Michaëlle Jean, the Governor General designate, is becoming the subject of more and more controversy. First it was revealed that the 48-year-old broadcaster holds dual citizenship, having become a citizen of France upon her marriage to French born filmmaker, Jean-Daniel Lafond. Then some Quebec sovereigntists have been saying that Jean and her husband are one of them (or should that be two of them?). If that wasn’t enough, hubby Jean-Daniel has ties Jacques Rose, an FLQ terrorist (that’s what insurgents were called in less politically correct times) who was sentenced to eight years in prison as an accessory after the fact in the kidnapping and execution of Pierre Laporte. Rose did some carpentry work for his buddy Lafond, building a bookcase for the filmmaker that contained a secret storage space for weapons. Rose had honed this skill when he built hiding places for the FLQ back in the days of their insurgency.
Michaëlle Jean refuses to answer questions on whether or not she favours or favoured Quebec separation or how she feels about her loyalty to her other country of citizenship. In fact, the CBC broadcaster has said nothing publicly since the press conference that was held right after her appointment when she opined that her choice as Canada’s next Governor General "was important to all humanity".
Just as Paul Martin was able to credibly testify before the Gomery Commission that he knew nothing about the fraud, theft, money laundering and corruption that swirled all around him while he was Minister of Finance, it is unlikely that Martin knew much about Michaëlle Jean when he appointed her to be Canada’s next Governor General. all he really needed to know was that Jean was a Quebecker and a visible minority woman. The fact that she was a CBC info babe was just icing on the cake. The fact that she was a Quebecker and therefore might be a Quebec nationalist no doubt didn’t enter his mind.
The comments that were made by senior members of the Liberal Party when questions arose about Jean’s citizenship and possible ties to Quebec separatists show that none of these things were likely known to Martin when he appointed Jean to the post. Environment Minister Stephane Dion was quoted as saying that he "assumes" that the Governor General designate is not a separatist. Unfortunately, Dion does not say exactly what this assumption is based upon. It could be based upon the colour of her skin as black immigrants who come to Canada usually immigrate to Canada, not an independent Quebec.
Paul Martin’s mouthpiece, Scott Reid, went on the defensive and did what Liberals do best — attacked those who questioned Jean’s appointment by referring to it as a "smear campaign". It didn’t seem to matter to Martin’s media flunky that no one was smearing her; they merely want to know whether she is in favour of the country that she is about to become head of state of, remaining together — a perfectly logical request under the circumstances. In the view of Martin and his toadies, it really doesn’t matter if she owes allegiance to France, if she wants Quebec to leave confederation or if her husband hangs out with terrorists.
and to some extent they are right. This is Canada after all. Concerning her citizenship, the fact that the Queen’s representative in Canada owes allegiance to France is no big deal. It’s not like it turned out that she holds citizenship in the land of the bastards on our southern border. If that were the case, Michaëlle Jean would have been long gone even if Martin had to take Carolyn Parrish back into his caucus to get rid of the american. and whereas other countries sometimes execute those who seek to destroy the country of their citizenship, in Canada, the government pays the salaries of the separatist leaders until they retire in which case they pay them a handsome pension. Canada is a country where politicians such as Jean Lapierre can change from a federalist party to a separatist party and then back again quicker than Eric Lindros can change hockey teams. It’s no big deal. It’s the Canadian way.
as for hubby’s terrorist friend, hey, he’s done his time. Jacques Rose is as welcome in Canada as the al Qaeda-loving Khadr family is. The only difference between the Khadrs and Jacques Rose is that with the exception of little Omar who is whining away in Gitmo, the Canadian Khadrs have never been alleged to have killed anyone.
No, the latest revelations about Michaëlle Jean, if all true, make her more a perfect choice to be the Queen’s representative in Paul Martin’s Canada. We are after all, a country of tolerance and diversity. What could be more tolerant than allowing our head of state to want to break up the country? and what could possibly be more diverse than a Governor General who owes allegiance to another country as long as the country is of course not the United States?
No matter what the truth is, Canadians should recognize that Jean was a perfect appointment, made by a prime minister who has no core beliefs. Those Canadians who seek answers to Jean’s loyalty to Canada should just shut up; or, in Scott Reid’s words, stop the smear campaign. after all, all of humanity depends upon it.