The position of Governor General has always interested me and following on from Carolyn Harris` posting above, i have a question. Viscount Alexander was the last Briton to be appointed GG, and since then all successive Governor Generals have been Canadian citizens, representing Elizabeth in her position as Queen of Canada. Have they all been Canadian Monarchists, though?
1.Vincent Massey- lawyer, later diplomat, first Canadian envoy to a foreign capital (DC) with full diplomatic credentials. Was a member of the liberal party, friend of William Lyon Mackenzie King. Served in the king's privy counsel before he was appointed diplomat and later governor general.
2.George Vanier-military hero and diplomat, King's envoy extaordinaire. He was the first Francophone, and started the tradition of alternating between angliphones and franciphones. Was a staunch liberal, when John Diefenbaker appointed him GG (he himself a conservative). The quebec sepratist movement had grown at this time.
3.Roland Michener- Alberta born attorney and politician, member of the PC party. Friend of Liberal Lester Pearson, who appointed him high commisioner to India and Nepal. Before he became GG. First Canadian GG to make official state visits, usually only the monarch did.
4. Jules Leger-Liberal diplomat and politician. He taught diplomacy, and was an ambassador to numerous countries including Mexico and Italy. Was under-secratary of state under Lester Pearson and later Piere Trudeau.
5. Edward Schreyer- NDP party politician (first non-diplomat). He was leader of Manitoba's NDP opposition, when he stepped down, and accepted the position of GG.
6. Jeanne Sauve (first female)- Saskatchewan born journalist for the CBC, who later served as a minister of the crown (serves as minister to the reigning sovereign, seen as an advisor to the GG and sovereign) before her appointment as GG.
7.Ray Hnatyshyn- another from Saskatchewan. PC politician in Saskatoon, former lawyer and law professor. Twice served as minister of the crown, two non-consecutive terms.
8. Romeo Leblanc- Liberal, radio journalist and politician. Was press secratary for Pearson and Trudeau, minister of fishers, speaker of the house. Was minister of the crown as well.
9.Adrienne Clarkson-not actually born Canadian, came at the age of 2 as a refugee from Hong Kong. Mainly a CBC producer, and print journalist, but also did some diplomatic work in Europe.
10. Michelle Jean- like Adrienne, not born a Canadian. She was 11 when she came to Canada as a refugee from Haiti. Journalist and actress
11. David Johnstone- college professor and administrator, who involved himself in politics.
So there are some patterns
not born in Canada: 2 (Clarkson and Jean)
men: 8
women: 3
diplomats: 5
ministers of the crown: 3
career politicians (not as diplomats): 5 (3 libs, 1 PC, 1 NDP)
journalists: 3