Le Tricolore at Rideau Hall

We have a genuine outrage on our hands. Paul Martin's selection of Michaëlle Jean as the next Governor General of Canada is just one more item to add to the Liberal government's record of irresponsible behaviour. That her political background, as well as the associations of her husband, were not considered disqualifying factors just boggles the mind. It is so much of an outrage, that I will link to and wholeheartedly endorse a column written by David Frum. (His August 16 National Post column.) I do so because to me this is not an issue of political ideology or partisanship, and I hope that this is also the spirit in which Frum wrote his column. To me, it is about patriotism.

Jean's life is a truly inspirational refugee story, and she might have been an excellent choice for the job under different circumstances. But there are too many issues surrounding her loyalty to Canada. Most troubling is the question of where Jean stood on the Quebec referendum of 1995. There are conflicting reports on whether Jean and her husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, were supporters of Quebec sovereignty. (Ironically, it is the Quebec separatists that are most pissed off by this appointment, because they are afraid Jean might swing immigrant francophone votes to the federalist side in the next referendum.) The fact that Jean has not come out with a definitive statement on this matter since the story broke does not instill confidence. And as with Rafael Palmeiro, the circumstantial evidence is not good. It turns out that Lafond was a friend and associate of several former FLQ terrorists, including Francis Simard and Jacques Rose, who were involved in the 1970 kidnapping and murder of Quebec Labour Minister Pierre Laporte. I don't know about you, but I can't picture Israel electing a President who's spouse was buddy-buddy with members of Hamas. On top of this, I'm sure I'm not the only person who's a wee bit uncomfortable with our head of state, representative of the monarchy and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, with REAL constitutional powers, being a dual citizen of France. Considering France's encouragement of Quebec sovereignty ever since de Gaulle's visit in 1967, this should have been a dealbreaker. Honestly, where else would something like this happen?

It shouldn't just be Americans who would be turned off by ties to both France and terrorists. There are many, many Canadians, and not just conservatives, who find this appointment to be one of the most cynical things that Martin has done while in office. It seems to follow a pattern of the Liberal government doing stuff to further their own political ends and then thinking the ugly underbelly will escape everyone's awareness. It's almost like something you'd read in one of those Stupid Criminals news stories. Do they really think the truth will never come out? Or, worse, do they not care because they realize they will always get away with it? It's amazing to me that this government, even in political peril, doesn't show an iota of recognition that they must clean up their act. This is the time for Canadians to step up and voice their outrage. If we are loud enough, Jean will have no choice but to resign her post. People of all races and creeds want a Governor General who is unquestionably committed to Canadian unity.

David Frum wrote, "It is, perhaps, just one outrage too many for Canadians to swallow from this prime minister and this government." I hope he's right. As much as I dislike the Conservatives under Stephen Harper, I'm beginning to think that only the pain of five years of Tory rule will have any hope of setting the Liberals straight. Canada needs good government right now, and we will not get it from the Liberals until they have had a bitter exile. Whether we can get it from Harper is an open question, but the devil we know has been given more than his due.