Cover Story

New Governor General Anti-Canadian Military?

Kandahar, Afghanistan-- Word of the appointment of the controversial Haitian-born, Quebec separatist-supporting Michaëlle Jean as Canada's new Governor General by Prime Minister Paul Martin has reached Canadian troops in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Canada Free Press reporter Garth Pritchard, embedded with the troops in Kandahar, for one, is not amused.

The following is a message, Pritchard, an award-wining documentary filmmaker sent back to the home front.

Canadian troops are in Afghanistan to help with security for the elections being held in September.

Our soon-to-be Governor General, Ms. Michaëlle Jean, will become the Commander in Chief of Canada’s Military.

I am a Canadian documentary filmmaker.  I feel it necessary to point out that on numerous occasions we have attempted to have documentaries featuring Canada’s spectacular positive military contributions in hot spots around the world broadcast on The Passionate Eye — the very one with which Ms. Jean was affiliated. 

CBC is our national broadcaster, whose mandate is to show Canadians about Canadians, and Ms. Jean was host of The Passionate Eye a CBC vehicle to broadcast documentaries from Canada and around the world.

We produce documentaries showcasing the superb work that our Canadian military men and women perform around the globe.

In spite of fitting directly within their published parameters, we were met with consistent refusals from Ms. Jean’s The Passionate Eye to broadcast these award-winning Canadian documentaries.  Acquiring Producer Jerry McIntosh refers to them as 'propaganda' and will not run them.

Once she takes office as Governor General, Michaëlle Jean will become Commander in Chief of Canada’s military. 

I have great respect for the office of Canada’s Governor General, and I take serious issue with Ms. Jean’s apparent anti-military sentiments.