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It's official: Canada has a new Governal General. But as Adrien Clarkson packs her credit cards and leaves office, how satisified are Canadians with our government's choice? It depends where you ask. A celebrity in Quebec, Jean was a shoe-in because she capitalizes on what I deem as the Liberal's attempt to shore up dwindling support in Quebec. But what about western Canada? Paul Martin's choice of yet another Quebecor will do little to ease the seperation anxiety being felt by those in BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. For taht matter, anyone outside Quebec as well since Canada's government at all levels is prodominately occupied by residents of La Belle Provence. To give them credit, I believe Martin's choice will go a long way in reaching out to long too ignored young voters in Canada (at least in Quebec) which is vital to reverse a pathetic voter turnout rate. However, in the end I believe Quebecors will not be bribed by this choice and westerners will only see this pick as yet another slap in the face. In terms of Ontario, well we honestly couldn't give a shit...we have terrorism, power shortages, and the TSX fluctuations to keep us occupied.

In closing, I say its time we finally called Quebec's bluff and got away from a country governed based purely on favortism and duress.

   

Here's a quick question. If you're sure that Quebecers won't be appeased by a GG from Quebec, what makes you think the westerners would? We're just as cynical as you out there in Ottawa and we'd see it as a shallow attempt to curry favour.

   

Although I could not say that she is a real celebrity within Quebec, she may have had some influence. I have seen her on Radio-Canada but have not found her to be anything in particular. After all, a journalist is all she was.

Although, I must agree with the fact that she may have influenced the Liberal govt to choose her based on the fact that she was from Quebec in order to get votes. At the same time, there is the factor she has worked for SRC or CBC ( a govt controlled station) which may have appealed to the decision. It could have been anyone from any provinces and I would have been gratified. Anyhow, I am assuming that many Canadian do not see the relevance.

   

Nope. Paul Martin and Belinda fixed any doubts I had with the Western Democratic Deficit.
Nope, this gravey train may say it goes around the country but it only stops in Ontario and Quebec.

   

How nobody is looking and saying, "Hey, they picked her because she's qualified."

She is, you know. Smart, multi-lingual, a reputation for being non-partisan and fair, knowledgable about domestic and foreign politics, a good grasp of how Canadian government works, gracious and polite, able to research quickly and efficiently. There is absolutely nothing wrong with her qualifications.

The question isn't they would pick her, but why they wouldn't.

I keep hearing that she got the job because she's a black woman from Quebec who worked for the CBC. Were there any white guys from University of Alberta up for the position that were more qualified?

   

Does nobody here remember that in the 50's after the appointment of Vincent Massey, then George Vaniers, the government has implemented a system of alternating anglophone/francophone Governors General?

Since Adrienne Clarkson was an anglophone (after Romeo LeBlanc), it's a francophone appointment this time around.

   

Okay, so were there any white guys from the University of Calgary that could even read the French on the back of a Corn Flakes box?

   

Yep your right, "she's qualified"


1 Minority CHECK
2 Left-wing CBC journalist CHECK
3 Bleeding heart socialist CHECK
4 Born outside of Canada CHECK
5 Being on the Government dole CHECK


Damn i hate it when your right REV.

   

More bigotry, tallywhacker?

   

If you can't see this as buying votes in Quebec, I can't help you.

bigotry? When all of that is 100% true. C'mon.

   

The fact that they picked someone from Quebec, that alone will not buy my vote, I can tell you that.

   

As Dayseed pointed out, it was time for a francophone. Jean is qualified, very qualified, and not by the bigoted bullshit that the radical right is spewing.

   

You forgot one Hwackjob;

Woman CHECK

Ahh, nothing like white trash bigotry...so let's see what your 'qualifications' (the opposite of hers) get us.

1 White Anglo-saxon
2 Right wing journalist/think tank
3 American Ass kisser
4 Born inside of Canada
5 Being in the pocket of large corporations

Harper fits 5 of those 5. CHECK. Someone from the old bankrupt Alberta Report, Link Byfield maybe - 5 out of 5. CHECK.

Yeah, you heard here first...Harper for Governor General!

Personally, I think she is plenty qualified for the position. But what do I know, I'm just another white-collar white male aged 30-49 who lives in the 'disaffected' West?

Good post REV!

   

I generally check the place out every day or two, Avro.

Any government appointment is political to some extent, although Jean's is far less so than most...likely because she immigrated from Haiti. Denis Coderre was suddenly trying to drum up support for sending our military there this morning. The question becomes whether they've appointed somebody capable or not.

The other thing the Liberals could have done is appoint a Conservative in order to shut them up. You can't make overtly partisan political statements as GG. So if they would have tossed Link Byfield in there, he couldn't spew his venom for six years.

That's not something that is generally done with the GG position though, it's too important. Byfield is more the kind of guy you give an obscure post in outer Mongolia.

   

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