society in a way that reflects up and beyond ones normal contribution could be considered a characteristic quality concerning dedication to ones country and is a major concern regarding the decision for the appointment of a governor general.

IMO this would be an 'attribution' totally separate from one would refer to normally as qualifications relating to education, experience etc.

And while were at it, no one person could possibly decide this without including a personal bias.

It is for this reason that a Canadian governor general should be elected by Canadian citizen's in a totally democratic manner from a list of nominated candidates.

I think that election of the GG is opening the same can of worms as electing the Senate.

Both are primarily ceremonial at the moment despite having vast constitutional powers.

The constitution would have to be amended to reflect a realistic viewpoint of the role an elected GG would play. Probably want to change the name of the role too. Perhaps even to President, although that would be very American of us, it would reflect the reality of the role.

[g_bambino]

Contribution to Canadian society in a way that reflects up and beyond ones normal contribution could be considered a characteristic quality concerning dedication to ones country and is a major concern regarding the decision for the appointment of a governor general.

IMO this would be an 'attribution' totally separate from one would refer to normally as qualifications relating to education, experience etc.

And while were at it, no one person could possibly decide this without including a personal bias.

It is for this reason that a Canadian governor general should be elected by Canadian citizen's in a totally democratic manner from a list of nominated candidates.

Absolutely not. Putting someone into the position through popular election would give no more guarantee of us getting an impeccably qualified Governor General. In fact, I'd wager that the quality would drop significantly - mostly because, though the possibility of a noble patriot being elected would exist, the majority of those contesting for the position, like all politicians, would be motivated only by their own personal ambitions, and, as in other political races, the candidates would lie and pander to the electorate simply to get elected. In essence, we'd end up with just another selfish, high-powered politician in Ottawa, and Canadians certainly don't want that. (This is why it was refreshing to see Clarkson appointed in '99.)

The Governor General is not a political body, and so shouldn't be selected through a political process. Neither is the Governor General our representative, but the Queen's representative. So, though the current process is still better than popular election, instead of giving Canadians a list from which to choose a GG, and instead of the PM submitting only one name to the Queen, we should return to the practice that was followed up until the late 1960s where a list of five names was given to HM and she chose who she wanted to be her vice-regal; the PM may have a committee to assist him in the formation of this list, rather like how recipients of the Order of Canada are selected. Of course, a certain amount of personal bias will play into the decision, as it does into any decision, but the level of political bias should be kept to an absolute minimum. Popular election would only justify the very occupant themselves bringing their own political biases into the office, thereby saturating the position with political partisanship.

[August1991]

I think she is a great choice. An immigrant from a life of extraordinary hardship in one of the poorest and most violent countries on the planet (Haiti) who has taken what this country has to offer and made something of herself.

Qualifications aside, she has never said how she voted in the referenda of 1995 or 1980. I find that remarkable.

Her husband made movies about the FLQ (a terrorist group) and befriended ex-FLQ members. His opinions about a federal Canada are ambiguous to say the least.

It seems to me that the loyalty of a country's Head of State should be beyond any doubt or question. Paul Martin named her for purely partisan reasons at a moment in his career when he was facing a terrible political scandal. Pierre Trudeau, indeed any serious Quebec federalist, would never have named such a person to the position of GG.

[g_bambino]

Qualifications *should* have something to do with the appointment of the GG.

Martin's pathetic attempt at winning votes, neither of which worked, can't justify this unqualified choice.

Less than four years left to live with this travesty...

Yes, qualifications play an important part, and while I don't think Mme. Jean is the most appropriate choice, I'd hardly call her a travesty. She's eloquent, intelligent, and has a stately demeanour - which is more than previous Governors General (Leger, LeBlanc) have had. Would it be nice to have another Lord Stanley, Massey, or Vanier? Sure. But I certainly can't complain too much about our present Governor General.

That said, New Zealand's PM recently made an interesting choice for the Queen to appoint as their GG: Anand Satyanand is a Indo-Fijian New Zealander who was previously a judge and an ombudsman.

I should add, as writing that has reminded me, that it's unlikely we'd have had a female or minority GG should the position be a popularly elected one. There are at least some benefits to the apolitical appointment process.