The Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carneyappointed this Tuesday Louise Arbor as the country’s next governor general. He is one of the most recognized Canadian figures worldwide, mainly due to his vast experience as a jurist. The premier said in Ottawa that Arbor “will represent the best of Canada to Canadians and to the world. A country that is a bastion of security, prosperity and justice, a beacon to a world adrift.” The Governor General is the official representative of the King of England, head of the Canadian State. Arbor will replace Mary Simon starting in July.
Born in Montreal in 1947, Louise Arbor has a remarkable resume. Among other positions, she served as prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, held a seat as a judge on the Supreme Court of Canada and was appointed United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. In recent years, Arbor produced a report on sexual harassment and assault within the Canadian military.
Louise Arbor welcomed his appointment. “Canada is a wonderful country,” he said, taking the opportunity to applaud the work of his predecessors in this position. “I am very aware of the legacy I am inheriting,” he added. As Canada is a constitutional monarchy, the position consists of representing the head of state in matters such as the signing of new laws, the opening and dissolution of Parliament and the swearing in of ministers. He is also commander in chief of the Armed Forces. At the same time, it participates in numerous formal events. The first to occupy the position was Charles Monck, following the creation of the Canadian Confederation in 1867. This responsibility fell to British citizens until 1952. Since then they have only been designated as Canadians.
Arbor speaks fluent English and French, the two official languages of Canada. This is not a minor issue given the controversies that Mary Simon had to face during her years in office. Of Inuit origin, Simon became the first person representative of an indigenous group to become Governor General of Canada. From the beginning, residents of the province of Quebec and members of other French-speaking communities throughout the country criticized his limited knowledge of French. Simon had committed to taking courses to improve his skills in that language. However, progress was very modest. A few weeks ago, Mark Carney assured that the selection of the person who would take the position would depend, among other factors, on whether he could express himself fluently in both languages.
Before Mary Simon, the position had been held by former astronaut Julie Payette. Engineer and businesswoman, Payette accumulated 25 days in space. Its first mission was in 1999 inside the shuttle Discovery; the second, in 2009, was carried out with the Endeavor. However, she resigned as Governor General of Canada in 2021 after multiple allegations of workplace harassment.
During his years in office, Payette especially sought to advance the value of science within Canadian society. For her part, Mary Simon focused greatly on trying to improve relations between indigenous groups and the other inhabitants of the country. This Tuesday in Ottawa, Mark Carney said that Louise Arbor has dedicated most of her life to defending the principles of justice and institutional order, highlighting that the world is in times of uncertainty and division.
Carney’s tone was the same as that used in his famous speech delivered on January 20 at the Davos Forumwhen he pointed out the need to seek solutions to imperialist drifts. For his part, Arbor said: “I accept these responsibilities with a deep sense of duty, at a time when Canadians are facing complexity and change.”
