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Toronto, August 4, 2005
– Canada’s republican movement, the
non-partisan Citizens for a Canadian Republic,
welcomes
Michaëlle
Jean as the new governor general. However, it’s
continuing its appeal for more democracy in the selection
process.
“It’s quite ironic,” says Tom Freda, the group’s national
director. “Around the world, from Haiti to the Ukraine, Canada
has heavily promoted democracy.
Yet here at home, the acting head of state, as well as members
of Parliament’s upper house and justices of the Supreme Court
are all personally chosen by a prime minister who himself is
selected by party, not popular vote. In comparison, these traits
make us one of the least democratic nations in the developed
world.”
“Furthermore,” Freda adds, “despite the governor general’s
supposed
apolitical
status, the current selection process is actually very much
politicized. In order for the position to maintain, at the very
least, the impression of impartiality, the prime minister’s
influence must be removed from the formula.”
Expanding on this is author and policy analyst Randall White,
PhD.
“The current fractious Parliament in Ottawa has raised the
prospect that a governor general might actually have to exercise
the practical powers of the office over the fall and winter of
2005–2006. In effect,
Mme. Jean
may have to decide whether Paul Martin or Stephen Harper gets
the nod in a parliamentary crisis or stalemate. How can a new
governor general named by Paul Martin alone credibly do this job
in the eyes of the opposition or even the public?”
A recent
all-party parliamentary committee seems to agree that things
need to change. “The Standing Committee on Government Operations
and Estimates” released a report in April 2004 titled, “The
Governor General of Canada: Role, Duties and Funding for
Activities.” In addition to suggesting that parliament review
“the process for selecting and appointing the governor general,”
it also recommended conducting a review and initiating a debate
on “the mandate, constitutional role, responsibilities, and
future evolution of the Office of Governor General.”
“We have
5 years before another governor general is to be chosen,” Freda
points out. “That’s plenty of time to put together a commission
similar to the Flag Committee of 1964 to follow through on these
recommendations. Prime Minister Martin has an excellent
opportunity here to further address the ‘democratic deficit’ on
which he campaigned successfully. Initiating this process will
prove he means business.”
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