Governor General - Why?

Are these posts coming from the Toronto Sun slush pile or something?

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Which of the points raised do you seem to have issue with?

I raised issues with the usefullness of the governor general, which, in fact is discussed in ALMOST EVERY SINGLE Canadian Political Science textbooks used by Canadian Universities probably in the last 20 years.

Are you suggesting that the Toronto Sun and Canadian Professors are in partnership to continue to advocate these erroneous and utter "slush" views?

The reservations I have with the appointment of the GG are my views - and if they resemble views expressed in other media, then it is strictly by coincidence.

If my views happen to be similar to one publication or another - and you choose to automatically stereotype that view, and the person who is expressing that view, then so be it.

I have never been a monarchy booster. However, I find that it is handy to have a separation between Head of State and Head of Government. This is especially valuable when there is a minority government, when most of the voting public wanted nothing to do with the Head of Government. In these situations an impartial Head of State serves to tone down the division. If the argument is to save a buck, then why not also advocate having only one MP per province ?

Jason,

my view? Keep the shallow political arguments off of BlogTO.

I enjoy this blog very much, but Federal political debates don't belong on it in my books. You guys do a great job of covering city issues, events, social life, etc... but this just clouds otherwise good content.

Why not an article about how horrible CityTV's reporting is? Or, maybe if you'd like to write about politics, a story on how city construction projects can only use union labour, wasting tens of millions of dollars IN THE CITY.

Mark,

Thanks for the feedback. I will talk about a variety of issues, some may or may not be of interest to everyone.

That being said, the GG being appointed this week was BIG NEWS for all Canadians. (Including Torontonians) I think it was just too big to completely overlook.

I would like to add that I think your ideas regarding City TV and Union Labour are fantastic - I will for sure get to those at some point.

Thanks again - hope you keep reading - and find some stuff that is more relevant for you!

It is absolutely essential to have some kind of head of state who is not the elected leader, imho. Here's why:

1) It keeps Martin or whoever free to run Parliament instead of entertaining dignitaries and representing Canada at national and international events and ceremonies.

2) It keeps the pointless partisan bickering from affecting our representation in the above.

3) It ensures, as Michael noted, continuity during a minority government when parliament is shaky and someone "objective" is needed to ensure that shady things do not go down.

4) In the last two appointments, it's been away to inject a little class, a little style, and a little more diverse representation into a staid government filled with, in John Ibbitson's words, a bunch of grey-haired old men.

Personally, I would love to see us retain the GG but break with England's monarchy--why can't Ms Jean be our Head of State, period? I don't feel the need to kowtow to the Queen and her dysfunctional brood, but I do think a ceremonial head of state is necessary for Canada's future.

A book called Democracy Needs Aristocracy by Peregrine Worsthorne argues that the non-elected persons in positions of power have a place in a modern democracy.

His arguments are more about inherited titles, but clearly the GG post and Canada's relationship with the English monarchy are part of the same habit.

Do we need them? I guess we have to figure out what they do and who would do the jobs instead. Is it just a high profile job? Does it matter that they're not elected as long as someone with sense gets to fill the position?

We don't elect every government position, and we already know that even our elected officials spend more money than breath in a somewhat dubious fashion.

Is the GG just there to spend cash? Does she do a real job for real money? Do we need to elect someone to do what she does, or can we trust someone to do the hiring?

I don't care about politically oriented entries on this blog either. I even find them rather annoying since it so subjective. For me it really brings the blog down.

Plus this is not blogCanada so the event was something that should not have been mentioned here from the beginning. The excuse that it was an important Canadian event (and I even would doubt that is was important...) so it affected Torontonians is a lousy excuse. Just read the about section of the blog:

"blogTO is a blog about Toronto. We cover music, film, the arts, bars, restaurants, people, places and an assortment of random but hopefully interesting things happening in the city we call TO. This is a blog. We invite you to post comments, disagree with us, flatter us and otherwise tell us what you think."

definitions can be sooooo stifling, don't you think?

does TO have a GG equivalent?

On the Quebec point - it's actually longstanding tradition to alternate anglophone and francophone GGs, so it's not just for political expediency that this one comes from la belle province, altho obvs. it's good timing for the Liberals.

Otherwise, I totally agree with miranda.

this is lame. this argument is so vague...if this is even an argument. there's no background or reasoning, and very blunt, right wing, primitive points of view. you've got a career ahead of you at the toronto sun, jason.

You're right! These bastards do NOTHING except a)Give England a foot in the door and b)waste our tax money on fancy wines. We need this whole practice scrapped, straight away.

If we got rid of the GG, how pray tell would we be able to explain the name of the University of Ottawa's football team? Huh? How?

How about making Ottawa's football team name something else ? Or does that infrindge on something or another. I guess no one ever told any of you. Well then. Welcome to canada, home of the retarded. There are so many new situations being brought to light which will show all the honested people the cold hard truth. I only hope HAVOK doesn't consume this country... Follow the $$$ and you will find your turth. No one can escape the evil.

What is the most important thing at the Governor General does?