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?
Ezra Levant
dp must have eaten some spoiled meat for lunch.
Am I the only one to want Stomping Tom?
Lewis MacKenzie, Rick Hillier, Tom Flannigan, Mark Steyn ..all good choices. I trust the Prime Minister on this issue; he makes few mistakes, IMO.
Crosbie would be a great choice; his demureness and tact would be a credit to the office. 😉
The Osoyoos need Clarence Louie more than Canada, IMO.
Either of MacKenzie or de Chastelain would also be good choices; it’s too soon for Hillier.
Rick Hansen or Lew MacKenzie get my vote. Please not another media personality or entertainer. The position deserves a real person.
Well, I was thinking about Queen Elizabeth too, SDH. I mean, whether or not Canada becomes a republic upon her departure, I think that as a gesture of respect for the great job the ol’ gal has done, we should pick a GG that HM could, you know, hang around with, have a few gins, and share a good laugh reminiscing about the absurdity, and yet seriousness, absurd seriousness, serious absurdity, of it all. It’s the least we can do. So, while I may not be correct in terms of John for that choice, I can imagine it, suggest it, and then defer to others who know more than I.
Perhaps, Lee, DP is referring to this item:
Warren Kinsella.
It is embarrassing having a Governor General, so Warren would be the ideal candidate.
Once an embarrassment to Canada, always an embarrassment to Canada.
“Lew Mackenzie would be perfect for the job. I wonder if Harper reads SDA. Heh”
Probably not. Why not let him know yourself?
His job is to choose, our job is to let the PM know our views.
pm@pm.gc.ca
Within our current system of government the GG fills a vital position. I am agnostic on whether or not we should change our system of government or not. Perhaps we should become a republic with a president, but until we do the GG is an important position that should be assigned to someone who understands the nature of that job.
I agree with Minuteman (as my selections show).
The office of the Governor-General is a humiliation upon this country.
We should eliminate it or have an elected Head of State.
What about Preston Manning? Otherwise, scanning through the comments, I love the idea of Ezra Levant or Kathy Shaidle being GG. Lucien Bouchard would be an inspired choice just kidding!
Chief Clarence Louis of the Osoyoos Indian Band.
How about we abolish this expensive, useless position? Just thoughts from a true conservative.
Barbara Amiel would be a class GG.
For those who are interested and may not already know, here
is one of the better known articles on Chief Clarence Louie,
who I agree might be a good choice.
Here’s my list:
Lloyd Robertson (gets him off the news- finally)
Lucienne Bouchard (take that you blockies!)
Stephen Lewis (can you imagine his wife in a big hat- she’d look like Bella Azbug)
Seriously though, we need a calm person who reflects what we are all about. I kinda like Wayne Gretzky or the guy who wipes out the inside of my car at the car wash. I think his name is Wayne.
I think she would be great although i am not sure how everyone else in parliment would get on with her as she actually has a brain ..so it might casue some issues she think’s for herself ,has an opinion and would remeber that she is representing other people not her own agenda so i am not sure she would be good for the job …plus all the men would probly like to get between her thighs so she could crush them like self loathing little bug’s ….and i think everyone would be doing the austin power thing wit ht the mole exept they would keep tring to poke the gap in her teeth with a twig while she was talking.
LMAO !!!!!! Oh yeah and she has a good work ethic so there is not way others would like her .
Paul in calgary
Joe, Barbara Amiel would indeed be excellent. And wouldn’t it just gall the hell out of Cretin and his Liebral palls when she appeared with Conrad Black!
My vote’s for either Lewis Mackenzie or Rick Hansen, though I’m leaning in Lew Mackenzie’s direction. He’s served our country well and has a very pragmatic and realistic view of what’s going on, not just at home but in the world.
We’re living in very “interesting” times, aka, dangerous times. We don’t need a naif in the role of GG.
I like Clara Hughes a lot. But she’s not GG material. As others have said MAYBE in 10 or 20 years, but she’s not seasoned enough, whatever her other stellar qualities are — and there are many as EBD points out.
Also, we’ve just had two women GGs, both ex-CBC, both from visible minorities. It’s time for a man in the position and, might I say it?, from British extraction? We’ve had women and French-Canadian GGs lately, now how about some balance?: a white, British-lineage, male.
That would be just fine by me — and it shouldn’t be cause for alarm on the part of the usual suspects who SAY they’re all for equality. Lew Mackenzie would balance the recent female/French Canadian GGs.
It matters not who is picked, all I ask is that our next GG remains the Queen’s representative in Canada, and not some globe trotting, big money spending glad hander like the last two appointments. The GG has no role outside of Canada by definition.
Or, if not Lew Mackenzie, why not the Phantom’s mom? She sound GR-8. If she hits Iggy with her purse, she’s got my vote, UNLESS Lew Mackenzie promises to hit him with his purse… 😉
I’m on the MacKenzie bandwagon, for a variety of reasons. Not the least of which is that when it’s time for him to pin on a CD, it will be the one he earned. Unfortunately, I think the days of appointing people of actual accomplishment to the role of Governor General are long past.
“…and not some globe trotting, big money-spending..”
Well, that eliminates Barbara Amiel…
I like the idea of the PM recommending an elected GG, as Harper has been trying to do with Senators. Save the trouble of a potential constitutional amendment.
I wouldn’t change the role on paper but with some legitimacy an elected GG could say “no” when Harper tried to prorogue to avoid a confidence vote.
Of all the choices listed, I would go with Lew. None of the rest cut it, in my opinion. I think in the coming times, especially with Arctic sovereignty, the Afghanistan withdrawal, the rise of “old” Russia again, that Lew is uniquely qualified to bring the right kind of look’em in the eye over champagne flutes stare down that Canada is going to need in the next decade.
I’m probably going to be the odd man out here, but I actually think Michealle Jean has done a decent and respectable job in the post. Like most, I was critical originally, but I believe she has done the job with distinction. She has carried some of Canada’s international issues resolutely.
While not a monarchist, I believe the office of Governor General, perfunctory that it now is, is a valuable part of Canada’s historical identity, and adds a degree of civility to an otherwise very pedestrian governance model. There are bigger wastes of money in the Canadian milieu than the office of GG.
Crosbie.
How about Senator Ann Cools, she is a woman of high integrity, now a Conservative as she resigned from the Louserals in a fit of disgust. She is highly regarded amongst her peers, is a constitutional stickler and has one of the warmest smiles around. She is a delight to listen to and can give someone a spanking if they need it, and no doubt able to do it as well. She has an incredibly sharp mind and is able to dish out a tongue lashing like nobodies business. I would love to see her in action on the front lines of democracy, giving a beat-down to the mushy-headed liberal left of this country.
Either that or Preston!
Wow…..
And here I thought I thought I was going to add a previously unmentioned name with my nomination of General Mackenzie.
True story – I briefly dated his daughter. Upon picking her up at the General’s residence, I was ‘interviewed’ by the General for a good 10 minutes. Although he was polite, I was thoroughly intimidated, and I was certainly on my best behaviour for the rest of the evening.
I chuckle at the thought of a Prime Minister going through a similar ‘interview’ process.
Conrad Black. Cultured, erudite, knows his history and his office will be cheap. Okay we have to get him sprung but still a good choice.
I love the “just get rid of the position” folks, because we all know how simple and painless a process it is to change the constitution right?
Do you have to shut down the brain box to think like that?
You can listen to Chief Clarence Louie here
DEFINITELY NOT Roméo Dallaire.
I once saw him at a Rotary dinner, where I was a guest of a Rotarian, and was actually looking forward to his talk, which I was sure would come down hard on the UN.
Was I ever disappointed. He’s a rabid left-liberal — at least, he championed all of the UN talking points and sang the praises of the Liberal Party.
I couldn’t help thinking that he was a victim of Stockholm Syndrome — and that he must be getting a lot of do-re-mi from somewhere to defend the UN and other liberal initiatives.
Lewis MacKenzie.
Bruce Cockburn
Actually, Anne Cools would be an excellent choice. Surprised she hasn’t been mentioned more prominently in the past.
No doubt Lewis McKenzie or better still retired Chief of Staff, Rick Hillier….no b.s. with this guy….at least when he wears his uniform the medals will be won, not like GG Jean…heck she has more medals than most Mounties and soldiers I know..I guess she must have been on some covert missions and won these medals. I hope the PM doesnt appoint someone to appease all the fringe goups in Canada. Appoint a person who truly deserves it…..
Crosbie would be good, rita.(Vitruvius, too, recommended him in the comments). But, he’s 79 years old (in a role where there’s lots of long-haul traveling involved) and most importantly he doesn’t speak French, which disqualifies him right off the bat. He’s also not ‘nice’ in the usual sense of the word – I mean, he’s great, he’s really funny, and he’s forthright, but he’s not always the most, erm, presentable character, and it’s not in the GG’s job description to proffer politically-incorrect dry quips. Wish it was, but…
Looking at the comments here, I think that some people are slightly overestimating the knowledge/skill requirements of what is almost entirely a ceremonial post requiring comportment, dignity, and positiveness. Yeah, I know about the prorogation decision and all that, but that doesn’t happen very often, to put it mildly, and I don’t believe that Michaelle Jean rendered her decision based on a profound depth of knowledge about constitutional law; she probably just consulted with various people who were up on that sort of thing.
I suspect I differ from a lot of people here in that. I think Michaelle Jean has done a pretty good job; she’s a very positive, very feeling person who carries herself very well, and – excepting a couple of minor slip-ups – she seems like a fairly modest person. In that sense, she’s kinda the opposite of Adrienne Clarkson.
Clarkson always reminded me of one particular neighbour I had growing up whose raison d’etre was to put on the appearance that she was posh. I’ve always found that sort of attitude quietly off-putting and insufferable. Clara Hughes has exactly *zero* of that, and that may be what informs – skews – my opinion on the matter.
Earl Camembert.
Qualifications: he used to be on the CBC years ago, and he’s a snappy dresser.
How about Sheila Fraser? Canada’s Auditor General who helped expose Adscam and is trying to keep the government honest.
I don’t think that the deceased are allowed to be GG, Matt,
or I would have, of course, immediately suggested Allan
Gordon Sinclair, OC, FRGS.
EBD: “Clara Hughes has exactly *zero* of [‘posh’], and that may be what informs – skews – my opinion on the matter.”
Well, Lew Mackenzie has exactly *zero* of it as well. In addition, he’s been around the block and I think it IS important for the GG to have knowledge of Canada, its history and politics, as well as the requirements requisite to fill a ceremonial post.
Just because the role of Governor General is a “ceremonial post” doesn’t mean that just anybody can prance around in vice-regal garb and be an effective Governor General.
It’s a position of gravitas which Lewis Mackenzie would fill very well.
Ann Coulter
“Just because the role of Governor General is a ‘ceremonial post’ doesn’t mean that just anybody can prance around in vice-regal garb and be an effective Governor General.”
Damn.
Vitruvius: Earl Camembert remains alive, in a manner of speaking, for as long as Eugene Levy wishes to reprise the role. I believe you’re thinking of the late Earl Cameron.
Hey, how about Peter Mansbridge? Or Keith Boag? Or Krista Erickson?
Bob Probert.
Somebody suggested E. Preston Manning. God help us all! The position may be ceremonial but, surely the nominee should have at least a tenious grip on ethics.
Oops, roger that, EBD.
Vitruvius said: “we should pick a GG that HM could, you know, hang around with, have a few gins, and share a good laugh reminiscing…”
With Black Mamba that’s three votes for my mum, she’s ~ Liz’s age.
If Michelle Jean could do it, Mum could do it. Hell of a lot cheaper too, she’s not much for spending other people’s money to no purpose.