Governor General Michaelle Jean did not have to say a word

Update The government of Newfoundland and Labrador is giving $1 million to the Haiti relief effort. Thumbs up for that!

Governor General Madame Michaelle Jean did not have to say a word. Her heartfelt and hopelessly restrained tears told us how dismal the earthquake tragedy is for the poorest people on earth, and for her personally. The same news report yesterday said that Canadians gave $100 million to the Asian Tsunami relief effort. The scenes of carnage and anguish will also move anyone with a heart to do donate what they can to the Haiti Relief fund. There may never have been a Governor General who was more openly emotional, and empathetic as Madame Jean. Her heartbreak and tears alone were too real to this woman who grew up in the country where poverty, political corruption, and social hardships, and unrest have been part of the culture for decades. I wonder how many more people who watched Michaelle Jean fight back tears, felt like helping out after seeing her at Wednesday's press conference. This lady acts on the empathy she feels, and sense of justice. Last year she felt it was important to share a meal of seal with First Nations people. This Governor General connects with people and could move Canadians and Canada to give very generously to help Haiti. To see her own people and relatives suffer, must have felt like a personal injury, and so overwhelmingly tragic, given that people were already miserable with poverty, crime, poor sanitation, political corruption, and overcrowding. Among many nations, Haiti's horrific trauma, laid upon bleak desperation, seems to be too cruel to be real. Like other major events, it sadly is real. The rest of the world will help, and here's one place to start from here: The Red Cross offices in St. John's, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook and Wabush stayed open to 7 p.m. Wednesday to accept donations. They're also extending their hours on Thursday and Friday. You can drop your donation off in person, or do it Online.

Here are the provincial Red Cross offices and contact information Regional Office 17 Majors Path St. John's, NL A1A 4Z9 Phone: 709-758-8400 Fax: 709-758-8417 Service Centres Central Service Centre 28 Cromer Avenue Grand Falls-Windsor, NL A2A 1X2 Phone: 709-489-5522 Fax: 709-489-6602 Western Service Centre 9 Main Street, P.O. Box 172 Corner Brook, NL A2H 6C7 Phone: 709-634-4626 Fax: 709-634-1370 Labrador Service Centre Wabush Shopping Plaza Wabush, Labrador A0R 1B0 Phone: 709-944-2570 Fax: 709-944-7117

Michaelle Jean, Governor General and Lady, Rises Above the Anti-Seal Fundraising Industry

Governor General Michaelle Jean was already impressive as a bright, first person of color, to be the Queen's representative in Canada. Ms Jean's humble roots in Haiti has given her an appreciation of diverse cultures and customs. This week Ms Jean has demonstrated a much needed act of rationality, and civility in an act of cultural connection. It has been fuel for media reporting even though she, like billions in the world, ate meat. It really should not be newsworthy at all. However, people who drive the notion of cruelty for one particular animal, have made it appear controversial, loudly enough to take up news space.

Though it was not meant to be a political statement, the Governor General said that people can take from it what they will.

On her view of harvesting seals:

"I think a person in my position knows exactly what's in the air and I'm aware of the context. I'm aware that now if you eat seal or wear something made of sealskin. . .it says that you recognize this activity."
"But this activity is part of the way of life of thousands of people in our country. In the North, in the Arctic, in the East, also in coastal regions," Jean said.

"It is part of their way of life. It is part of their economy."

"It is well-administrated. It is vital for them."

"It is done in a sustainable way. A very respectful way."

Here are some quotes from Jean in response from people who basically say she is uncivilized:

Jean said people are probably too conditioned by modern life and forget where food comes from.

"When I eat beef, I am totally aware that eating beef is also. . .a once-living thing. Vegetarians make a choice in their life."

"I haven't made this choice. When I eat lamb, I know that I am eating a lamb."

"When I eat veal, I know that I am eating a veal. Those, too, are very cute animals."

She points out that seal is an excellent source of vitamins and nutrients and has sustained the Inuit for centuries. (source)

What a breadth of fresh air! A level-headed person so self-assured, respectful, and above the nonsense that many European leaders pander to. Well done Ms Michaelle Jean. It's an honour for Canadians to have such a graceful lady as Governor General.

How a Liberal NDP Coalition Could Come to Power

I'll give the Opposition parties credit for at least injecting some innovative drama back into the often barren, pallid landscape of Canadian politics. Speaking of pallid, Stephane Dion, the defeated Liberal leader from the Oct. 14 election, could become Prime Minister very soon. The same man that almost immediately had Liberals planning a leadership race to replace him, and the same man charged with the Liberals' poor showing in the election. This would be a pretty neat curve ball at the Canadian electorate, who said through their votes, that they did not want Dion as Prime Minister.

So would giving Harper's government a non-confidence vote this month, automatically mean that another election would be called? The answer is (from what this non-political expert found out) is no.

According to Carleton University political scientist Jonathan Malloy, there is no constitutional text to describe how this specific government transition should be handled. A coalition at the federal level would be a Canadian first.

[In 1979, Prime Minister Joe Clark who lead a minority government, could have formed a coalition government with the six Social Credit MP's, and achieved a majority government. He may have regretted not doing that, since his minority government lasted only nine months before Trudeau, who had suggested he was quitting, beat Clark in a 1980 election.]

It could be an instance, according to Malloy, where the Governor General, Michelle Jean, could make a major political decision. If Harper's government falls, Harper could ask the Governor General to approve another federal election, but she has the discretion to not oblige, and instead, ask the Opposition to try forming a government. This scenario could conceivably be more palatable to most Canadians given that just some weeks ago, the election signs were only being picked up, taken down and stored away for future recycling.

Interesting food for thought, but this Canuck has no appetite for what would be a wasteful election, requested by anyone, just after an unnecessary October election. Imagine the possible Liberal/NDP slogans, "You Didn't Like Dion then, But He's Great Now!", or "New Democratic and Improved"...
see possible Liberal/NDP coalition names