The Governor General has passed, Long Live the GG!

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by Richelieu


She is the Queen of England's representative in Canada. To have her arbitrate over any Canadian conflict is insulting, at best. If this country had any type of backbone, any idea of its own identity, it would abolish the position.

One-way trip to Louisiana coming for you, Acadian....

[Seeker]

We should let the Queen appoint them again, it's obvious that canadians cannot govern themselves yet.

[Starchild]

What happens if there's a crisis that normally the GG would deal with but the Queen's in Canada at that moment? Something constitutional or paliamentary in nature. Would the GG still act as "referee of last resort" on behalf of the Queen or would the Queen take direct action?

[Kontiki]

I believe that there's a provision in our 1982 Constitution Act that covers that very scenario - best two out of three takedowns in a mud wrestling contest.

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by Starchild
What happens if there's a crisis that normally the GG would deal with but the Queen's in Canada at that moment? Something constitutional or paliamentary in nature. Would the GG still act as "referee of last resort" on behalf of the Queen or would the Queen take direct action?

Handbags at dawn, in Ottawa.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Richelieu


She is the Queen of England's representative in Canada.

She's appointed by the Prime Minister of Canada.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Starchild
What happens if there's a crisis that normally the GG would deal with but the Queen's in Canada at that moment? Something constitutional or paliamentary in nature. Would the GG still act as "referee of last resort" on behalf of the Queen or would the Queen take direct action?

The Queen makes a point of not being here when Parliamentary conflict is possible. That was almost an issue when the Tories were trying to bring down the government this spring. She would have delayed her visit till things were sorted out.

[techumseh]

The GG's role is the same as an elected president, where the President has no executive power, eg. Italy, Germany. S/he appoints the government, according to consititutional and parliamentary rules, following an election, or following the defeat of a government in parliament, may ask another party to form a government or disolve parliament and call a new election. Otherwise, the position is ceremonial in nature.

[JimmyCracksCorn]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Eh. Not completely useless. It wields 0 political power, but it does hold cultural and symbolic meaning, and a good G-G can use his position to educate Canadians about their heritage at home while advancing Canadian interests abroad.

Sorry, I mispoke. I didn't mean useless, I should have said worthless.

Call me a "small r" republican, call me American, call me whatever. I just disagree with the position on principle. Canada can do better than rely on some relic appointment to advance its image abroad and go to some fund raisers at home.

Adrienne Clarkson
Michaelle Jean
Office of the GG:

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by JimmyCracksCorn


Sorry, I mispoke. I didn't mean useless, I should have said worthless.

Call me a "small r" republican, call me American, call me whatever. I just disagree with the position on principle. Canada can do better than rely on some relic appointment to advance its image abroad and go to some fund raisers at home.

Adrienne Clarkson
Michaelle Jean
Office of the GG:

[notyoueither]

Why? The office is essentially that of a judge who makes decisions very rarely and is constrained in what can be decided by law and precedent. 99% of the rest of the job is ceremonial, but that 1% needs to be done.

Unelected judges are frequently involved in our electoral process. What's the problem with the GG fulfilling that last 'real' power of the Crown?

If we replaced the GG with some elected clown, we would sooner or later get a clown who thought that a mandate from the people entitles the position to more than the role of figurehead. I prefer to keep the role nonpolitical and focus on more power where it belongs, in Parliament.

[techumseh]

If you think that having the Prime Minister appoint the GG keeps the position from being 'political', then I've got some seaside real estate in Louisiana you might be interested in.

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Why? The office is essentially that of a judge who makes decisions very rarely and is constrained in what can be decided by law and precedent. 99% of the rest of the job is ceremonial, but that 1% needs to be done.

Unelected judges are frequently involved in our electoral process. What's the problem with the GG fulfilling that last 'real' power of the Crown?

If we replaced the GG with some elected clown, we would sooner or later get a clown who thought that a mandate from the people entitles the position to more than the role of figurehead. I prefer to keep the role nonpolitical and focus on more power where it belongs, in Parliament.

You say "If we replaced the GG with..." "I prefer to keep the role nonpolitical"... etc...

I say get rid of it. Let this country grow up.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by techumseh
If you think that having the Prime Minister appoint the GG keeps the position from being 'political', then I've got some seaside real estate in Louisiana you might be interested in.

As political as any judge, and a good less political than any elected office.