The choice of Waterloo University’s David Johnston as the next Governor General of Canada is unusual. Obviously it is a better choice than television’s William Shatner, in terms of the dignity of the office, as Johnston brings outstanding academic credentials to the post. It is those academic credentials that are unusual. He will not be expected to use them on the job.
What he will wish he had was Michaëlle Jean or Adrienne Clarkson’s show business background. The role is 98 per cent ceremonial. There is no opportunity for someone pro-active other than in the circumstances of a political crisis. It just is not likely that Prime Minister Stephen Harper will want to anger Canadians again with another prorogued House of Commons. It will just be regrettable that a mind such as Johnston’s will be wasted in the position.
It helps make the point that we should be rethinking the job. What do Canadians want to do about choosing their head of state. As ageless as Queen Elizabeth II might be, some day, Canadians will have to face the fact that her son Charles, with the dowdy wife, is the new King of Canada. The fact of the role of the Queen’s representative, the Governor General, currently being nothing more than an elegant ribbon-cutter, medal pinner, plaque unveiler and throne speech reader will have to be dealt with.
Some people see an elected president for head of state as the answer. Whether the role will be just a ceremonial one as is the governor general’s role or a true head of state will take much thought and debate. There will be Canadians who would expect their president to have powers such as the President of the United States. That is unlikely as the tri-partite government structure of the United States of America was set in very different times than today. Giving one person so much power without considerable checks and balances would not please everybody.
One problem solved with the American’s style of presidency, Canadians would no longer be confused about who is commander in chief of the Canadian military. Since the days of George Washington, the first President of our neighbour republic, American presidents have jealously guarded their role in commanding the military. The best we can do in Canada is have a politician act as though he or she runs our military as Minister of National Defence. The sovereign and other royals can get to be an honorary colonel-in-chief of regiments or squadrons but they never get to wave their sword in anger.
No matter what powers are vested in our head of state, Canadians likely to want the person to be elected. The same is most likely to be true for the Senate, if we keep it. Again, Canadians might not give quite as much power to a senate as the Americans. All of this has to be determined.
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