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Do We Still Need the Lt-Gov?
Why the job of lieutenant-governor is obsolete.
James Dunsmuir, BC lieutenant-governor, 1906-1909.
The appointment by Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Steve Point as lieutenant-governor of B.C. brings into focus the office itself. Apart from constitutional wonks or those offended by an appointment that's a different race than their own, this and similar appointments are greeted with a yawn and the certainty that within a week or so, most people will have forgotten his name.
Both governors-general and lieutenant-governors, within their own jurisdiction, are the Queen's representative and in her absence are pro tem "heads of state." This means that the lieutenant-governor has the residual powers of the Queen which is to say virtually none. The position is ceremonial only. In fact, what I always saw as the main duty, which is to host the Annual Lieutenant-Governor's Ball at Government House, no longer exists because the ball is no longer held.
Our crisis shortage
I can only find two cases where the lieutenant-governor or governor-general had to exercise power. The King-Byng Affair was a 1926 Canadian constitutional crisis that occurred when the Governor General of Canada, Lord Byng, refused a request by Prime Minister King to dissolve parliament and call a general election. The more interesting case, however, happened right here in Lotusland.
On Election Day, June 12, 1952, in an unbelievable upset, the Social Credit Party, leaderless, wound up with the largest number of seats by one over the CCF (now the NDP). Not until July 15, 1952, did they select W.A.C. Bennett as leader.
Having the most seats, Bennett went to Government House to see Lt.-Gov. Clarence Wallace. So did CCF leader Harold Winch who claimed the right to govern because of the experience of their members in the legislature and, besides, they surely could count upon Tom Uphill a "Labour" member from Fernie, to support them. Not for the first time, nor the last, Bennett had a trick up his sleeve, or rather in his pocket where he had a letter from Uphill saying he would support him. For over two months, B.C. was without a government while Wallace dithered. On August 1 he finally called upon Bennett to form a government -- which lasted 20 years.
It should be noted then that the last federal constitutional crisis was 81 years ago and the last in B.C. 55 years ago. And the last time the monarch had to make a decision was in 1909 when the House of Lords rejected Lloyd-George's "People's Budget" which led to a long-running constitutional crisis that saw two general elections, the threat of creating hundreds of new Liberal life-peers to reflect the political make-up of the elected house and eventually the Parliament Acts of 1909 and 1911 which, amongst other things, revoked the ability of the House of Lords to obstruct a government finance bill.
Favourite figurehead
But what if we did have a crisis?
The precedents are now clear and even if there were a crisis the governor-general or lieutenant-governor would act upon the advice of a constitutional lawyer. Thus the question of the candidate's ability to handle a constitutional crisis simply doesn't arise. And a damned good thing too when you consider who's held the jobs.
The best lieutenant-governor in my lifetime was my former colleague Garde Gardom. It's not that he did anything particularly noteworthy, because he didn't. They're not supposed to do anything noteworthy as Her Honour, the Honourable Iona Campagnolo, did when she added some stuff herself into a Throne Speech, a bit of vanity for which she was noted and which was unwarranted. No, Garde looked the part -- full body upon which to wear the medals he hadn't earned, in a uniform which rather brings back memories of Charles Laughton in Mutiny on the Bounty.
And Garde had both the booming voice with the bullshit to go with it that marked him as a natural figure of non-existent authority. Cub scouts trembled in awe as Garde's Wizard of Oz like voice filled the air with the platitudes which came so naturally to him.
Unquestionably the man for the moment. He should have been cloned.
White Spot denizen
Close family friend "Uncle" Walter Owen was great in the role. (He swore me into cabinet in December of 1975). In November of 1976 he and I took the plane from Victoria to Vancouver so we could both go to my real uncle, Dr. Bill Hatfield's, funeral. We were met at the airport by His Honour's mafia-like black limousine, driven by an eastern gentleman who looked for all the world like Kato. The vehicle closely resembled those Soviet jobs called the Zil that sped out of the Kremlin onto Red Square.
On the way to the church the lieutenant-governor asked if I had eaten. "No", I replied, which brought the vice-regal order to go into the White Spot at 67th and Granville, the original Vancouver drive-in pioneered by Nat Bailey. It was quite a sight. Every jaw in the joint dropped as the driver finally eased our monstrous conveyance flying a B.C. flag into a parking spot. Naturally it was the original hamburger (mushrooms for me, cheese for him).
Uncle Walter always looked the part and dispensed his noblesse oblige as if he was born a duke instead of the son of the jailor at the B.C. Penitentiary. Hell of a guy and, in case you wondered, father of the future outstanding (I think) mayor of Vancouver, Philip Owen.
Multicultural politics
In 1988 Brian Mulroney appointed Hong Kong native David Lam as Lieutenant Governor of B.C. as a gesture to the Chinese-Canadian community, while B.C.’s latest Lieutenant-Governor is clearly a play to the Aboriginals of this province. This is no bad thing; indeed it's probably a very sensible approach considering that the office is only a glitzy sinecure.
Like most Ottawa appointments, these are hatched in the deepest secrecy. For many years the governor-general was a chinless British aristocrat and the lieutenant-governor a prominent member of the business community. In 1952 the wealthy and heartily Liberal Vincent Massey became the first Canadian governor-general. Since then the Prime Minister has used the office to either pay off political debts, get rid of unwanted colleagues, shore up his political base or make some other point. Lieutenant-governors are usually political rewards by the government in Ottawa.
Job review
We have, then, reached the point where we should ask two questions. Do we need a governor-general or lieutenant-governor? And, if the answer is yes, what should be the criteria for appointment?
Neither job, to all intents and purposes, has any practical significance. It's a ceremonial role so that the head of government need not spend time with visiting dignitaries, reviewing Boy Scout parades and taking goodwill jaunts to far flung places.
Assuming that we agree that it's important, though not very important, to have a ceremonial chief, what ought the criteria to be?
Pierre Trudeau used the governor-general's position to make a statement when, in 1979, he appointed former NDP premier of Manitoba Ed Schreyer to show that "the West" was important. That was the plan but Ed made such an ass of himself that no one from Western Canada has been even considered since. On May 14, 1984, he appointed Jeanne Sauvé to indicate that women were to be seen as full citizens with equal opportunities as men. She distinguished herself by closing the grounds of Government House to the surrounding villagers who, since man's mind runneth not to the contrary, had been permitted to use the grounds for purposes, public and private, usual to a public park.
The last two appointments to the Governor General's office were to non-Caucasian women.
The first, Adrian Clarkson, was selected because she's of Chinese origin and was beloved by the Central Canadian establishment, worked for the CBC and is married to a younger lad, a parlour pink who philosophizes about things no one else ever gives a thought to. Like the CBC in general, the Honourable Adrienne sure as hell knew how to spend public money. The latest, Michaëlle Jean, also a CBC type, got the nod because Paul Martin hoped to gain political support from black allophones in Quebec. He didn't but Mme. Jean has become very popular, at least with the national media.
Harmless entertainment
Are these throwbacks to long ago worth keeping?
Certainly the legal and constitutional stuff could be done by the chief justice of the B.C. Court of Appeal who now subs for the lieutenant-governor now or by the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada for federal matters. The problem would be who would handle the frilly, feel-good, bits in that uniform straight out of Ruritania? Vexing question.
Maybe we should do what Canadians do best -- nothing. The arguments either way are not compelling or vigorous because the office is little more than a sentimental sinecure from the days of the British Raj and when Britannia did rule the waves.
It's harmless, doesn't cost all that much and the uniforms, if not the occupants of the office themselves, do look pretty funny, and these days we could all do with a little laugh at ourselves.
Related Tyee stories:
- An Open Letter to Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnolo
The B.C. Liberals intend to close the legislature five weeks early on Thursday, denying serious scrutiny of $13 billion in expenditures of taxpayers' money. Your Honour, you have the power to prevent this abuse of democracy. - Pam Anderson for Next Governor General!
Don't laugh. (Well, ok, do.) But here's why. - Wanted: A Real Governor General
Don't get me wrong – I'm not upset about separatism or lack of qualifications.
![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
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- Who Mowed Down the Premier?
- Canada's Economy, Deconstructed (by a 12 year-old)
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- The Gem of Canadian Science that Harper Killed
- Sexism Tinges Criticism of Teachers' Job Action
- Now Is the Time to Talk up Big Ideas
- The Ethics of Addiction Studies
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- Why Blackberry's Embrace of HTML5 Is Good Karma
- Bias in BC's Pesticide Decision? Follow the Bouncing Verbs
45
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zalm
4 years ago
Another specious oversimplification
On Election Day, June 12, 1952, in an unbelievable upset, the Social Credit Party, leaderless, wound up with the largest number of seats by one over the CCF (now the NDP). Not until July 15, 1952, did they select W.A.C. Bennett as leader.
C'mon Rafe. Don't you remember how L-G David Lam held a private meeting with Vander Zalm after his dinner with Tan Yu and Faye Leung became public knowledge? This paved the way for VanderZalm to privately resign, without the attendant publicity and loss of governmental oversight that an impeachment brings (criminal charges notwithstanding).
A Lieutenant-Governor worth his-or-her salt strives - like the Queen - to get things done with a minimum of fuss, behind the scenes, not out in public, unless there is no alternative.
How exactly is a chief justice going to command the authority, never mind the power or wisdom to do the same? Gardom, a wise man? A QC who hadn't figured out that George Vancouver wasn't the first human being on the shores of the West Coast?
Lieutenants-Governor who are forced to make constitutional decisions in public are scarcely failures - it is we the voters who are the failures for failing to elect men and women of principle and probity.
If you want an appointed Chief Justice to substitute - who may be a good MAN, but nevertheless remains unscrutinized throughout his working life - you'd better make a better case than this. Or BC will be held up to more than the ordinary standard of ridicule for our electoral choices when malfeasance occurs, as it has in every prmiership since WAC.
zalm
4 years ago
Walter Owen...
...like a duke dispensing noblesse oblige....?
Aren't you embarrassed as you read what you've written Rafe? Or for showing up at White Spot in the company of a dotty old man in a "Zil"?
Sheesh. Maybe I'll give your on-line program a pass. Sounds like I'll be wasting my time.
nightbloom
4 years ago
I'm inclined to agree, but I
I'm inclined to agree, but I think we're underestimating the importance of the symbolic element in modern nationhood. Sure, patriotism is supposed to be passé, but the fact remains that we have a parliamentary system, not a presidential one, in which the executive function of government is institutionally separated from the symbolic function (filled by the Head of State). Whereas in the U.S. President Bush is both Head of Government AND Head of State.
The idea of handing over all the last-ditch legal and constitutional levers to a chief justice is a good one, but who will open and dissolve Parliament, and who will take the salute from the troops? The GG is also the Commander in Chief, a function that can't be filled by P.M.s and court justices. I agree that Canadian symbols like the GG have never resonated (nor have our invented symbols, like the Maple Leaf...at least not with the same potency as national symbols in other countries). But in the end you're still stuck with the question: what to replace them with?
Grumpy
4 years ago
Obsolete
The role of lieutenant-governor is obsolete, just like Canada, a quaint throw back to simplier times.
alive
4 years ago
Parasites all!
Yep, the masss need their symbolic figureheads because they do not think that the world can go on without all that pomp and waste of money and time.
We certainly could do without the Queen and all her representatives!
They do nothing and suck on the public purse!
southdeltawalker
4 years ago
Good bye Lt-Gov.
Good grief...it's amazing that in the year 2007 we would be even having this discussion. The position is more than obsolete-it is embarrassing.
Years ago i was at the Opera and the Lt Gov. came in. Some ol' geezer all in "his best"-medals and all!
We were asked to stand.
Let's get rid of this position and turn Gov't house into a community centre with community gardens. Now that would be of benefit!
nightbloom
4 years ago
No one's denying that our
No one's denying that our symbols are outdated. The problem is that we'd never agree on what to replace them with, and the liberal intelligentsia and socio-economic elite no long believe that symbols are necessary for social cohesion. They are. In fact, I lot of our cultural dysphoria (celebrity worship, mass immitation of brand-flashing icons) at the moment can be attributed to a helter-skelter search to fill the symbolic void and lack of group identity/belonging/initiation markers in the po-mo urban wired dehumanized social landscape. Get rid of symbols and you'll end up with something analogous to Donald Trump, Beyonce and Paris Hilton on the money.
dr evil
4 years ago
replacement (movement and shakers)
replace them with dreams..Haida shaman shaking rattles..exorcists gently tossing holy water like icicles on a christmas tree
replace them with a partridge
a choir of children
my hand is up could we
replace them daily..everyday replace them
could we?
have them in flaming pink on the one day
and
in black and gliding the next
Sundays of course they`ll be silver singing the river songs of salmon
the manna rhythm in four four time
Mondays given over
to the song of the great oceans
Look at us look at us
We are your governors general..
blowing and spouting from over the sea
G West
4 years ago
Are you sure about this?
Personally, I find that casting my mind back to a certain BCSC decision in a case called Delgamuukw and delivered by a certain Chief Justice Allan McEachern,convinces me that there is no way a sitting justice can or should perform the functions of the 'head of state', tutular or not, in this province.
Furthermore, I have a strong feeling that there may be other examples of judicial malfeasance in this province (some of which may soon come to light) that would also argue strongly against any such move.
In my view.
southdeltawalker
4 years ago
dr evil...quote?
where are you quoting from?
thanks.
dr evil
4 years ago
sorry I made it up
just winged it walker..sorry kinda lost it for a moment..interrupted the thread probably
my apologies
dr e
southdeltawalker
4 years ago
dr evil...
no aplogies..loved it!
..."to the song of the great ocean....blowing and spouting from the sea" beautiful.
especially today as the Macaw in Washington machine gunned a whale to death...but i guess i'm going off topic now.
nightbloom
4 years ago
...Oy, good point (Gwest).
...Oy, good point (Gwest). And then of course there's the handiwork of the U.S. Supreme Court Justices in 2000. What paragons of political disinterest they proved to be. If only we could have lent them one of our spare CBC women-of-colour apparatchiks to solve that doozey for them. The world would be a different place today.
I think the pace of developments now is too quick for symbols to catch up, whether it's the GG, the anthem, or what have you. We'll have a de facto North American parliament, customs union and security regime before Canada ever gets its act together enough to bury its multiple hatchets and invent its own head of state.
Maryrose
4 years ago
The Lg
It is L O N G past time for Canada and British Columbia to send the British "royal' welfare bums and the GG'G & LG's to the dust bin of history.
pender paul
4 years ago
and quit the commonwealth, too
The monarchy is completely irrelevant, we should ban the playing of god save the queen, the LG's residence would make a perfect place to house the homeless, the GG is an embarrassment and having to swear an oath to a foreigner absurd. The Brits don't give two hoots about Canada--why are we so anxious to keep ties that are meaningless? If we really need a head of state then elect one, but make darn good and sure that the person so elected is there to represent the people, not some funny old lady who lives on another contingent.
G West
4 years ago
amen to that
amen to that pender paul
nightbloom
4 years ago
Ugh...I don't disagree, but
Ugh...I don't disagree, but the "ditch the royals" rant has been done so many times. Let's hear something concrete about what to replace it with. If it's a symbolic President (Israel, Germany) then it doesn't really make all that much sense to hold a nation-wide election. If they're elected (President, Chancellor, whatever) then it means their position incarnates to notion of pupular sovereignty, as they are therefore entitled to a genuine role in governance. What role would that be?
Canadians are great at complaining about this issue, but are a little short on practical solutions.
G West
4 years ago
replace them with nothing, rien, nada, zilch
Create a proper electoral system wherein the actual wishes and intent of the voting public are reflected in the makeup of the parliament and the legislatures. Superannuate the senate and Bob's your uncle.
It couldn't possibly be worse than it is now and a few coalition governments would soon put the lie to the notion that consensus thinking can't govern effectively.
No problem.
alive
4 years ago
No more parasites!
nightbloom: Why replace them?
They do absolutely nothing of any consequence!
If you manage to get rid of a burden that has held you down for ages, why would you look for another one to burden you now?
We are grown people, we all know that these symbolic figureheads are people just like ourselves!
They are just as liable to make a blunder as you and I.
We need a system where every elected official is accountable! Not a system where one man/person is "infallible"!
lynn
4 years ago
Over the Rainbow
I'm kinda with nightbloom on this.
I think the world of man needs some magic.
Something that resounds.
Something that is bigger and wiser and deeper than paltry politics.
More what dr.evil is talking about.
Mystery.
Garbo-ish,
A mixed bag of: Gandalf, Harpo...Glinda The Good Witch of The North, Ian Fleming...and if we must have some kind of royal touch - how 'bout The Prince of Whales ( the one that only spouts saltwater).
Now we're talking.
darcy.mcgee
4 years ago
Greatest Rip Off
Man, I hope The Tyee didn't pay for this article. The "L-G / G-G is obsolete" meme is the oldest meme in Canadian politics...older even than The Quebec Question. It's been run over so many times the Trailer Park Boys are going to cook it for dinner.
How about this for a debate instead:
The L-G and G-G are titular roles that serve as honorariums. If we dumped our Queen (yes, OUR Queen...it's OUR constitutional) and became a republic we could dump the L-G and the G-G.
And it's a good thing that Canada has already legalized gay marriage, because when that happens and the entire country is bent over and sodomized by the United States it'll be all nice and legal like to shack up and live together.
G West
4 years ago
We'd have to share the bed with Tony
Whoops! sorry about that – wee snaggle-toothed Tony’s off to the middle east and Gordon Brown the dour Scot has taken pride of place in Bush's white house Darcy.
Looks to me as though Scotland is about to set up its own wee republic - why not Canada?
She can be your queen - with a name like darcy mcgee I'm sure she'd have you back - though you'll have to go as a Brit when Scotland's independent.
Lynn,
how about bob the cat for GG - he's poetic enough don't you think?
monty
4 years ago
Lt. Gov. house (aka palace)
EDITED FOR RACISM. TYEE MODERATOR
Seriously, Rafe, why not write about the horrendous corruption at Deltaport? It's more relevant.
Gustav
4 years ago
Three Cheers for the Lieutenant Governor!
Rafe's rubbishing of the office of Lieutenant Governor is not at all convincing. As any political science textbook will explain, the L-G serves three basic functions. First, s/he carries out routine ceremonial functions, thereby freeing the premier to attend to the business of government. Secondly, the L-G is duty-bound to act as the non-partisan representive of the province, in which capacity s/he can speak on behalf of those common values and interests of British Columbians that transcend party politics. Thirdly, and most importantly, the L-G is an important guardian of the Constitution: a constitutional fire-extinguisher, in Professor Frank MacKinnon's memorable phrase.
This last point has not been rendered obsolete by the courts because some of the most important rules of our parliamentary system of government take the form of conventions, which are not justiciable. So, for example, if a premier ever got it into his head to ignore a clear vote of non-confidence passed by the Legislature, the L-G would be entitled to dismiss him.
The mere fact that governments in Canada don't routinely breach basic parliamentary conventions is hardly evidence of the obsolescence of the L-G (or of the Governor General). The reserve powers of the Crown serve as a salutary reminder to governments that they cannot subvert the Constitution with impunity.
G West
4 years ago
Gustav
When does this start?
lynn
4 years ago
G West
Definitely. A GG that could paint his own robes... and a poet laureate all wrapped into one. ;-)
bob the cat
4 years ago
l&G waay cool
When do I start?
We`ll rock the Casbah.
Isn`t it LG? the GG Ottawa? Either ones ok.
hmmm...kiss the ring...kiss the ring...I like it!
Bow ye all down knaves and hear the address
from the throne...the insane machinations of Krusty the Klo...err Gordo the Excellent and Golden and Best in the Whole Wide World Greatest!!!
G West
4 years ago
I'd take Vickyville btc
The climate's wayyyy better and you might get into a scrap with pee wee - he doesn't like costumes apparently.
Budd Campbell
4 years ago
APPOINTMENT OF STEPHEN POINT A GOOD THING
The appointment of an Aboriginal, lawyer and judge Stephen Point, as BC's next Lieutenant Governor is a positive development. Why do some people feel the need to rain on Point's parade when they apparently don't favour abolishing the Monarchy itself? Maybe there are some who just don't like the symbolism of an Aboriginal in that position?
G West
4 years ago
Abolishing the monarchy
Is a British problem - they can if they like - it is nothing but an historical anachronism here in Canada.
We need to tell the Queen and her 'representatives' that they are no longer needed ...
Stephen Point is a fine fellow - as have been many Lieutenant-Governors and Governor Generals - the fact that the nonsensical position they hold is irrelevant to the operation of what should be a modern state notwithstanding.
nightbloom
4 years ago
I wouldn't say that the LGs
I wouldn't say that the LGs and GGs are irrelevant to the operation of a modern state that has a parliamentary system. It's a system that is built (or more precisely evolved) with that external role. The entire arch of this system's development over the past 1000 years was absorbed with working out the balance between this external role at the top of the honours system, the legislature, the PM and cabinet, etc. To remove the titular figurehead is to remove a central aspect of parliamentary government. You'd have to change the whole system. I'm indifferent about the monarchy in the Canadian context (altho I think the Brits should keep it) but you still have to come up with something to fill that void unless you're going to go the a Presidential republican system....and tell me honestly if you can say "President of Canada" with a straight face.
G West
4 years ago
I agree nightbloom
Which is why I phrased my comment in the way I did:
...Create a proper electoral system wherein the actual wishes and intent of the voting public are reflected in the makeup of the parliament and the legislatures. Superannuate the senate and Bob's your uncle.
It couldn't possibly be worse than it is now and a few coalition governments would soon put the lie to the notion that consensus thinking can't govern effectively.
It's working pretty well in the Northwest Territories right now.
No problem.
hova87
4 years ago
Big step
I'm with Budd on this one. I am somewhat close with Stevens family, this has become quite a huge step for us all as Aboriginal people. Steven is a great leader, infact, the pay he receives as L.G is actually less then half of what it was when he was a Judge. Still he goes forward with it because he knows what a big step this is for all Aboriginal people of BC. Finally maybe we can get our issues recognized and dealt with in a respectful and timely matter in order to move forward in a positive way for both Native and Non-Native communities of the province.
bob the cat
4 years ago
Steven Point
No disrespect meant towards Mr. Points appointment.
However I would have preferred seeing him as Premier or leader of the opposition rather than the symbolic role as the British monarchies representative.
Would make a terrific attorney general hmmm??
Yammer
4 years ago
A mascot
So far what I'm reading from LG supporters is that the position should be kept because it is traditional, can point out to governments that they should respect rituals like the nonconfidence vote, and can take the ceremonial ribbon-cutting/saying hi at rubber chicken luncheon duties.
To me, it's perfectly clear that the people who should be getting governments to act in accordance with useful rituals are the people, i.e. the voters.
The other activities could be performed by any person. In fact, I am not even sure it should be a person. I would be fine with a much cheaper LG costume (like the Burger King, but less terrifying) to be worn by a parliamentary intern whenever required.
I also like the idea of having the LG residence turned into social housing, though for even better symbolic resonance, I'd like to see it as a grow-op.
skidegate
4 years ago
Lt. Gov. important
Your articles have deep-rooted links that go beyond materialist cause and effect concepts of Science. The existential absolutes, Mind, Infinity, Individuality, Family, and culture are common ground of Order within Chaos. Deep ecologies support the edifices of both God and the Lt. Governor's Office. Before discussing their pertinence we must understand the role they play controlling the beast within the Human psyche. No doubt Humans are capable of cruel actions, even though we call our gentleness our humanity. Rest certain that the level of civilization known on Earth owes much to these Institutions, but be warned that when people forget tradition is when their societies fail.
Reality is pure paradox; we know what we do because we are present within life, while Life is virtually impossible and could never be made to exist unless there were an infinity of possibilities, and since we occupy Time and Space within the continuum of Small Infinity and Large Infinity, which have neither center nor boundaries, but exist in the shape set out in Revelation Five, forming the Cross of St. John seen on Ambulances, reaching the conclusion that Mind itself is omnipresent in Infinity, and we have exactly the same Mind, but are unable to comprehend our Creator because Mind cannot comprehend mind, but only relates to reality. Everything on our side of Infinity is numerological, with Prime numbers extending infinitely, while Lightspeed sets the boundary of physical experience. Words cannot express such concepts so we either make analogies or we digitize them and end up with notions of God that approximate the Infinite nature of Creation. The role of Lt. Governor, or any sovereign, is to personify and manifest the resolution of the Highest Power possible, over those who are subject to or are members of the Emperial order. Imperial order Institutionalizes Family rights over the Planet. Subordinate Offices to the Empress serve to represent 'god' to the lower classes of people. Truth is both an absolute and a process so each generation walks in footsteps already laid down, until the trail is extended further towards the Infinite. Gods serve the function of falling from prominence under a new ecological paradigm that adopts a new truth. The power of any office within its realm transmits the will of the Spirit to those less willing to believe and obey the sovereign system. But the office also exists to surrender power.
Its fascinating that the new Lt. Gov. presides over the biggest change in history, restoration of Potlatch to the position denied Indians by the Potlatch Act and by Church intolerance. It could occur that Chief Point legislates the Potlatch back into existence over the Church. Otherwise how would people know who to believe anymore?
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bob the cat
4 years ago
wow
Pretty darn good piece skidegate. You`ve certainly got some things figured out.
S1m0n
4 years ago
The GG and LG are really the people's rep, not the queen's
The truism in canadian civics is that the GG and various LGs are the representatives of the crown. That's true enough, but not especially meaningful and doesn't describe their political function.
The GG and LGs are there to seperate the nation (ie, the crown, in canada) from the head of its government. Their one great power is the power to blow the whistle and stop any government in its tracks, by sending the nation to the polls.
In that, they stand in for thepeople of Canada, not the crown. They're there to ensure that the executive knows that they work for us, not the other way around. Having a lot of power (ie, by being PM) makes this an easy thing to forget, so the risk of it is always presence.
The GG guards the people of Canada from their government. It's an essential role; we cannot do without it.
G West
4 years ago
S1mOn
So I assume you're in favour of a popularly elected 'president' rather than the current system where the sitting Prime Minister "appoints" all the 'representatives' of the CROWN for the whole country?
Elections for which post would have to be:
a) non-political - divorced from party affiliation, and
b) candidates would be nominated popularly with no political interference, at
c) elections that are separated in both time and consanguinity from any other election (federal, provincial or territorial) at any time anywhere in the country.
Respectfully, I say it ain't possible and it ain't worth the trouble. Superannuate them all and give 'em a little pin for their lapel in 'our deep appreciation' of the many noble services they've performed in the past...
We can, and should, do without 'em. Part of a wholesale change in the way we chose our governments of course. Your assessment of their worth, value and purpose sounds like the high-school civics text version of parliamentary democracy.
Jack's
4 years ago
Mme. Jean? Give me a break!!!
The appointment of this woman has made me (especially) strongly opposed to the Governor-General position.
I'm sure the CBC employed her to display its racial diversity - and the same thought seemed apparent when the Liberals appointed her GG.
She has a free ride for the rest of her considerable number of remaining years - plus a regular expense-paid visit back to her native Haiti - or wherever the hell she comes from - thanks all to the Canadian taxpayers.
Does this comment sound pissed off? It should!
G West
4 years ago
Michaëlle Jean
Jack's:
While I agree with you about the office, I certainly don't have any of your reactions to its current occupant, or for that matter, her predecessors.
In fact, I think they've all done a very fine job - at much less expense than a great many other such showy exercises - like the PMO's office.
I think I recall that all vice regal services and costs for the country as a whole amount to about $1.10 per citizen per year.
If only pee wee cost his countrymen so little.
There are reasons to get rid of the monarchy and its holdovers - none of them include what amounts to the practical and offensive racism (and probably misogyny) of your remarks.
netscaper2
4 years ago
I'm really glad....
....that Mr. Mair wrote this column as I thought I was the only person in BC that felt the LG was a waste of money.
Now I know there are two of us but I'm not sure about Rafe.
I really think he's pissed because he hasn't been asked....
The LG and the GG should be in the same
category as the CBC and the Canadian Senate.
All should be abolished forthwith !
G West
4 years ago
You mean you'd scrap the CBC
And leave us with nothing but CTV, Global and E-television.
You can't be serious netscaper2 - the CBC ain't much but it's a dams sight better than all the rest put together.
I'm with you on the rest of your list though.
Jack's
4 years ago
Racism???
We have an immigrant from the caribbean who harks back to her native land at taxpayer expense on some reason of diplomatic exchange.
And, she relinquished French citizenship to accept her jammy position.
In addition - her husband, and probably she as well, had Quebec separatist leanings.
This must show that Canadians are the most tolerant people on the face of the earth!
Give me a break!
G West
4 years ago
Nope jack's
I think it shows you're INTOLERANT - that's about all.
No breaks for racists. Not from me at least.