There’s been a lot of discussion lately about who should be appointed as our next governor-general. Rick Hansen would be terrific, in my opinion, but L. Ian MacDonald has come up with an inspired suggestion: Clara Hughes.
Assuming she’d be willing to take on the role, I think she’d be an absolutely brilliant choice. She’s a real light in this world, and she exemplifies Canadians’ best historic qualities: decency, hard work, courage, kindness, integrity, spirit, and a thoroughgoing modesty.
What do you think? Who else would be a good pick?
Hughes is far too young. In twenty years or so? Maybe.
The name that immediately comes to mind is Lew MacKenzie. No nonsense, long and honourable service. Understands the international side better than probably anyone in Ottawa.
Besides, I would pay real money to see him in a Naval uniform for the International Fleet Review in Halifax in July…….. 😉
Too ‘nice’ and no experience = devoured by the howling dogs of politics.
Has the election of Obama scrambled everyone’s brains?
I vote Lew McKenzie
Gerry M in Calgary
I’m not fond of Clara Hughes as a choice for GG. No experience outside the world of sports, ie no non-physical experience, whether academic or professional. The GG needs to be someone with a strong aptitude for protocol, a strong knowledge for Canadian history and government structure, and someone who has shown aptitude facing the public on a daily basis.
Atlantic Jim, Clara Hughes is 37; that’s not that young. Michaelle Jean was, what, 46 when she was appointed?
Lewis MacKenzie would be good, but I think it might be good to kind of refresh the position one time with someone a bit younger.
“The GG needs to be someone with a strong aptitude for protocol, a strong knowledge (of) Canadian history and government structure…”
You mean, like a CBC personality?
Clara is 37? Heck, I thought she was in her 20’s. If we’re sticking with sports figures, Ken Read, the Crazy Canuck, Ken Dryden, (yes I know, he was Liberal) or even though, he’d make a better P.M. or even better Justice Minister or Defense Minister, Donald S. Cherry.
Omar Khadr…. Its the least we could do!!!
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“ebd says… decency, hard work, courage, kindness, integrity,
spirit, and a thoroughgoing modesty”
hell… you just described half of my neighbours… but there’d be
no p.r. value in appointing them, huh?
my guess is they’ll stick to the formula… female, foreign born,
ex-employee of the cbc.
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Not to dis Clara, Sullivan or Hanson but I’m with the old school of someone who has already served for Queen and country.
btw, Dallaire really wouldn’t be a good idea for many reasons.
Too bad your neighbours’ attributes didn’t rub off on you, Neo!
😉
I hate to be the one to state the obvious, but Clara will need to get a full set of crowns and a gum reduction to pass muster in the world of the elites.
Smile now.
Don Cherry! Just please, God, don’t give the job to some helmet wearing French guy.
Without a doubt I nominate Lew McKenzie. He knows protocol.He knows that the GG position serves at the privilege of the PM of Canada. He has served his country well.
I nominate Kathy Shaidle. Canada would get some attention with her up their roasting the phonies.
I vote for Lew MacKenzie. A retired general and race car driver would make a great GG.
What about Chief Clarence Louie? I’m not sure about his French but he has a great story and possesses political skills. His straight talking style reminds me of Ralph Klein.
Clara Hughes may be a great speed skater / cyclist but I somehow don’t see her as being the one I want to decide if the Bloc / NDP / Liberals coalition should have a shot at governing.
The GG job is 99.9% figurehead but that last tenth of a percent means that you need someone who has more than “nice” going for them.
John Carnell Crosbie, PC, OC, ONL, QC, LLB, BSc.
What about Ralph Klein himself? No one has done more for Canada, conservatives, and political discourse than him!! He’s a true man of the people who almost single-handedly changed the face of Canadian politics, and true conservatism. He’s internationally known and respected, understands the business class, and stands up for the little guy.
Wayne Gretzky.
I would not want Rex Murphy as GG – he is too valuable as an unencumbered writer and media person.
I’d go with Lew Mackenzie.
Clara Hughes would be a terrible choice. Don’t get me wrong, I think she’s a great athlete and a worthy Canadian, but politically she is a naive leftist. Go find interviews with her where she talks about her charity work and her politics will shine through. Anyone who take the Palestinian side in the conflict with Israel should be a no-go for Conservative supporter.
“I’d go with Lew Mackenzie.”
I’d even be happy with Bob or Doug McKenzie!
We have a tendency to forget that the GG is a very powerful person with a vital constitutional role. In the normal day to day business of government this is not an issue, but in the event of a crisis we need someone who can handle it. I am not saying anything like this is going to happen tomorrow, but what would have happened if the Bloc/NDP/Liberal coalition had decided that they were going to form the government, or if god forbid we had a hard core leftist (or rightist) government that decided we didn’t need anymore elections? We have been as well governed as any country in the western world, and better than most for our entire history, but no country is immune from the kind of crisis where we need someone to put the politicians in their place. That is the role of the GG. It should not be like choosing a class president based on
popularity.
For the above reasons I would choose Gen(ret) Mackenzie, or Gen (ret) De Chastelaine, if he isn’t getting too old.
As much as I’d like to hear the GG say “Shout, shovel and shut up”, I’m with the ex-military choice and of those I’d go with MacKenzie.
Clarence Louis would be great, too, but I’m betting he’d decline the offer.
You could be right Vit. At least Crosby is not the PC choice of the day. I would, as Atlantic Jim, choose someone who put him/herself in harm’s way for Canada. Someone who would do more than sit there waiting for the next protocol assignment. An ex-politico like a news reader or a one paper-basket law office jockey, would not likely be the well rounded experienced self starter needed to develop the tasks necessary to make the great strides Canada needs. How’s that for a run-on sentence?
How about someone who would tackle the First Nations quandary? Never going to happen if left up to politicians.
How about someone who would tackle organized crime? Or street people?
Let’s have someone who would make the job into a real job.
I’m against the idea. Clara Hughes is freakishly ugly.
I think that Ralph Klein would be a good choice for all the reasons that ConservationBlue states. Besides, the reaction of the MSM would be priceless. They’d spend so much time criticizing him that they would have far less time and energy to focus on PMSH. Unfortunately, he is an old white guy, English speaking and from Alberta which makes it highly unlikely he’d end up on the list.
My mum.
Why the hell not? She’s got more class and more smarts than any of those jerk-offs in Ottawa, and she actually gives a crap about Canada.
Plus, she’d give Count Iggula a smack with her purse if he came into her office with a proposal like that one Dionsky was going to hand Michelle Jean.
What more do you want?
Time for a BCer. To follow tradition, we also need someone with visible minority cred and experience working for the CBC. So, obviously, David Suzuki!
Anyone one – so long as they give the Left kaniption fits. So yeah, Don Cherry has my vote. Oh wait – Mike Harris!
Lewis MacKenzie, Tom Flanagan, Mark Steyn
Lew McDonald would be good and I would go for Tom Jackson.
Canadians know and respect both men for different reasons.
I’ll go with GEN Lew McKenzie….
I saw that interview about the NIGHT the Canadian Troops were taken hostage by the Serbs.
“I returned to my head-quarters after failing to get their release. We had only one option to go and get them. They were held in an area of tall buildings—plunging fire—
When I got back the vehicles were all drawn up…machine guns mounted and primed–ready to go. Most of the troops were franco-phone and those hostage were anglophone.
That’s MY Canada.”
The Serbs blinked….
I know instinctively from experience the individual that inspires such valour……
I like Clara, but I have no idea what her politics are. You need someone who wouldnt be interested in giving the time of day to Gilles Duceppe and knows why they shouldnt.
I like McKenzie, but sadly old white guys dont get those appointments anymore.
Coynes suggestion would be Prince William…….
My suggestion, assuming it cant be McKenzie…one of the two native leaders mentioned….I like Simon because she would be a big middle finger to the Seperatists, being an Inuit from Northern Quebec.
I thought we already had this discussion? Anyway, any ex-general except Romeo Dallaire; he is not at all revered by Armed Forces people (okay, there may be rare exceptions, there might be a soldier somewhere who voted Liberal). MacKenzie, Hillyer, de Chastelain are only a starting list. Remember folks that we are talking about a commander-in-chief – not a hockey coach, dance instructor or political pundit.
Serious? No way.
We’ve learned that the position of GG is not entirely without substance and importance in the last couple of years. Hughes does not even remotely have the qualification. Granted, Jean probably did not either, but two wrongs….
Lewis McKenzie seems to have the qualifications, and the right personality.
Let’s just leave it up to the PM, if these suggestions are the best the admirable blog readers can come up with. I would prefer an éminence grise, with impeccable international credentials, along the lines of the Gary Doer appointment. No more PC tokenisms.
OK, so I guess I’ve been living in a cave these last few years but….
Who the hell is Clara Hughes???
Indira Samarasekera might be a good choice too, though
she’s otherwise well engaged right now. Perhaps a later
appointment would be more appropriate in her case.
Phantom’s mom. She’s obviously a nice lady – look how well he turned out 🙂
Or Heather Mallick, because that would be so entertaining.
Sometimes you see Lewis Mackenzie if you google his name, but it should be Lewis MacKenzie. Has anyone actually asked him if he is available and interested in the job (I know, I know, he would have a modest reply).
How about a Muslim Cleric. Maybe then they will like us … er … well … whatever.
The GG is basically a international wine and cheese host so let’s not waste anyone with a brain.
The GG is the commander and chief of the Canadian Armed Forces. Maybe we should appoint someone to that position that actually served in Canada’s Armed Forces. MacKenzie, de Chastelain, or Hillier would be good by my books.
On second thought…. How about we just abolish the position?
From the article:
“It is a measure of how well Michaëlle Jean has performed in the role, as well as the job, of governor-general, that there is so much interest in who might succeed her.”
Total BS. It’s more a measure of Canadians’ disgust, and embarassment, that she was appointed to any position of power, whatsoever. It makes me physically ill to see her at any function. I’m not happy about the hold she had over Harper, either. It cost us millions in caribbean scholarships, foreign aid, and general money spent on future Canadian gangsters.
Sickening.
Definitely not Clara Hughes.
Peter Lougheed, maybe?
Rick Hansen, definitely, if he would.
Please – no more CBC retirees, no political hacks and certainly no sports or entertainment stars. The GG may be an anachronism but, as long as the position exists it should go to someone with gravitas and a record of public service.(The country did luck out with M. Jean, but Harper shouldn’t tempt fate by trying for a repeat of that.)
Lew Mackenzie would be perfect for the job. I wonder if Harper reads SDA. Heh
Atta boy vίtruvius. Roll over, and expose your underbelly. It’ll be over quicker that way.