News

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Nick Brennan

I am from Sherbrooke, Quebec; my parents came from Italy 55 years ago; we have contributed to Canada in many ways, like many other cultural communities. The choice of Jean as governor general is one of the best move in the past years, not only for cultural differences, but because Jean is a strong person, not a token as she says, an inclusive person, just what Canada needs to reconciliate with politics, even if this is an appointment et not through election; honesty, this is Michaelle Jean.
Bianca Battistini, Sherbrooke, Que.

Reading these comments, one thing becomes clear: we're an incredibly dynamic people with all kinds of views. You can't put Canadians in a box, plaster a maple leaf on it, and call it Canuck. And, perhaps this is our identity. (If only we could be comfortable with that...)
So, let's not start shoving our Governor-General-to-be in a box. I think that's something the Prime Minister has tried to do. Mr. Martin might think he's making a nod to... whomever with this appointment. But really, once she assumes her duties, the politics are over. She becomes "ours." The appointment might appear political, but the job is not. The job is vice-regal, one of service. Shouldn't we be grateful for that?
Let's sit tight and see what she's really all about before making assumptions based on what the Prime Minister would like us (and his cronies) to believe about her because of her background. You never know, she might be "a great" -- and "greats" don't fit in boxes.
Theodore Mercredi, The Hague, The Netherlands

What is with these people complaining about -- horrors -- a SECOND woman of colour in a row as governor general? Were the 117 consecutive years of white males from 1867 to 1984 just not enough?
Matt McLauchlin, Montreal

Leaving aside the recurring themes of race, ethnicity, Quebec, and tokenism that have marked the discussion about the new Governor-General, I would like to point to the rather puzzling and irritating speech Ms. Jean gave in front of the press today. Note, in particular, the claim that her being chosen for the position is "not only good for Canadians, but for all abroad, and humanity in general." Well, I suppose it is reassuring that the GG tradition of self-aggrandizement and grotesquely inflated sense of mission continues untroubled.
S. Farz, Montreal

Speaking for myself and at least another few dozen "white males from the west", the choice of Michaëlle Jean could hardly be improved upon. I invite that dull male with a colour fetish on his chest to move south by several hundred miles and help Canada get on with being what most Canadians want it to be: a colorblind model for the world. I'm glad I live in the far west, but hooray for women, hooray for French, and hooray for Quebec.
Ric Hunter

Pauline Hopwood, Mississauga, Ont.
Bruce Turnbull, Boston
James Sanyshyn, Vancouver
Jim Whittier



Thomas Baxter


Shauna Parish, Toronto

D. Scrivener, Toronto
John Allan, Sarnia, Ont.
Johnny


Shirley Spencer, Regina
Trudy Brown, Brockville, Ont.
Cathy Tan
C.C.
Madina Wasuge
Charlie White, Portland, Ore.


Oliver M. Harte

Fabulous choice, so refreshing to NOT have another old white man in the office.
Mike Catlin , Kingston Ontario.

May I inform Mr. Henry [link to comment] that persons of 'colour' represent three-quarters of the world's population, so who is the minority here?
To Ms. Marsh [link to comment], a Canadian Citizen is a Canadian, regardless of where they were born, and as such are entitled to full participation in public life and government. Ms. Marsh does not mean someone not being born in Canada, I'm sure she would have no issue with a Scottish, German or English-born 'white' person in the role. Furthermore, why someone is so concerned about 'a Canadian' representing a non-Canadian (the Queen) is beyond me.
This thinly-veiled racialism that people wrap up in the flag and call nationalism must be seen for what it is - a national and human poison. I expected more from my fellow citizens. In my Canada, the only 'minority' are the people who share these hostile and disgraceful views.
Deborah Ohab

Some people have mentioned being female, being a minority, and having been born in another country as reasons why she's a poor choice. Funny, I thought this was 2005.
Vicky Bilaniuk

Mark Moldowan, Victoria
J Q
Sarah Rimmington On the choice
On the position
Ian Morrison, Edmonton


Sheila Hannon
Steve McKinnon, Glen Haven, N.S.

I think Mme Jean is a brilliant appointment as Governor-General. Her relative youth, her accomplishments well qualify her for the position. She will represent the diversity that is Canada. And I say that as an old white guy myself.

One of your earlier respondents refers to her as "a terrible pick - another Quebecer, a woman, a minority" and bewails that white males from western Canada will never get a look in. He seems to miss that the last person from Quebec left Rideau Hall in 1990 -- and in fact, Mme Sauve was born in Saskatchewan. The last Quebec-born GG was Jules Leger, who left office in 1979; and Ray Hnatyshyn - a white man from out west - was GG as recently as 1995. Given the chips on the shoulder of such people as your respondents, Mme Jean will have an uphill task ahead of her. She is clearly up to that job, too.
Chris Ambidge, Toronto

Fran Irwin, Medicine Hat, Atla.
Jeff Warden A terrible pick - Another Quebecker, woman, minority and worst of all from the CBC where, as far as I can tell, nobody there is qualified for much of anything -- I guess we will not see a white male from the west for at least the next hundred years or so - god help us all.
Gord Henry

Paul Martin has made an outstanding, wise choice for Governor-General. She brings a background with much diversity, representing a minority being the first black female to be appointed speaking 5 languages. Michaelle Jean will do much to unify a very diverse multi-cultural country.
Paul Breton, Burlington, Ont..

I make about as much sense for governor-general as she does. If we're only going to pick reporters, Ron MacLean would have been a better choice.
Dylan

What is it, with Journalists? What is it, with attractive Journalists?
It's alright to say the position of Governor General is redundant. It's a completely different matter to put such inappropriate people in to Office. Surely, if we're going to keep the anomaly, we should find a respectable and honest business person - or politician. Ah! Now I see the problem!
Roy Anderson.

Another woman, another media person, and another who was not born in Canada. Surely, there must be some Canadian born person that could represent the Queen?
Susan Marsh