OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to announce Canada's next governor general on Tuesday morning. Mary Simon, the country's first Indigenous governor general, will not be reappointed after serving a five-year term.
CBC News reported that the new appointee is expected to be fully bilingual in English and French and is likely a woman. Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller confirmed the bilingual requirement, stating, "They'll be bilingual."
Simon, born in northern Quebec, speaks Inuktitut and English fluently but never learned French as a child. Her inability to speak Canada's second official language drew criticism during her tenure.
With the separatist Parti Québécois leading in polls ahead of the fall election and potentially holding a third referendum, the federal government may be keen to avoid further criticism by appointing a bilingual representative.
In a Radio-Canada interview in April, Carney said he was "absolutely" committed to nominating a bilingual governor general.
Opposition parties welcomed the move. Conservative Quebec lieutenant Pierre Paul-Hus called bilingualism a "minimum" requirement, while Bloc Québécois MP Rhéal Fortin said it was a positive step but reiterated the role should be abolished.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree praised Simon as "a person of incredible integrity" after meeting her and her husband Monday. He expressed hope that the next governor general would serve with similar distinction.
Amid speculation, some bilingual MPs humorously denied being the chosen candidate. Conservative MP Jacques Gourde joked, "It seems it’s not my turn," and Liberal MP Dominique O’Rourke quipped, "I’ll tell you, it’s not me."
The new governor general will serve as King Charles's representative in Canada. National Post
