I swear that Pail Martin went out of his way to pick the most flaky person he could find as GGC in order to force comments from conservatives in order to flush us out as racist's. That is the only reason I can see as to why he selected the citizen of three countries.

Yes Raif, the Fiberals have made another PR bungle that will be seen as surprisingly transparent. But really! This is just another smoke screen to change the subject, from same sex marriage,trade relations,gas taxes,Quebec separation, etc. Hmmm, maybe we'll loosen up on our outrage on why the Gomry hearings were held.

Well, I am a Québec separatist and I fully agree with this commentary. Ms. Jean has solely been chosen for political reasons. The only thing lacking from her profile to make her 100% OK for the job is that she has no physical handicaps.
I sincerely hope she will do a great job at Rideau Hall. That way, Canadians can keep her for a second term once Québec becomes independent. Here in Québec, we have no need for people who can only read prepared scripts from the Prime minister's office.

"Here in Québec, we have no need for people who can only read prepared scripts from the Prime minister's office." But I bet you have plenty of need for handouts from the federal government, n'est-ce pas?

When Quebec becomes independant.... I thought intelligent people all over this land had moved on to more pressing issues. Did you get stuck in the 80's michou?

Ron Erwin, Paul Martin didn't go out of his way at all. Why should he have? You long ago flushed yourself out of the bigots' closet.

Personally, my greatest disappointment is that successive politicians have yet to appoint an aboriginal person to this once regal position.

That aside, I rate Adrianne Clarkson as the best GG Canada has ever enjoyed. An activist by heart, Clarkson has left a legacy for Ms. Jean to enhance and expand.

That she is an immigrant, I think, is all the better as it once again highlights Canada for what it is, a country founded on cooperation between peoples.

It certainly doesn't hurt our image outside of Canada either as millions upon millions will notice that a little kid can flee from persecution and danger to Canada and become a very important person, regardless of nationality, colour, language or other interesting but really unimportant factors.

In the States the myth is anyone can grow up to be the president. In Canada the reality now is anyone can grow up to be the GG.

I am definitely not a monarchist, but if we are to continue these ritualistic old-world appointments then I think it's just terrific that people like Jean and Clarkson can use the position and privilage to push progressive causes rather than keeping the Family Compact and it modern-day reactionary forces of darkness in the drivers seat all the time.

At the risk of being labelled a sexist I must also add I would much prefer looking at Ms. Jean than having to ogle the English Queen or any of her far too extended and privilaged family.

Finally, Jean's involvement in Quebec politics when she was younger suggests to me she has grown up as Canadian as any of us.

Perhaps some people just don't like immigrants who don't toady up to the ruling class. But I do.

The real issue here is the waste of time and money that is the GG.
As for Jean, I still think she's a good choice. And as a former B.C. separatist I think she should be left alone. What someone's political beliefs WERE shouldn't matter. This whole thing reminds me of the commie hunting in the 50s.

"Perhaps some people just don't like immigrants who don't toady up to the ruling class. But I do."
Yeah, except her new job consists of mostly toadying up to the ruling class.

Rockyvoids

If you want to know why the gomery inquiry has faded away, ask the conservative party, ohhh that's right they're too busy telling us what to do with out genitals.

Good God, are we so stupid in BC, are we that shallow, The new GG is nothing more than a politcal gambit by Paul Martin to get re-elected. It only seems that people who work for the CBC can be GG!

We, in BC are second class people and its time to send a message to Ottawa that we are pissed off and won't take it any more. But no, not here, we are too limp wristed and feeble to do anything.

Want your children to become third class people in a second class country, just watch the CBC and vote Liberal.

Second class country? And what might first class be?

First class country is a country where ones vote actually counts and where the public actually have a say in things.

HORRORS!

Shes a made-in-Canada version of a well-adjusted Princess Di with a happier husband. What can I say! Michaelle is reputedly intelligent, beautiful, gracious, thoughtful, cosmopolitan, a left-leaning intellectual with a successful marriage and career ... and black and the descendant of Haitian slaves.

Glamour! GLAMOUR with a CANADIAN TWIST. Well after ... all she is the GG designate and therefore the Queen's rep in Canada.

NOW! For a a debate on whether Canada should throw out its monarchists trappings!

And LLoyd Axworthy! ... if you're subscribed to the Tyee ...

Why don't you nominate Michaelle Jean as patron of the Anti Land Mines campaign!

Ahh, Grumpy means Cuba, Venezuela, and/or Zapatista Mexico... wish I was there, or anywhere democratic for that matter.

First class country is a country where ones vote actually counts and where the public actually have a say in things.

Swizterland?

... Wow we are so close! Our vote is virtually counted and we can actually say things in public.

You 'anti-timite' michou. In the feeble and mis-guided attempt at wit you merely succeded in digital onanism; it felt good at the moment but overall has no practical purpose besides blinkered self-indulgence.

an·ti-Tim·ite (an´te-tim?it´, an´ti-) noun

1.One who discriminates against or who is hostile toward or prejudiced against the physically disabled.
— an´ti-Ti·mit?ic (-s?-mit?ik) adjective

... is this a compliment or an insult Rafe?

The western press dominated by Canwest Global and Sun newspaper freak out over everything the federal Liberals do. It is tiring listening to the right-wing go on so.

The governor general does not develope policy and mostly travels around with good will tours and supporting arts and causes. I am sure the new G-G will do a fine job.

The biggest problem I have with this women is the fact that she actively saught citizenship of another country all the while trying to break up our country. And now she is rewarded with a plum diplomatic position. She is now essentially the, as rafe put it, the de facto leader of our country. (remember that one that wasn't good enough for her 10 years ago, but now is great all of a sudden after she cashs in) Am I missing something? I would rather see Svend Robinson as our GG. That is saying a lot coming from me. At least he's proud to be Canadian. And no someone who actively seeks out other countries passports and votes/sypathizes with seperatists is not a proud Canadian. This is an absolute joke. It must be a bad joke because no Prime Minister can possibly be that stupid. Or so I thought.

Québec politicians have dominated and led Canadian politics for the past 4 decades. If anybody needs hand-outs, it is Canada. You can add Michaëlle Jean and her consort to the growing list.

For those who haven't been catching up to this past decade, who do not know much about Québec other than what they're told, can understand no more than ten words in French and who really have no clue about what is going on in 'that' province, the idea of full independence has made much progress these past few years and latest polls endorse this fact. So much so that there is already a feel of 1995 déjÃ* vu here. Remember the panic ? What about that love fest in Montréal, eh ? (thank you for the loving)
Guess how that one-night stand ended up...but you know that already. The Liberals learned so much from the experience, they gave us the Gomery scandal to prove it.

There is a federal election coming up soon. Remember, Martin promised. But I know I can bet good money on you all. Canadians just keep on reelecting Liberals, over and over and over again.
Count on Ms Jean's VAST experience of political maneouvering and constitutional knowledge to guide Canada's parliament in such troubling times. Excusez-moi pour cette PETITE pointe de sarcasme.

To bobe010 :
My comment was not discriminatory towards anyone nor any group of people. I was stating in an underhanded way how our politicians are using the power of image to intimidate us into believing anything.

Ms Jean and Lady Di ? The comparison is not so far from the truth.

p.s.: I am not an anti-timite and I will not be intimidated by our politicians, nor will I from you. Instead of attacking people you have no idea who they are, stay on subject and respond to the commentaries instead. Thank you.

I say it was ... your comment specifically chose to use the physically disabled in a way in which you belittled their physical predicament and used them to present a poor case justification for political appointment by insinuating that being physically disabled in some way would be an asset in seeking advancement in society ... I assure you that you are wrong on this point, and that using the physically disabled example to further your rather 'lame' argument was not only poorly chosen but more particularily just "anti-pedantic".

Further, your use of the physically disabled in the context you chose not only belittles this group as merely a collection of disabilities but refuses to acknowledge any other assests they would bring to the equation. This borders on if not easily hops the line over into the area of bigotry.

On the contrary michou your "way" was anything but "underhanded" ... it was bold-faced and simplistic and at this point in the GG story or any political, media etc. discussion for that matter is absolutely unnecessary to regurgitate communications:101 basics such as the "power of image" ... thanks for playing.

Keep repeating this and call me in the morning. Your perception of this communication is not the same as mine. I am pointing out to you that you failed to display any degree of sensitivity when you glibbly chose to add the physically disabled.

michou, your use of words tell me who you are and I therefore respond to your commentary on the subject at hand.

Why must we suffer through childish rants on whether one commentor another says what in tring to make a point. The point is that the Prime Minister of Canada has once again decided that Canada consists only of gainable political units. The point is that if you are not a politically gainable unit, you are ignored and this Prime Minister will piss on you. Again and again and again and...

If the job has to be done, I see her as good a choice as any.

What a dish! She could put her shoes under my bed any time she chose - though I'm sure her husband would have something to say about that.

I have little interest in her hosting high teas with the hoity-toity on my dollar, while we have so many problems on the street and the poor under attack.

I agree with a previous poster, that we should dump these trappings - along with the Senate.

WTF ... were you in a coma from '60s until yesterday?

Raif, dude, I'm generally tight on your side, but frankly, this story should have been dead in the water in like one day. I remember taking a knowledge quiz in a first year polisci class, and only about 30% of college level students interested in politics knew who the geegee was. (I aced it..) So who cares?

Geegee Jean is being dragged a little too far in the mud, and I just don't think anyone cares about it, nor should. First of all, its such a token position. They show up at photo-ops, rubber stamp our weak legislation passed by a plurality (thankfully a minority for the time being) and look pretty. So who cares if it is a token being a token, geegee jean seems pretty harmless, actually quite likeable, and seems like an all round nice person who doesn't deserve to get the Stronach treatment.

Now, Yes we all know his choice was calculated, and yes it backfired, but frankly the only camp gloating is the seperatists because they embarrased Paul just by raising the spectre of Jean being a seperatist, even if it isn't true and even if we have a real seperatist in cabinet.

Besides, look at all the other patronage, pork barelling, and this almost seems like a decision made on credentials and qualities (even if gender, accent, and skin colour may have tipped the scales) Heck, who knows, maybe Larry Campbell turned down the role, and left PMPM scrambling at the last moment.

We are so smug thinking we live in a democracy, yet we live in a autocracy, where every 3 to 5 years we all go out and vote. With our system, 50% to 60% of the voters are ignored, while the winning party spreads the 'lolly' to their friends.

The taxpayer is not supposed to comment on spending, nor give imput, and the sheep we are, we go along, with our 'rose' coloured glasses, reciting this democracy bumf.

Compared to European counties and the USA, we are very undemocratic and it shows. Until Canadians stand up and say no more to this corrupt and evil system, Canada will always limp along, never being anything but the a second rate country, with the population so mezmorised with Liberal propaganda, following our corrupt leaders, like sheep to the slaughter.

It's so disgusting what has happened and all the bleeding hearts who believe all this nonsense.

Paul Martin is a disgrace. I can't believe that his strategy worked and the preposterous theft of hundreds of millions through the adscam debacle is a mere memory to most people.

They should be ousted and Martin should be drawn and quartered.

Unfortunately, the alternative is the useless Harper who would put this country in further turmoil.

As for this Hatian-born separatist CBC outcast, it seems a good fit for the pathetic circus called the federal government.

I bet Belinda Stronach is so mad over not being appointed that she's ready to hop over to the NDP.

Fyi michou; Most people here in B.C. would just as soon see you whining quebeckers take your chances on your own anyway. we're tired of hearing you complain about the fact that you don't get a fair shake in confederation. What a bloody joke that is! Oh my how Guy Carleton screwed up by trying to appease you all with the Quebec Act in 1774. Bonne chance mon petit ami (ma petite amie?). we might start taking you crybabies seriously if you ever start pulling your own weight and refusing all the gov't handouts that seem to come your way so easily. The greatest irony of all is that an independent Quebec would be swallowed up in no time by the U.S. of A., as they're already licking their chops over the James Bay Hydro Project, not to mention all of the other resources in 'la belle province'. Bring on the referendum. Peut-etre que je demanagerai a Chicoutimi pour vous aider en votant 'oui'?

I am the only person I have ever seen posting on these blogs who actually has been affected by the violence Madam Jean's FLQ felquist friends practiced. In 1969 my father, a second generation Montrealer who had spent 20 years working as a mining engineer in Sudbury got a job working on the Churchhills Falls power project which had its headquarters in downtown Montreal. So he packed us all up and moved us there. What a mistake.

We lived in lower Westmount, an enclave of what I soon learned to be were "les maudit anglais" or the "f*ing english". I was a thirteen year old school girl in grade 8 in October 1970. I was new to the city when the bombing started in earnest. Pipe box bombs in mail boxes were set by the Federation de Liberation de Quebec (FLQ). You never knew when to expect the next bomb. It became eerily normal. One day the inevitable happened and all the windows in our block were blown out. I was not injured by the flying glass but I was terrorized by it. Other kids on my block were hit by glass. The city was in a state of seige after James Cross the British Consulate was kidnapped by the FLQ. Then Monsieur Pierre Laporte, a democratically elected member of the Quebec cabinet was kidnapped and garrotted with his own cross chain by the FLQ. His body was dumped in the trunk of a Montreal taxi cab.

Can I describe the terror in that city and in my household. There were Canadian army snipers on every roof and tanks rolling down our beautiful boulevards.

The only thing that made me feel safe was when Pierre Trudeau was asked if he would invoke the War Measures Act he answered "just watch me". I knew that he cared about what happened to me and he was not going to let those bad men hurt us any more.

Pierre Trudeau, like Lester Pearson, MacKenzie King and every Prime Minister back to Sir John A. MacDonald would not watch bullies push Canadian citizens around...until Mr. Dithers came along and decided he would stop his dithering with the hot looking, Francophone Haitian/Canadian/French Radio Canada (TV Canada) second tier "presenter" Michaelle Jean.

So what if Madam Jean had hired Jacques Rose to renovate her library in 1993. Do you remember Jacques Rose. I sure as hell do. He was the charming fellow who served eight years after the fact as an accessory to the assassination of Pierre Laporte.

Francis Simard is the good friend and cowriter of a documentary on the FLQ with Madam Jean's husband Jean-Daniel Lafond. Francis Simard also was convicted in the assassination of M. Laporte.

In the notorious "documentary" where Madam Jean toasts the demise of my beautiful home Canada by "taking independence" from it and where she refers to the "white niggers who have their black niggers in Quebec" (!!!?) she clinks wine glasses with Pierre Valliere, the valiant leader of the FLQ, poor M. Laporte's murderers.

I was 12 and remember the night of his murder well. I felt afraid even though it was far away. I've also read Brian Moore's 'Revolution Script', which gave 'their side' of the story, and I've studied Quebec history. As far as I'm concerned the FLQ and anyone who sympathized with them are a bunch of punk scumbags. Period.

Here's my take on this:

http://broughton.ca/content/view/24/

Everyone has missed the point - she's not qualified, period.

Qualified, some say? Qualified to do what? Travel to iceland?

No - qualified to be the head of state. There might not be much to do on a day to day basis, but there's plenty to do when things go wrong. The collapse of governments has actually required a Governor General to act from time to time, and to do so with experience, authority, and knowledge of constitution, history, procedure, and precedent. The worst part of what Martin has done is to appoint a Governor General who will not have those qualifications, should she be called upon to act - in a manner loyal to the country and its laws and customs - in the event of a parliamentary crisis. Should Martin's government fall, he'll be calling the shots, having selected a Governor General who knows full well who her protector is, and who in the opposition benches is baying for her blood.

I viewed with deep distaste the attacks by the Reform/Alliance/Conservative Party on Clarkson and the Governor General in the past, in their endless cultural campaign against the legitimacy of government and its institutions. This time, they've completely missed the point, to their own disadvantage. A Governor General ought to be someone who we can have confidence in, should terrorist attack, disaster, collapse of parliament, or anything else disrupt our government, to have confidence in that person to lead us and to restore our democratic norms of government. To have experts to consult is simply not good enough. To romanticize lawless violence is abhorent. Michaelle Jean is not suitable as our Head of State.

Jaimie McEvoy
New Westminster

Doesn't dual citizenship by its very nature create a split allegiance?

Bobe010; please no logic in the debate!

Jeeves: 11 Hours Ago

"They should be ousted and Martin should be drawn and quartered."

Whether or not justified, such an action would be cruelty beyond measure. Drawing and quartering usually is carried out AFTER the hanging.

Canadians are fast asleep at the switch over the new GG. Meanwhile, the task force on deep integration with the U.S. is fast at work and progressing very well thank you. As long as Canadians have the separatists to worry about, our politicians will take every step and measure to secure Canada for the greater cause of the empire next door. Whoever said an independent Québec would be gobbled whole by the U.S, was it a turkey speaking ? gobble gobble !

To bijoux and nemesis...

The 'bad bad' separatists are back in the news, exactly where your politicians want them to be and to their greatest pleasure I am sure. Canadians have bought into it hook, line and sinker. (suits the feisty tyee to a tee doesn't it ?)

Who cares about democratic principles when we can get such an adrenaline rush from our childhood fantasies and memories... eh ?
Now Ms Jean will be able to sing sweet lullabies to those who cannot see further than their own made up bed. Don't come complaining when you're made to sleep in it.

michou: You are about as Quebecois as I am, get lost fraud.

michou; If you think you can 'integrate' with the U.S. you're a bigger fool than I originally thought. It will only be a matter of time before the quebecois crybabies come begging back for those sweet gov't handouts. Hopefully we'll have a gov't in place that will stand up and say 'non, c'est trop tard les maudits fesses de cochons'.

clubofrome,

Michou est Québécoise de naissance et de parents Beaucerons (ils font les plus beaux bébés). Vécue donc au Québec, aux États-Unis, au Canada dit "anglais" et même en Europe, plus spécifiquement en Angleterre. Le Québec, c'est mon port d'attache, mon pays, ma culture, ma nation. Il l'est depuis toujours et il le restera aussi. VoilÃ*, vous n'en saurez pas plus.

But...as I have stated before, mention the word 'separatist' and everything else takes the back burner. Canada is being sold hand and foot to the U.S. ? So what ! As long as we have separatists to deal with, not important. Canada has become the land of a single political party ? So what ! Where are the separatists so we can have a little bashing fun. A turncoat GG is nominated to speak for the Queen ? So what ! As long as she has reneged her past, she's now come 'clean'. It has become so easy to fool a Canadian that the reason for Paul Martin's choice for GG is now becoming so much clearer to me. Thank you Tyee commentors for having answered it in part for me.

Is anybody here seeing the writing on the wall ? Be careful Canadians, I believe more and more separatists are, and they do not all hail from Québec anymore...

p.s.: Thanks to grumpy for his insights into what is truly important but where Canadians seem to have been without for a long time.
Hint to others, it begins with the letter D.

People forget their sense of humour so easily in Canada-Rafe is still one of the funniest guys around.

Jeez, and I thought the Tyee banned french words... bobe010, most of our geegees were born elsewhere...Jaimie McEvoy, I'm sure geegeejean is no less qualified than than old gal who show up on all my change.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

dangrice.com, you and I see eye-to-eye.

Yes, my pockets droop too with the weight of royalty tethered far too close to my own crown jewels.

NOTE TO JAMEZ; I appreciate the original portfolio for a gg, no doubt, included quite an array of toadism among other submissive, yet regal displays of serenity. But if Jean is half the GG Clarkson has been, she'll do me proud.

Rather than toadying, Clarkson has gone out and met the people, especially the people of the polar north, as no one has ever done before in Canada.

Ms. Clarkson, an immigrant I will remind you, has made many of us accutely aware of northern issues and conditions during her mandate, but mostly, she has put a human face on our far north at a crucial time in many ways which will likely unfold far too quickly.

I hope Ms. Jean takes up a challenge as Clarkson did, a challenge a step or more removed from her current cause celebre, whatever that may be.

I only know Ms. Jean from a few minutes of television, but if she actually does insist on taking that extra effort to flesh out a story, as reports claim, I have faith she ain't some single issue you-know-what.

Yes, the tradition of gg may be outdated, but until we revolt and severe the ties let's celebrate those who take up the staff on behalf of the (Canadian) people.

Jean? No. Canada as one of the oldest democracies in the world, whose soldiers have paid with their lives for its freedom and standing, must enter the 21st Century and elect its Head of State. Would Michaelle Jean, this CBC second tier, separatiste dillitante win that coveted role in a democratic process? Only if hell could freeze over. Never again should we have our faces shoved up our own a**ses by the PMO. We are big boys and girls now.

Michou, you're correct about the whole Looming-Threat-of-Separatism being used as a diversion against the warehouse sale of Canada off to the US. Right now we have an excellent opportunity to ditch NAFTA--the best in years---and of course this big fat non-issue of Governor General is stuck front and centre in the media.

Rafe, don't be so goofy. She's as good a pick as anyone else in the country for this silly job, and you know it. Incidentally, why are all you effing cowards still not using your real names? None of you actually deserve to be on the Tyee, hiding behind all these nondeplumes, eh. It's a desecration of a great alternative press. Grow up, or I'm not coming back for another two months. Fraidy Cats, or what, geez.

Jean? Non.

Alas Allen, must be the blue moon!

Alas Allan, must be the blue moon!

Think about what is at stake for about 5 seconds.

Jean? Non.

When You Lie With Dogs, You Get Fleas...

Here's the deal... She's an insult of an appointment.

I finally realized that this isn't about seperatism. This isn't about how she voted in 1995. This isn't about her being a dual citizen of France. This isn't even about her lack of qualifications.

No. It's about the company she keeps.

By now, everyone has heard about her infamous toast in her husband's documentary.

"Independence isn't given, it's taken.."

And who's she (and hubby) toasting with? Former leader of the FLQ...Pierre Vallieres.

The FLQ has lost some of its meaning to current generations of Canadians, many of whom probably assume that the FLQ was simply an early incarnation of the PQ.

Let's refresh some memories...

"From 1963 to 1970, the FLQ committed over 200 violent political actions, including bombings, bank hold-ups and at least three deaths by FLQ bombs and two deaths by gunfire."

"For the seven years between 1963 and 1969, on average one bomb was planted somewhere in Quebec every 10 days."

"On February 13, 1969 the Front de liberation du Quebec set off a powerful bomb that ripped through the Montreal Stock Exchange causing massive destruction and seriously injuring twenty-seven people."

And that doesn't even discuss Pierre Laporte, who I'm sure still has family living in Quebec...Watching the Governor General-appointee toast to seperatism with the men that organized the same FLQ that stole Pierre from their life in October 1970.

Yesterday on AdlerOnline national show, guest host Roy Green had on a gentleman from Winnipeg named Bruce something. Bruce had been working in Defence HQ in Ottawa when an FLQ bomb went off. Bruce ended up with shards of glass in his back, but worst, he tried to save his coworker - his friend - who ended up dying in Bruce's blood drenched arms. Bruce welled up on the radio yesterday just remembering it. (And he mentioned that the occasional sliver of glass still emerges from his hide every-so-often.)

No. This wasn't the early start of the Parti Quebecois, we're talking about.

* * * *

Actions have consequences. Choices have ramifications.

Michaelle Jean (and her husband) show a well-documented fascination with FLQ members, and have spent social time with FLQ founders in the past.

Call me a judgmental bastard, but that means she doesn't deserve to be the next G-G. Could you look a Laporte family member in the eye and make an argument that Jean's socialize with Pierre Vallieres shouldn't disqualify her?

Well me neither.

Imagine that an FLQ victim was in your family. Killed or injured simply for going to work at the post office or at Ottawa Defence HQ.

Killed for doing their job.

Now imagine the next G-G toasting with the founders of the terrorist group that did the bombing.

No. This isn't about seperatism. This is about judgment.

And Madame Jean fails on that count.

Ottawa — The debate over the governor-general designate's commitment to Canada is taking a toll on the popularity of Michaëlle Jean, a new poll suggests.

Decima Research found that support for the appointment by Prime Minister Paul Martin plunged more than 20 percentage points — to 38 per cent from 59 per cent — during a two-week period earlier this month.

Between the two polls, Ms. Jean and her husband, Quebec filmmaker Jean-Daniel Lafond, were compelled to publicly affirm their loyalty to Canada following allegations they were once known in Quebec cultural circles as sovereigntists.

The latest survey of 1,028 Canadians, conducted through last weekend, found that those who were unsure about Jean's appointment climbed to 39 per cent from 25 per cent, while those who were decidedly unfavourable jumped to 22 per cent from 16 per cent.

Well spoken bijoux ...

I don't think she could taint the Royalty any worse than Prince Charles has already accomplished.

From a sovereigntist's perspective :

Translation of a commentary made by Yves Rocheleau.
Excerpts:

She cannot plead ignorance...

She (Michaëlle Jean) cannot ignore the political strains made on her Québec compatriots, her own nomination being by all evidence of a highly political nature in itself.

She cannot plead ignorance that she has accepted to head the Canadian federal state, whose constitution does not even recognize the existence of the Québec people, a Constitution all Québec governments have refused to sign since 1982.

She cannot plead ignorance to the 1995 referendum results, to the love-in and other misappropriations from the Canadian government, to the questionable initiatives taken by certain cultural communities, inciting them to vote no on an ethnic basis.

She cannot plead ignorance in regards to this odious clarity bill which reduces our National Assembly powers and ridicules Québec principled democracy.

She cannot plead ignorance to the adscam program for which she will be used in order to distract public opinion, a program whose first objective was, as Chuck Guité admitted, « to wage war on those separatists ».

She cannot plead ignorance that in 1970, the Canadian state applied the war measures act and how Canadian armed forces, for whom she will now act as their their commander-in-chief, invaded Montreal streets, abitrarily imprisoned hundreds of innocent Québec citizens, many of whom would eventually become her friends in subsequent years.

She cannot plead ignorance to the uneasiness her acceptation has caused in her current and past network of friends.

She cannot plead ignorance to the solidarity and the remarkable humanity aid provided by the people of Québec towards the Haitian nation during the last catastrophic floods.

Michaëlle Jean cannot plead ignorance, and as for any responsible individual, she will have to accept the consequences of her action, to have said yes to a poisoned offer made by Paul Martin.

I am a Québécer who feels like he has been betrayed…

Grumpy:

Is there such a country?

PS
It doesn't much matter what Michaelle Jean has done. It's what she will do as GG.

The best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour and madam is a player of all sides to her own advantage. Not that kind of person you want to be dealing with in the impending constitutional crises.

Paul was thinking with the wrong head (as some men do from time to time) when he "fell in love with her name and her face".

Pretty is as pretty does.

Bijoux:

Typical political behavior, from a person occupying a political position, and hobnobbing with other such "motivated" political folk. All IS well in Whoville........

But Bijoux, she's a journalist and her husband's a film maker, and if I was either, I'd snuggle up to both sides to get my story. The geegee only has two duties, stamp papers and to snuggle with strangers.

Seperatists are Canadians too.

I could indeed tender amy pros and cons in regardsto this issue. The biggest one being the time is nigh to do away with this silly position. Having said that, who really cares if hubby has cuddled up to seperatists. Half the quebec wing of any Federal party have done so at one time or another. It is a long standing philosophical debate dans la Belle Province. We are not exactly talking Al Queda here. This office was politicized a very long time ago and will remain so until we do away with this so very silly job.In the interim I have no doubt she will perform her functions with grace, style and with attention to issues she feels needed. And to top it off Man is she a babe.

What is it these babes, Celine, Michaelle all from Quebec,have all latched onto old geezers,is this part of the culture so often mention there (Quebec).

In response to Woody, it is not Québec 'babes' who are latching on, it is the old geezers who are.
Is this cultural ? No. Just a fact that Québec feminism is generally 10-15 years ahead of North American and European movements. Back in the '60's, the Quiet Revolution was used by Québec women as a springboard to foster more space and a greater voice for women in society's affair.
It would seem like the old geezers don't just want a pretty face anymore but want women with stamina and personality.

August 19, 2005

ROBBINS Sce Research (1998)
robbinssceresearch.com
Vancouver, British Columbia

For immediate Release

Highlights
q Federal Liberal support rising in ROBBINS poll while Conservatives hold at 30%.
q Governor General nominee Michaelle Jean seen as good choice by one half of Canadians.

Question #1-If an election were held two weeks from today for which federal political party would you caste your vote?

Federal Liberals-36%
Federal New Democrats-15%
Bloc Quebecois-12%
Federal Green Party-05%
Federal Conservative Party-30%
Other-02%
(Undecided-08%)

Question #2-In your opinion is recent Governor General nominee Michaelle Jean a good choice for the position?

Yes-42% No-41% Undecided-17%

Question #3- Have you at any time watched a television news show called the Passionate Eye on CBC?

Yes-34% No-53% Maybe/Unsure-13%

Commentary-Governor General nominee is supported by (50%) of decided voters of this cross Canada survey of federal voters, while nearly one out of five are as yet undecided. One-third of voters indicate that they have seen the “Passionate Eye” on CBC. Of these, (74%) are of the opinion that Michaelle Jean is a good choice for Governor General.

Alberta (26%) and Saskatchewan (28%) are least supportive of Ms. Jean’s nomination, while Quebec (48%), the Maritime Provinces (43%) and Manitoba and Ontario (44%) are the most supportive. Support for Ms. Jean (after factoring “Undecided’s” in Question’s #1 and #2) virtually mirror federal Liberal support across the country from province to province with the exception of Manitoba and Quebec, where Ms. Jean’s nomination has more support than the Liberal Party of Canada does. However, according to ROBBINS, Liberal support has increased in Quebec over this period to (33%), from earlier ROBBINS polls that reflect support in the low 20 percentile, however it is not known what, if any, correlation there is between Ms. Jean’s nomination and increased Liberal support in that province. The Liberal Party maintains (44%) support in Ontario and the Maritimes, with increased support in BC (32%).

Insight-Although much has been made of Michaelle Jean’s nomination to the position of Governor General in Canada, including some questions about her past relationship to Quebec nationalists, this poll clearly proves that as a political nomination Ms. Jean is an absolutely brilliant ‘political’ stroke by Prime Minister Paul Martin.

A random sample of 1,012 Canadians between August 10 and 19, 2005. This survey features a margin of error of 4.35%, 19 times out of 20 with a confidence level of 96%.

Glen P. Robbins

(604) 942-3757
-30-

Clearly, thats exactly what this appointment was set out to accomplish, votes for the Fiberals.

Jean the turncoat separatistes, sovereignist, liberal, french woman, Haitian, Canadian etc. is down in the polls. Here's to patriating the position of Governor General in Canada and making it an elected position.

As one of the oldest modern democracies Canada deserves an elected head of state.

I will personally eat every single vote awarded Madam Jean by the Quebec or Canadian electorate, or Senate or House of Commons (however the position is decided) in front of the parliament buidings in Ottawa.

Michou (my cats name) I didn't realize cats could type. But I am even more surprised that you are a separatiste. No more Meow mix for you dear!

And that is my promise.

GG should be elected: group

Broadcast News

Friday, August 26, 2005

OTTAWA -- A group that favours an elected Canadian head of state says problems with the incoming governor general might have been avoided if she'd been democratically chosen.

Citizens for a Canadian Republic says more than one person -- Prime Minister Martin -- should have passed judgment on Michaelle Jean before she was named the next GG.

Spokesman Tom Freda says the post is an important one and should serve more than advancing the political interests of a prime minister.

A Thursday poll by Decima Research suggested Jean's public acceptance has dropped substantially after questions were raised about possible separatist sympathies in the past.

Freda says Canadians might have had a chance to decide for themselves if it had been up to them to choose their own governor general.

It is time to patriate the position of Head of State of Canada and that position should have a democratic component if the position carries any political clout, which it does in the event of a minority government (do you think that might ever happen?).

Gosh one good thing that has come out of all this is that I realize again how much I love Canada. Hurray/vive Canada!

Charles;

I visited the site and watched the film clip. To say that I'm offended is to understate the case. The people she is cavorting, laughing and toasting with are some of the same people who tried to kill me.

During the FLQ crisis I was stationed at Canadian Forces HQ in Ottawa. The bomb they placed outside of my office window was meant to kill those in the room and I suppose make a statement.

They succeeded only too well The lady they killed was not only a co-worker, but also a friend.

After I picked myself up off the floor some thirty feet from where I was standing I saw my friend laying on the floor. I remember kneeling in a pool of her blood trying desperately to staunch the flow. Her eyes seemed to be pleading for me to help her.

This tiny middle aged French Canadian single mother of two who had been so happy. She had been talking for several days about her up coming vacation. The first in twenty years. Now she lay struggling to breath through her torn throat. Desperately I tried to staunch the flow of blood. I watched as the light in her eyes slowly dimmed and then disappeared. Here was a grown man and soldier kneeling in the welter of her blood crying like a baby as I cradled her in my arms.

My next conscious memory was lying on an operating table as a young doctor probed my back and side for glass. He continuously apologized for the pain, but explained that he couldn't anaesthetize me because I had to be able to tell him when he pressed on a shard of glass. It took 43 stitched to close my wounds. I still occasionally have pieces of glass surface.

Am I offended? You bet I am offended. This appointment is an insult to me and to Pierre La Porte and most importantly to Jean D'Arc St Germaine.

Paul Martin has insulted all of Canada including the people of Quebec.

Bruce

EFF OFF Truman Green.

There are millions more like me. Surprised ? ... Really ?

Shows how much you care about your cats. So I shouldn't expect to see you in Montréal for the next love-in then ? Oh that's right, you'll be busy eating your socks at Rideau Hall.

Truman Green--Like thats your given name eh, sounds like one of those characters from Dog Patch to me.

Please give her a chance. She has not done a single thing yet. Ooopsie, I forget she could have better disclosed her sovereignist bent. Well after having been in Western Cananda for over 25 years now, I have actually gone turncoat theother way and become highly sympathetic to Quebec sovereignty.
Perhaps she can turn this around?