Michaelle Jean and the Unity of Canada

Michaelle Jean is the third and last female governor general of Canada who just ended her term in October 2010. She is a journalist and stateswoman and former refugee from Haiti.

Michaelle and the women in her family suffered abuse at the hands of her father. Michaelle Jean had conducted a study on spousal abuse while she was still in university. She also worked in a women's shelter after she finished her studies.

By 2007, there was criticism that Michaelle was not fulfilling her mandate to its full potential. A statement was issued to explain that she was extremely fatigued due to thyroid problems.

Other criticisms included the warning that she was becoming too political, in a non-partisan office. Journalist Chantal Hébert said that the Governor General had "been wading uncommonly deep in political territory over the past few months," citing Jean's criticism of Quebec sovereigntists and her expressed support for the mission of Canadian troopsin Afghanistan.

Michael Valpy penned a piece in The Globe and Mail where he accused Jean for inviting politically motivated speakers to her website. He also stated that Jean had also made, at the annual National Press Gallery dinner, roast-like satirical remarks about Parti Québécois leadership candidate André Boisclair who had openly admitted he had used cocaine.

She was also quoted as saying, Quebecers "are sometimes very disconnected from the rest of Canada" and that their isolation affected Canada's unity. Later, she revised the statement to say that all Canadians are disconnected from the rest of Canada. The Montreal Gazette supported her position saying that National unity was the governor general's domain. Unfortunately, this did not save her from the anger of Quebec separatist politicians.

Note: It seemed that Michaelle Jean could not do anything to make Canadians happy.

Canadians were truly disconnected from each other, in their vision for Canada.

Political motivation

She again was accused of thinly veiling her political views about her government's decision to end the Court Challenges Program during her speech she made on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Reports were also surfacing that Royal portraits had been taken down from the walls of Rideau Hall. Valpy also revealed that Prime Minister Stephen Harper had been warned by Alex Himelfarb, the Clerk of the Privy Council, "Prime Minister, your biggest problem is in Rideau Hall," meaning Jean and her potential to be a "loose cannon".

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micha%C3%ABlle_Jean

http://www.canada.com/national/features/governor_general/story.html?id=78549c49-781f-43c0-908d-20f24db2ca5a

http://archive.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4728

http://archive.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4994