At the Shotgun, commentor “ET” reflects my own reaction to Paul Martin’s appointment of a little known CBC journalist to the post of Governor General, and then fleshes out the political strategy behind it.
The position of G-G is, as head of state, supposed to be held by an individual who has worked towards and achieved, by some measureable criteria, the well-being of the majority of Canadians.
It is a national position, it is an honorary position, it is an awarded position, and should be based, therefore, on accountable merit. By accountable merit, I mean non-political; a government’s patronage appointments must be made with integrity, i.e., by the use of non-partisan standards and for no partisan political agenda.
These non-partisan standards, in the case of the G-G, must be for work done by that individual for ‘national committment’, for ‘national achievements’, whether in politics, law, economics, education, science, medicine etc. There are plenty of Canadian individuals whose lifetime work has been non-partisan, has been national and has indeed showed extraordinary commitment to the well-being of citizens.
Ms Jean fits none of these criteria. It is trivial and irrelevant to divert criticism of this choice to her being ‘ethnic’, ‘non-white’, ‘a woman’, even to her being ‘Quebecois’..blah blah. That’s all trivia and obfuscates and hides what should be the basic criticism of this choice of her as G-G. The criticism? She doesn’t fit what should be a standard for a patronage appointment of this stature; namely, a lifetime work towards the betterment of the well-being of the majority of Canadians. As I said – there are many in Canada who have worked over their lives, in their fields, -whether in medicine, politics, literature, science, law, education etc..whose work has made profound contributions to the well-being of people.
So- what are Ms Jean’s qualifications???? None of the above. She’s a local broadcaster. So what? There are lots of local broadcasters and journalists and sports writers and national news reporters. So what? There’s absolutely NO DIFFERENCE in qualifications between any of them..well, a lot of them are far more knowledgeable than Ms Jean. Far more knowledgeable. And a lot of them speak many languages as well. Hey- there’s Chantal Hebert, there’s Andrew Coyne, there’s Irshad Manji, there’s Don Cherry, there’s Peter Worthington, there…and so on. But – do any of them have that criterion of a lifetime of work resulting in demonstrable improvements in the well-being of many Canadians…such as would be found in a lifetime of work in law, in economics, in science, in medicine, in politics etc. No. So- they can be awarded OTHER acknowledgements of their status. National Newspaper Awards, Order of Canada, etc, etc.
So- what was this position appointment really about? Remember – forget the trivia. Don’t even mention the ‘non-white’, female irrelevancies. The appointment was made, as are ALL LIBERAL actions – for one purpose only. Votes for Power.
The agenda is for the Montreal city votes in the next election. That’s what it’s all about. The Liberals figure they could lose the rural votes, the outside Montreal votes, which will go to the Bloc. But, Montreal has usually been Liberal and the Gomery has badly damaged that Montreal base. This appointment is for both the ethnic votes – which are ALL in Montreal (how’s that for a diverse province…all the ethnics are only found in Montreal; they aren’t welcome elsewhere in the province)…AND – it’s for the Montreal city votes.
It’s all about Liberal Power. Nothing else.
(Not to mention the lingering warm fuzzies that will keep the CBC firmly on side.)
The “why” of it is very logical if you think like a Librano. They want a GG who knows zip about parliamentary convention , who is controllable and who will not intercede when parliamentary inpropriety occurs.
The insult to me as a so-called “Canadian” is that the head of state of my nation and their agent (the GG) is not a native born Canadian. Again, more soviet style engineered liberal symbolism here in propagating state social policy. The loyalty is first to maintaining power, second to the Trudeaupian myth and lastly to their patronage elite….Canada and Canadians get little consideration in a Liberal government decision.
Fercrissake Martin, at least pick a native-born Canadian…..you disloyal poltroon.
I am not sure where those criteria were derived. To be clear, it is the PM’s perojative to appoint whomever he likes to the position of GG. And even as someone who has little time for this PM, I think he’s made a great choice.
To suggest that Jean is simply a local broadcaster is to reveal a Westerner’s ignorance. As someone who lives in Quebec part of each year, it is clear to me that Jean is well-known in her home province. Moreover, it’s clear that she’s a person of achievement, and perhaps against longer odds than most. Indeed, she’s risen to the top of her field in a province where the immigrant’s life is more difficult than most. That she speaks five languages, is eloquent and intelligent, and will make a lot of Canadians feel proud is not to be sneezed at either. Most other criticisms, I suspect, are the products of feelings their authors know are better left unsaid.
Wow, just as I was posting my thoughts WL MacKenzie Redneck came on to prove my point, perhaps more unequivocally than I expected anyone would. My God, man, the woman is a citizen of Canada.
I suppose you think John A. wasn’t a good Prime Minister because he was foreign born as well?
”To suggest that Jean is simply a local broadcaster is to reveal a Westerner’s ignorance. As someone who lives in Quebec part of each year, it is clear to me that Jean is well-known in her home province.”
So, it’s ignorant to suggest she’s just a local broadcaster. And the proof?
She’s well-known in her ”home province.”
Hmm, I think you just disproved your own point.
Thanks Chip – I thought Peter was being sarcastic for a moment.
We are lucky, it could have been Maurice Strong…
No, I wasn’t being sarcastic. She’s not a local broadcaster. Ralph Klein was a local broadcaster when he read the Calgary news. When Jean hosts two regular shows that are broadcast nationally, and shoots docs that are broadcast internationally, then she is something more than local. Gimme a break. If any of you had even read the Globe article on her this morning with some degree of retention you’d know this.
GG-designate Jean’s selection certainly strikes me as profiling, which I thought was a Bad Thing.
Mark
Ottawa
And I’d still prefer the ghost of Normie Kwong.
Mark
Ottawa
Peter, Peter, Peter. Please! Less truth and logic. It just incites the mad gophers that run around in their heads.
Peter Loewen has heard of her, so obviously she is well known all across Canada. AND, the Globe had an article on her. ‘Nuff said.
So, jhuck, to be clear, you think that the evidence I’ve presented doesn’t suggest that she’s more than a local broadcaster?
I think it’s good that an average person was appointed. I don’t think the GG needs to be a constitutional scholar or have a high profile. We want someone who will represent us with grace and intelligence. She certainlt fits the bill.
Good choice I say.
Hana Gartner must be wondering just who the hell she’s got to sleep with…
Who realy cares about the GG any way. It is an out dated post from when we were a colony. A post with no real power, no real purpose, no real meaning any more.
Let’s just move on to more important things… Like those mad gophers!!
Maybe Martin is trying to piss off everybody soo much that the position is eliminated.
Then he can be the king of Canada!
Some elitist sot opines: “V”
When the syrupy Liberal hubris clears from your cerebrial cavity, perhaps you will understand that there are people who do not share your self fellating opinion nor your twisted “national visions”.
Tank you for again proving that there is nothing less liberal or tolerant than a so called “progressive” ( liberal). Is it just possible that you have no monopoly on morality, opinion or intellect?
The head of any nation state with an ounce of self respect for their own sovereinty should ELECT a natural born native of that nation as head of state. Hollow liberal symbolism is for the weak of mind or those who profit from social meddling stupidity.
BTW My Canada is not a hyphenated natyion and the head of state should reflect that ideal of national sovereignty. As for Sir John A…no, he was not acceptable as a leader to me…he was representitive of the very ruling class of landed gentry that profiteered on the productivity of others. Baldwin would have nade a better first PM…then again he was only a Canadian and had no foreign title or connections to them.
La Belle France In Haiti: Slavery by France in Haiti>>>>>>
“I have come a long way,” Jean said in her first news conference. “My ancestors were slaves, they fought for freedom.
“I was born in Haiti, the poorest country in our hemisphere.
“I am a daughter of exiles driven from their home by a dictatorial regime.”>>>
If this woman plans to keep her job,one should tell her not to mention Haiti, slavery, and France’s enslavement of her ancestor’s. The Librano$$$$$$$$$$$ will now take her to the woodshed and shut her up/muzzle her in Rideau Hall, Ottawa.>>
Toussaint L’Ouverture, Fran�ois Dominique
Pronunciation: [fr�Nsw�� d�mEnEk� tOOsaN� lOOvert�r�]
c.1744-1803, Haitian patriot and martyr.
A self-educated slave freed shortly before the uprising in 1791, he joined the black rebellion to liberate the slaves and became its organizational genius. Rapidly rising in power, Toussaint joined forces for a brief period in 1793 with the Spanish of Santo Domingo and in a series of fast-moving campaigns became known as L’Ouverture [the opening], a name he adopted. Although he professed allegiance to France, first to the republic and then to Napoleon, he was singleheartedly devoted to the cause of his own people and advocated it in his talks with French commissioners. Late in 1793 the British occupied all of Haiti’s coastal cities and allied themselves with the Spanish in the eastern part of the island. Toussaint was the acknowledged leader against them and, with the generals Dessalines and Christophe, recaptured (1798) several towns from the British and secured their complete withdrawal. In 1799 the mulatto general Andr� Rigaud enlisted the aid of Alexandre P�tion and Jean Pierre Boyer, asserted mulatto supremacy, and launched a revolt against Toussaint; the uprising was quelled when P�tion lost the southern port of Jacmel. In 1801, Toussaint conquered Santo Domingo, which had been ceded by Spain to France in 1795, and thus he governed the whole island. By then professing only nominal allegiance to France, he reorganized the government and instituted public improvements. Napoleon sent (1802) a large force under General Leclerc to subdue Toussaint, who had become a major obstacle to French colonial ambitions in the Western Hemisphere; the Haitians, however, offered stubborn resistance, and a peace treaty was drawn. Toussaint himself was treacherously seized and sent to France, where he died in a dungeon at Fort-de-Joux, in the French Jura. His valiant life and tragic death made him a symbol of the fight for liberty, and he is celebrated in one of Wordsworth’s finest sonnets and in a dramatic poem by Lamartine.
“will make a lot of Canadians feel proud”
Why? What possible reason is there for me to take any pride as a Canadian in the appointment of a journalist to a ceremonial post with, theoretically, very real power but realistically none at all, by the Prime Minister and only the Prime Minister, which has a very real underpinning of trying to appeal to Quebec voters to keep his government in power? Where’s the national selection process? Where’s the ability for the other parties in Parliament to have their say? For us mere citizens to have our say? What were the selection criteria, and how does she fit them? How are the selection criteria themselves even chosen? Do we get a say in those either?
Clarkson’s time as GG hasn’t made me feel pride — just the opposite, in fact, with the way she seems to think the crown sits on her head instead of Elizabeth’s. If we’re going to keep this anachronism of an appointed but powerless head-of-state, as some sort of “national symbol” or somesuch, we should at least do something with it other than let it be yet another post the PM gets to fill with anyone he chooses for any reason he wants with no oversight whatsoever.
A young black woman, in a person on the street interview just shown on CBC Newsworld, approved of Ms. Jean’s selection because she is “African American”.
Canada’s sovereignty is under threat again.
Mark
Ottawa
Peter:
Thanks for identifying yourself. I always wondered who the lone Canadian was who was watching CBC during the hockey strike.
I think Kate is right, part of the reason for the choice was to help the Liberal party’s prospects in Quebec but her profile still reeks of political correctness/affirmative action. I tend to view Ms. Jean as the bingo winner. On the diversity bingo card we had direct scores on:
women
non-white
Quebecer
Immigrant
activist
too bad she wasn’t gay (she would have won the keno award as well)
I can’t blame the lady herself, she will likely do a fine job but do not try to tell me a white male multi-generational Canadian from the West ever had a chance here. Many years ago you had to be from the inner crowd in Toronto (upper Canada college etc.) to get an appointment. The process is still the same only the profile of Canadians of greater value than the rest of us has changed.
Steve
So, Mackenzie, do you think immigrants should be allowed to vote? Or, by being born in another country, are they unable to protect their new nation’s interest?
To be clear, you are allowed to hold whatever opinion you want. And I am allowed to call you a fucking idiot for holding it. That’s tolerance. Assuming that someone cannot protect their country’s interest because they were not born on this soil is intolerance. Do you understand the difference? Just to make it clear: you’re a fucking idiot, Jean’s able to speak for Canada.
Cannot wait for Russion GG.
BTW, she drinks beer, does she?
Some woodoo too?
Unfortunately ET contradicts him/her-self with the following two comments:
“It is trivial and irrelevant to divert criticism of this choice to her being ‘ethnic’, ‘non-white’, ‘a woman’, even to her being ‘Quebecois ..blah blah”.
-and-
“The appointment is for both the ethnic votes – which are all in Montreal…AND – it’s for the Montreal city votes.
So lets see if I get this straight – her status as an ethnic minority and a Quebecer is irrelevant but it matters?! Is this from the same school of logic at CBS that gave us “fake but accurate”?
Peter,
Don’t get your knickers in a twist. You called someone ignorant and then got nailed for sloppy reasoning.
Furthermore, the CBC has a 6% market share in this country, and the Globe sells most of its some 200,000 papers in the GTA. Hardly the national reach you suggest.
And before you also label me an ”ignorant Westerner:” I used to work on Bay Street and lived within a stone’s throw (or is that now a gunshot) of King. The city has nothing to teach the rest of Canada.
Chip. Pardon me, but where was I caught in faulty reasoning?
Glad to hear you’ve got some national perspective.
Peter says that she “hosts two regular shows that are broadcast nationally.” Oh, PLEASE! I hardly think that a viewership of what – 500 in total! – can reasonably leapfrog those programs into national shows! Typical arrogant liberal (and Liberal) mindset.
Hey Craig. I’m actually not a Liberal. To be clear, if something is broadcast nationally, does that make the broadcaster a national or a local broadcaster?
Let’s just say there’s a little difference in scale between something like “Rough Cuts” and “The National”.
And since the fact that her shows were “national” in scope seems to be so important to some, why not nominate Kate for GG? After all, internet reach is global, which to that way of reasoning would make her infinitely more qualified.
In reply to Peter – there HAS to be criteria for selection to a non-elected position. Otherwise the choice is random. Where do the criteria derive from?? From the position itself. The position itself is national and supreme in authority. That is, the position represents the national authority of the country and is the supreme authority. Those are the two criteria..Again; they come from the function of the position. It isn’t simply a ceremonial position.
Ms Jean has neither qualification. She has no national status (and no, being broadcast to the nation is NOT national status; that’s simply being broadcast to the nation). National status means that your work, over the years, has contributed to the well-being of the nation and the majority of its population.
Supreme is another criterion and means that your work is superior in its field.
Ms Jean does not fit either qualification. Indeed, her qualifications – a journalist, a woman, an ethnic minority, a..etc, etc.. fit many many other people in this country. Why weren’t they selected??????Therefore, my point is that the criteria of the position – its role as a national and supreme authority – were ignored. The Liberals made the decision without integrity- i.e., for partisan politics.
They want the ethnic vote in Canada and the vote in Montreal.
In reply John Brown – no, I’m not contradicting myself. I’m saying that people who come to the defence of Ms Jean, saying that anyone who criticizes the choice is a racist, is anti-ethnic, is anti-feminist etc..is missing the point and diverting the issue. That’s why I’m saying that criticizing the choice on those grounds is trivial. The real criticism should be that the post, as appointed, requires standards (it can’t be random, it can’t be partisan). The standards are within the position (national and supreme head of state). So, the person chosen has to have qualifications of those standards. She doesn’t.
Therefore – I am criticizing the LIBERALS for being ‘ethnic’ and ‘feminist’ and ‘sophist’. The Liberals made a choice to appeal to those activist groups and to ensure the vote.
Patronage appointments can’t be ‘at the will of the PM’. That’s a dictatorship. They are made BY the PM, but, MUST be within accountable standards. These standards must be public, must defer to the position (i.e., you don’t appoint a supreme court judge whose expertise is in computers and not law); and must defer to the people. Even if the position is not elected, the people must be supreme. Martin’s many patronage appointments are for political agendas and are therefore without integrity and standards.
Again – theh PM does NOT, NOT have the right to make positions at will; that’s an abuse of power.
Now- I can’t answer any more criticisms of my comments. I’m a pointy-head academic ..something that some of you seem to deride..and I’m off to Belgium for a conference on ‘computational anticipation’…pointy-head stuff.
We will never, I think, get rid of the Liberals and their control over this country – unless more and more people start to critique their abuse of power.
Watch them smother the Gomery and win the next election. Look how they can deflect this appointment. If you criticize..you are racist, anti-feminist etc. It’s the Liberals who are using race; they are going after the ethnic vote and the Montreal vote.
Three cheers for corruption.
Craig. Point taken, her shows are not wildly popular. But I’m sure you’ll concede that doesn’t make them poor or make her unqualified.
I am sure if Kate was appointed there would be another blog somewhere where people would criticize the appointment on the grounds that she’s a woman.
“To be clear, you are allowed to hold whatever opinion you want. And I am allowed to call you a fucking idiot for holding it. That’s tolerance”
Very tolerant.
Only when Chip revealed that he worked in Toronto did his status raise from “ignorant Westerner” to having “national perspective”.
Tolerance.
Am I the only person in the world that thinks it is highly inappropriate for a journalist to accept the GG position? I feel like a freak! C’mon Canada. This is a patronage appointment given to an industry (twice in a row no less!) that is supposed to UN-FREAKING-BIASED! So tell me how anyone at CBC can claim to be impartial when two of their former colleagues were awarded such positions. I don’t care if she’s African American (or should that be Canadian? Man I hate being politically correct…) an immigrant, or a beauty queen for crying out loud! I’d like to know where journalists get off thinking they should in anyway be in such a position of authority and not think that it undermines their credibility. Like pu-lease!
And as for being a national broadcaster or not… I’ve never heard of the woman before so I believe she would only be known to those who watch the mind-warping CBC drivel.
Chip,
The Globe has the second largest circulation, about 300,000 daily (Toronto Star is 1st). Whether you read it or not, more Canadians read it then any other national newspaper. If that doesn’t qualify as national i’m not sure what does.
I would never call you an “ignorant westerner” especially since you have nothing to learn from that depraved ciy Sodom err I mean Toronto – perhaps “arrogant westerner” is closer to the truth?
JHuck. I think it’s tolerance. You’re not allowed to think that. That’s tolerance as well.
And, just so you know, I’ve really nothing against Westerners, per se. Indeed, I am an Albertan by birth. But I just think that not having heard of Jean says as much about the poster as it does her.
JHuck: Sorry, i obviously meant to say you’re allowed to not think that.
And, to be totally clear, i do think someone who thinks only Canadian-born individuals can be good GGs is an idiot.
Kate for GG!
I like that. Although Madam Jean is probably a very nice person, I have to agree with the majority here in saying that being a journalist or TV “personality” is not a qualification in the national interest gendre. I’d say anyone who has represented Canada to the world would get my vote. Say, any of the astronauts in the Canadian Space Agency for example.
Oh yes, they should also be aware of their responsibilities and duties. The present GG seems to think she is queen as in taking her loyal, royal artsie fartsie friends for a trip on the taxpayer’s tab. I also heard that when the queen was in Alberta to celebrate their centenial, the GG would not let Ralph ask HRH Queen Elizabeth to sign the official proclimation/bill in the legislature. (forgive me but I don’t have time to research that last tidbit).
Bottom line: Libral Power Patronage appointment.
Set aside for a moment how you percieve her. Think instead as to the why her.
Everything Martin does is for one reason.
To out do his predecessor.
Yep, Cretch appointed an immigrant CBC journalist from Hong Kong….not exactly a place you would call an oppressive regime.
Martin appoints a franco-phone woman ex-refugee CBC journalist.
You can almost see ol dither’s dancing with joy at the thought that he may have one upped ol cretch.
Frankly I was hoping she would have publically humilated Martin by going on air to denounce this blatant attempt to use her ethnicity to promote the liberal agenda of buying Quebec votes through patronage.
From Peter’s post:
“But I just think that not having heard of Jean says as much about the poster as it does her.”
So – we’ve established that Jean’s fame as a broadcaster is relatively limited in scope, that while she is well-known within Quebec, nationally she’s relatively obscure except to those who salivate over �cultured� and totally unbiased (yeah, right! ) products such as Rough Cuts and The Passionate Eye.
My, my, Peter: my Canada certainly includes more than those who consider themselves (wrongly) to be the country�s culturally elite.
@ET
I think it’s rather naive to think that political appointments would not be political.
And as for vote buying… I believe that the majority of Quebecers are rather opposed to the notion that the Queen, and by extrapolation, the Governor General, is the Head of State. So what votes would he be buying? The die hard Liberals in Quebec? Kinda like preaching to the converted, wouldn’t you say? As for the rest of Canada, I don’t think this appointment is going to make everyone jump on the Liberal bandwagon.
Now, if he’d appointed a crusty, old, Albertan tory…
gimbol: When the Japanese invaded and occupied the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong in 1941, their regime was very oppressive indeed. GG Clarkson’s father was an employee of the Canadian government there and that protected him from the Japanese. He and his family were allowed to come to Canada in 1942 in an exchange of Japanese government employees held in North America for American and Canadian government employees held by the Japanese in Asia.
Mark
Ottawa
Mark: touche.
peter
We had Hnatyshyn (a Westerner) then LeBlanc (from Atlantic Canada) the Clarkson (from Ontario) so a Quebecer was inevitable this time.
As for the rest of the criticisms; Jean is a well known national broadcaster and film maker who has made her mark solely on her own merits. She’s certainly as well qualified as anyone else who may have been considered for the job.
Sorry Kate, she’s smarter, beetter educated, has accomplished far more and contributed far more to this country than you or your little crowd of sycophantic commenters could ever hope to.
Quit whining! Such small minded pettiness doesn’t help your conservative cause.
A HERMIT IS A LIBERANO!!!!
Right off the top of my head I can think of several better choices for G-G:
Preston Manning
Guy Lafleur
Wayne Gretzky
Roberta Bondar
Marc Garneau
William Shatner
Ron McLean
Ellen Gabriel
that guy who plays Bubbles on Trailer Park Boys
Ed, I wasn’t with you until you recommended Bubbles. He’s hilarious, a maritimer, and he used to play in a relatively well-known if short-lived band.
Presto (sic) Manning for Governoooooooor General.
Now there’s a sure fire way to rekindle the debate on abolishing the position.
Pure, calculated vote buying by the Liberals. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Michaelle Jean? I really dont get it either but I thought they’d go with Maher Arar so its not too bad 😉
“… a maritimer …”
There you go again, Peter, playing identity politics. What will it take to get this through the thick skulls in this country? People do not have merit simply because of where they are from, their race, the language they speak, their religion or lack thereof, etc…