47%¹ of Canadians want Michaëlle Jean’s term as Governor General extended for another five years.
That’s the substance of an article on The Globe and Mail yesterday, while noting that many Canadians have not spent an awful lot of time considering the matter—but based on what they have thought about it, the vice-reign has done a good job. Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., the Governor General, does not have a legally-defined term (the Governor General actually serves at the Pleasure of Her Majesty the Queen of Canada); but the traditional term of the Governor General is about five years, unless an extension is recommended (which is not uncommon).
With The Right Honourable Stephen Harper P.C., M.P. (Calgary Southwest), the Prime Minister, having recently published his intention to not extend the Governor General’s term, the question is a pertinent one. Based on past representatives of the Queen, and based on our expectations of how a Governor General should conduct Her Excellency’s self, has the current Governor General done a good job on viceregal issues? Should the Governor General’s term be extended?
And a quick condemnation of Liberal petty politics, excuse me...
The Honourable Michael Ignatieff P.C., M.P. (Etobicoke Lakeshore), the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, recently announced that the prime minister had asked his opinion on who to appoint as the Governor General’s successor, and that he had advised the extension of the present holder’s term. Now, while I agree with the Leader of the Opposition’s recommendation (I am an openly-enthusiastic fan of the current vicereign), what he’s done here is entirely unacceptable and inappropriate.
For the Leader of the Opposition to so openly attempt to drag the Office of the Governor General of Canada through ugly partisan waters is a total breach of accepted conventions surrounding that Office. The prime minister would have expected such a sensitive conversation to remain a private one (as would have any prime minister), and the Leader of the Opposition would have well known this, revealing that discussion as he saw an opportunity for cheap political points. It now seems laughable that the prime minister recommended his appointment to Her Majesty the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada—can he really be trusted to safeguard the secrets of the State? I certainly don’t think so.
He should be censured.
So, the question on hand: Should the Governor General’s term be extended?
Source
That’s the substance of an article on The Globe and Mail yesterday, while noting that many Canadians have not spent an awful lot of time considering the matter—but based on what they have thought about it, the vice-reign has done a good job. Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., the Governor General, does not have a legally-defined term (the Governor General actually serves at the Pleasure of Her Majesty the Queen of Canada); but the traditional term of the Governor General is about five years, unless an extension is recommended (which is not uncommon).
With The Right Honourable Stephen Harper P.C., M.P. (Calgary Southwest), the Prime Minister, having recently published his intention to not extend the Governor General’s term, the question is a pertinent one. Based on past representatives of the Queen, and based on our expectations of how a Governor General should conduct Her Excellency’s self, has the current Governor General done a good job on viceregal issues? Should the Governor General’s term be extended?
And a quick condemnation of Liberal petty politics, excuse me...
The Honourable Michael Ignatieff P.C., M.P. (Etobicoke Lakeshore), the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, recently announced that the prime minister had asked his opinion on who to appoint as the Governor General’s successor, and that he had advised the extension of the present holder’s term. Now, while I agree with the Leader of the Opposition’s recommendation (I am an openly-enthusiastic fan of the current vicereign), what he’s done here is entirely unacceptable and inappropriate.
For the Leader of the Opposition to so openly attempt to drag the Office of the Governor General of Canada through ugly partisan waters is a total breach of accepted conventions surrounding that Office. The prime minister would have expected such a sensitive conversation to remain a private one (as would have any prime minister), and the Leader of the Opposition would have well known this, revealing that discussion as he saw an opportunity for cheap political points. It now seems laughable that the prime minister recommended his appointment to Her Majesty the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada—can he really be trusted to safeguard the secrets of the State? I certainly don’t think so.
He should be censured.
So, the question on hand: Should the Governor General’s term be extended?
Source
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