New fashions in Canadian politics: Guide for immigrants promotes the monarchy and the military


By Jack Miller
WSWS
21 November 2009


Michaëlle Jean, Canada’s photogenic governor general, attracted media attention on November 11 by attending a Remembrance Day ceremony in full military uniform. Although the governor general acts as ceremonial commander-in-chief of Canada’s armed forces, no holder of the office has publicly worn military regalia since 1995.

During Brian Mulroney’s tenure as prime minister (1984-1993) the governor general’s job was tainted with perceptions of patronage and cronyism (along with many other government offices). From 1999 onward, the government has made an effort to find appointees who project a positive and “progressiveâ€