I'm really not entirely sure what to make of this:
The immediate future of Governor-General Michaëlle Jean is now an open political debate in Canada, with Liberals publicly arguing for an extension of her term, even as Conservatives are actively looking for her successor.
“The party was consulted about who we thought should be the next governor-general,” Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff told reporters on Sunday. “We’ve considered the question and we think the right way to go here is to reappoint Michaëlle Jean.”
This is highly unusual for an opposition leader to go public in such a way - highly inappropriate, too.
Why would Ignatieff, after being consulted privately by the Prime Minister, rush to a microphone and declare his love and admiration for Michaëlle Jean?
Is it simply that he's really fond of her? Perhaps, but that doesn't explain why he'd hastily gather reporters on a Sunday to make those thoughts public.
As much as I'd like to give Ignatieff the benefit of the doubt and assume this was poorly thought out, the opposite would seem to be more likely - i.e., that this was very much a deliberate move.
Is there a broader strategy here? Andrew Coyne hints at one:
...Worse, in mounting this highly public lobby for her to be retained, the Liberals have chosen to emphasize her demographic credentials: as a woman, black, francophone and immigrant. These were in large part why she was appointed, of course, and perhaps that’s fair enough, though some of us grumped at her signal lack of other qualifications to the job. But to invoke these in the debate over whether she should be reappointed is deliberately to suggest that the government’s decision to replace her is an insult to these groups — making whoever replaces her, should they happen to be white or male or some other genetically incorrect makeup, the embodiment of that insult. (...)
And so an office that is supposed to unite the people is now to be just another casualty in the culture war. What a cynical, destructive ploy.
Could that be it? Is Ignatieff staking out a position as the party leader who supports a female Francophone of Haitian descent for Governor-General so as to portray Harper as anti-female, anti-Francophone, anti-visible minority, and anti-immigrant if he selects, say, a Rick Hansen?
Others are perplexed by Ignatieff's gambit, too:
University of Toronto political scientist Peter Russell said the Opposition Leader should not be publicly promoting the re-appointment of an official who may be called upon to referee conflicts in a minority government environment.
“I think it's quite inappropriate for the Leader of the Opposition to intervene. ... It makes it appear as if the Governor-General is favoured by his party and not the government and that's the very wrong impression to create,” Prof. Russell said.
And:
The irony is that Mr. Ignatieff's hamfisted intercession has made it less likely Ms. Jean will be asked to stay on, rather than more likely. Now even if the government and the monarch wanted to grant her a second term, they could not do so without her appearing to be the Liberals' candidate.
It's clear what went on in the Liberal leader's brain: Ms. Jean is a woman, a visible minority, a francophone and an immigrant, all constituencies the Liberals are eager to retain. But in his effort to pander -- and to encourage the Liberal cliche that the Conservatives are intolerant-- Mr. Igantieff has jeopardized what chance Ms. Jean has to remain in the role she has performed so admirably.
And:
...With that move on his first anniversary as Liberal leader, Ignatieff performed a multi-tasking gaffe that should go into a record book somewhere.
It makes him appear an untrustworthy blabbermouth, kills any (very) faint hope of Jean's term actually being extended, makes Jack Layton appear discreet in handling a private consultation privately and gives Stephen Harper a dignified look for seeking outside input on the viceregal appointment.
(...)
Ignatieff should let Michaelle Jean go without a fuss. After five years as the class act of Rideau Hall, she deserves a dignified exit that isn't reduced to a shameless stunt for his political purposes.
And:
Of course, it's entirely possible that Ignatieff really did come to this position randomly, and there wasn't time to set it up properly. If so, he was beyond help. But it would speak even worse of the opposition's current status if his statement was actually more than a few hours in the making.
Now, this doesn't necessarily reflect one way or the other the job Michaëlle Jean has done as Governor-General. The Calgary Herald editorialsts argue that she's served the country well and that most Canadians would approve of her performance.
Perhaps. Let's not gloss over, though, the very significant (given her position) head-of-state kerfuffle.
No comments:
Post a Comment