Saturday, October 02, 2010

GG Justice

Well, three blog entries in a row with American content, so an infusion of Canuckness is in order.

Yesterday David Johnston became Canada's newest Governor General. From everything I have read and heard, he is an excellent choice with an impressive CV. Canadians loved outgoing GG Michaelle Jean,despite her role in proroging Parliament, and are hearts were touched by her response to the beleaguered people of Haiti, her country of birth. Still, Johnston is a smart, passionate Canadian. And, hey, he was a collegiate hockey star while studying at Harvard and an inspiration for the tear-jerker Love Story.

Who should be Governor General though? I talked with an elderly colleague in ministry recently, a guy who has spent a lifetime working to provide housing in Native communities across the country. Charlie Catto has been a "force of nature" in this vital work for decades through Frontiers Foundation and Operation Beaver. http://frontiersfoundation.ca/ He wondered why there has never been an aboriginal person appointed as the GG and quickly named several he knows who would be excellent candidates. He pointed out that at this time when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is examining our sorry history with First Nations people choosing a Native Governor General would have made sense. Good point.

Thoughts?




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