Michaelle Jean: constitutional reformist.
Someone apparently didn’t tell Canada’s governor general exactly what her position was representative of when it was handed to her. either that, or she just, oops, plum forgot. In a speech she made in Paris, she rather intentionally, twice, identified herself as Canada’s head of state. Canada’s Stephen harper, as he should have been, was very quick to point out to Michaelle Jean the error of her ways.
The governor general does act as a representative of the queen, or king, or whoever it is at the time, but that’s about as far as it goes. She doesn’t get to call herself head of state–that would be reserved for the said king or queen of the day. Of course, the fact Canada still honours the monarchy system is a hotly debated subject to begin with, but until that changes, perhaps Michaelle Jean should refresh herself on Canada’s constitution and her roll in it. We may not all agree with the way it’s set out, but since it hasn’t changed since 1982, we might as well follow it until it does. Sorry, mrs. Jean, but that would include you.
