Mary Simon, Our New Viceroy

 

Canada has a new Governor-General, Mary Simon. On the whole, she seems a good choice. It is awkward that she does not speak French. To my ear, despite a background in broadcasting, she has shown herself in her acceptance speech to be a poor speaker in English as well. It is also unfortunate that she got her start in journalism. Canada is too prone to appoint journalists to posh government sinecures. This undermines journalistic neutrality. But Simon, unlike Michelle Jean, Pamela Wallin, Mike Duffy, or Adrienne Clarkson, also had a career in elected office. 

Simon was appointed, as everybody understands, because she is half-Inuit. Everyone seems to think it was time for a GG who is from one of the native peoples.

Most often, appointing someone by race is offensive; it is a violation of the fundamental principle of human equality. But perhaps this is a worthwhile exception. It should be harder for native people to feel alienated or say they are not Canadian, when the Queen’s representative herself is native. 

Relations between native people and the rest of the population are currently strained, and getting worse year by year—in no small part thanks to the mislabeled “Peace and Reconciliation” process. Simon’s appointment, and her tenure, if she uses it well, may be oil on those troubled waters.

Where Governors-General Come From

 

Lorne Cardinal

Canada’s Governor-General, Julie Payette, has been forced to resign in disgrace. This is shocking, since her sole role was ceremonial. Not a hard job.

This has raised questions about how Governors-General are selected. Traditionally, it has been purely at the whim of the Prime Minister. Stephen Harper set up an advisory committee. This seemed a better idea; but of course, it removed the opportunity for a patronage appointment, and so was abandoned.

The solution, it seems to me, is to put it into law. And give the responsibility to some established body, rather than to an ad hoc committee.

And I have a body in mind: the Order of Canada. 

The Order of Canada: more than just a snowflake?

At present, the Order of Canada is no more than a medal you get to wear on special occasions. But the medal is given to those “who make a major difference to Canada through lifelong contributions in every field of endeavor.” Granted, awards are somewhat political, but are chosen by committee, not by prime ministerial fiat. Passing the task on to them would put it at least arm’s length away from politics and patronage, and produce a Governor-General who might genuinely represent the nation as a whole, chosen by people who are commonly believed to have the best interests of the nation at heart.

Who would make a good Governor-General? I like Lorne Cardinal, who plays “Davis” on Corner Gas. An actor is ideal for the role; it is an acting role. Cardinal is known by all Canadians, and beloved. He is a big man, well-cast physically for the role. And it would not hurt, for the political correctness brigade, that he is aboriginal.

Just Wild about Harry

Postmedia has already done a poll that shows most Canadians would welcome Prince Harry as Governor-General.

I wonder, however, how this may play out. I wonder about Meghan Markle.

Their announcement of "abdication" does seem rash. Why the need for such drama? Rumblings are that Meghan is finding it hard to adjust to the life of a royal.

But is it the celebrity, the constant attention in public? Does not figure: she was an actor on TV. She must be familiar with that, and she signed up for it.

It seems more likely she is rankled by the need to stay apolitical.

If so, making Harry GG could end up a disaster.

Harry and Meghan in Canada, Eh?

The Duke and Duchess

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are spending Christmas and New Years in Canada. This is a little surprising—not with the rest of the Royal Family at Sandringham.

And the matter seems to have been publicized, too.

This is not a matter of dividing time between the grandparents; Markle’s family is American. Meghan, of course, having lived in Toronto, has Canadian friends. But they are likely to be engaged with their own families. And the couple are not spending the holidays in Toronto.

I suspect this is a trial run for the idea of Harry and Meghan relocating permanently to Canada, to avoid butting heads with the senior royal couple, William and Catherine.

As it happens, Julie Payette, the current Governor-General, is not flourishing in the role. She is notably absent from many public functions.

This offers an opportunity for royals like Harry and Meghan to pick up the slack, if they are in-country anyway. And perhaps then, having established their role, once Payette has served her term, or perhaps resigned, to take over the post officially. With a member of the royal family already on site, it will seem odd to appoint someone else to the role.

In the old days, this might all have been managed from London. But nowadays, it is likely to take a bit of campaigning. Meghan already has Canadian connections. Perhaps if they play this up, and do some hand pumping…

Personally, as an out-of-the-closet royalist, I hope it happens. I am not particularly attached to the Windsors as incumbents, but I think monarchy works well as a way of giving a nation unity--especially a multi-ethnic nation.

There is something to be said for having a Canadian, and not a foreigner, as Governor-General, for the sake of Canadian independence. But the same argument would hold for Canada establishing its own independent royal line. 

Ronald Reagan for Governor-General?

Did we choose the wrong brother?

When Ronald Reagan ran for US president, a lot of folks thought he had the wrong background. What does an actor know about governing?

Yet I think it is arguable that Reagan had the most successful presidency since Washington.

Okay, you want to hear the argument? It is universally agreed that he had a successful presidency. But apart from him, and Washington, all the presidents generally lauded by historians share one characteristic: that they expended government. This is the easy way to look like a big man. Only Reagan managed to look impressive while actually trying to shrink his own power.

How did he pull it off? Perhaps because he was an actor. In fact, a good actor has a lot of the qualities needed in a good chief executive. He can make people like him, and he can inspire them. Compare the success of Pope John Paul II—another experienced actor, though an amateur.

Being a good actor is not enough, it seems. Joseph Estrada was not successful as president of the Philippines. One must also have brains and principles. But it does seem to be a very good preparation for the job.

All of which brings me around to the matter of Canada’s Governor-General. In the recent past, there has been a tendency to fill the post, purely ceremonial, with a retired journalist or politician. Failing that, there is an older tradition of wedging in a businessman. All bad choices. A politician will struggle to bite his tongue on the issues of the day, and will necessarily come with partisan baggage. Giving government rewards to journalists compromises the objectivity and independence of the Fourth Estate. Business executives are generally boring and difficult for the average Canadian to identify with. Except for entrepreneurs, who are loose cannons.

Here, surely, an experienced actor would be the ideal choice. First, the post is ceremonial; this is to say, it is an acting job. Second, an actor above anyone else will have the skill to stay in character. He or she will probably not blunder into controversial comments or unconstitutional overreach. Thirdly, he or she would be or have been an active contributor to Canadian culture, and so a suitable symbol of the nation, promoting both culture and cultural unity. Fourthly, he would, as an actor, have a special talent to inspire, as demonstrated by Reagan and John Paul II.

We’ve produced quite a few actors who would have been perfect for the role. In fact, the Governor General type, the man of substance and dignity, seems to be a Canadian acting specialty. Raymond Burr; Raymond Massey; Lorne Greene; Christopher Plummer; Michael J. Fox; Colm Feore; Glenn Ford; Chief Dan George; Graham Greene; Catherine O’Hara; Genevieve Bujold; Donald Sutherland. Leslie Nielsen and William Shatner would also have been ideal in their “man of substance” days, before they both turned comedian. Comedians, another Canadian specialty, are probably not suitable for the job.