Every so often (more so than this writer would like to count) an opinion expressed in this column turns out to be wrong.
Such was the case back in February, when this very space was used to advocate for the abolishment of Canada’s governor general.
Last week’s appointment of Mary Simon to governor general could very well prove it was a bit premature to write off all governor generals.
Simon becomes the country’s first Indigenous governor general and brings with her a much more impressive resume than those who have previously held the gig. She played a major role in negotiating the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement in 1975, which many consider to be the ‘first modern treaty’ struck between the province and the Cree and Inuit. In the early 1980s she served as president of the Makivik Corp., which administered funds the Inuit received in exchange for the development of their land. In 2002 she was named Canada’s first Arctic ambassador and was also Canada’s ambassador to Denmark.
That’s just a small sample of her distinguished career that shows she’s more than qualified for job. In short, she’s well versed in Canada-Indigenous relations.
In defense of calling for the governor general to be abolished, back in February Julie Payette had just made a mockery of the role. When news broke of her disturbing treatment towards her staff it seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally rid taxpayers of the $288,900 that was paid to meaningless figureheads each year.
Simon’s appointment comes at a time when Canada needs more Indigenous voices in positions of power. Her selection is no doubt a bit of a PR move on the part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in response to the outrage expressed by Canadians in the wake of recent discoveries at former residential school sites. But at the same time, her selection isn’t simply installing a popular ‘celebrity’ into a puppet role either. Simon brings with her a reputation of not being afraid to speak out and speak up for her people. Whatever the circumstances that led to her landing into her current role may be, the end result is she now has a platform that will be difficult to be ignored. For that reason the powers-that-be responsible for her appointment deserve some credit. Even if it seemed like an obvious choice and was done in an effort to restore some goodwill, at the very least they appear to have gotten it right. Of course naming her governor general is just one small step towards making things right.
The onus is still there to for elected officials to listen to what she has to say and to react appropriately when she raises an issue. Otherwise the positive PR could vanish quickly. Simon’s job title will give her considerable clout and will generate a lot more interest when she speaks out on an issue. It’s not so easy for a government to sweep an issue under the rug when one of their own is the one shining the spotlight on it. If her past is any indication, Simon doesn’t seem like she’ll be afraid to rock the boat and it could be just what the country needs to take real steps towards reconciliation.
-Adam Prudhomme