Duties of our Commander In Chief

[George Wallace]

I think Chimo has the start for a new Topic:

This has been on my mind so I thought I would put it out for discussion. I find that our Governor General has done and said little in her role as Commander in Chief in regards to this incident. She did issue a statement following the death of Mr Berry and regrets the lose of life and the injuries to our heroes. Here is her statement:

Message from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, on a terrorist attack in Afghanistan causing the death of Glyn Berry
January 15, 2006

“My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death today of Glyn Berry in a terrorist attack in Afghanistan, which also left three of our Canadian soldiers wounded. Mr. Berry, a Political Director from Foreign Affairs, had been posted to the Provincial Reconstruction Team working in the Kandahar region. This incident is a tragic reminder of the insecurity that continues to plague the Afghan population and of the enormous risks facing the dedicated and courageous Canadian civilian and military personnel working in that country.

"Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Glyn Berry, whose commitment to the cause of peace in this part of the world knew no bounds. We wish to express to them our deepest sympathies. We also wish Private William Edward Salikin, Corporal Jeffrey Bailey and Master Corporal Paul Franklin a speedy recovery. We know how worried their friends, parents and colleagues must feel at this time.

It can be found here : http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4652

I realize stepping into Adrienne Clarkson shoes, a person that won the respect and admiration across the Forces for the respect and admiration she displayed to us.

I feel the Governor General needs to step up to the plate in her new found role and start acting like a Commander and Chief. 

How do you feel?

 

[Donut]

I think I'd agree with that statement, George.  Adrienne Clarkson,  set a new precedent for the relationship between the CF and our CinC, one that may have been sorely lacking in previous Governors General.  I know that I, for one, was almost oblivious to the actions of her predecessors over the past 14 years, and upon the start of her term in office I had reservations about her and her husbands ability to impartially fill the rolls they had assumed.

I think she raised the bar, and I'm not sure we'll see someone of her caliber in there for a while.  Who knows, though, she may surprise us.

DF

 

[Blakey]

Well, as some members have posted in the past "maybe we should give her a chance", sure I agree whole heartedly.
She has an enormous task as the Governor General of Canada, and the CiC of the CF (if only in name), its only been 4 months since her Installation, and 7 CF casualties....

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

the previous GG would have been there if these casualties happenend during her first month (well I can't back that up but would like to think so).

 

[enfield]

Well, as some members have posted in the past "maybe we should give her a chance", sure I agree whole heartedly.
She has an enormous task as the Governor General of Canada, and the CiC of the CF (if only in name), its only been 4 months since her Installation, and 7 CF casualties....

With 7 casualties in such a short period of time, shouldn't she have been more visible?
Time will tell, as always. It is early to judge, but she has seemed absent of late.

Saw an interesting commentary today by a Toronto Sar columnist that said that Paul Martin attempted to use the GG appointment as a political play, aimed at immigrants and ethnic groups. But, when he said that "her story is Canada's story", very few people - especially immigrants and ethnic minorities - saw themselves in her, and the plan backfired and cost the Liberals in the election.

 

[Chimo]

First of all thank you moderaters for splitting the thread. I think time is up. Many of us have to learn our jobs on the fly. Leadership is about leading. The Governor General needs to show she is now the Commander in Chief of the Canadian Forces. 

 

[Edward Campbell]

The GG has a lot of latitude in these things.  Clarkson’s special interest in the Canadian Forces was all her own.  It set her apart from almost all of her predecessors and did not endear her to the government, either.

I think Jean’s cause is young people, especially aboriginal and minority youth.  I expect her to do her minimally required duties as Commander-in-Chief and, because she too is a first rate, professional communicator, I expect her to do them well but I will be very surprised if she and her husband are anywhere near as ‘close’ to the Canadian Forces as were Clarkson and Saul.

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

Well if she isn't going to act like the Commander in Chief then perhaps that role should be stricken from the GG.

 

[Neill McKay]

Well if she isn't going to act like the Commander in Chief then perhaps that role should be stricken from the GG.

And given to whom?

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

PM perhaps.

 

[GK .Dundas]

errr. after the last couple of pm's I think I'd rather stay with the current system please and thank you!

 

[enfield]

The GG has a lot of latitude in these things.  Clarkson’s special interest in the Canadian Forces was all her own.  It set her apart from almost all of her predecessors and did not endear her to the government, either.

I think Jean’s cause is young people, especially aboriginal and minority youth.  I expect her to do her minimally required duties as Commander-in-Chief and, because she too is a first rate, professional communicator, I expect her to do them well but I will be very surprised if she and her husband are anywhere near as ‘close’ to the Canadian Forces as were Clarkson and Saul.

Good points Edward. However, many (including myself) see Jean's appointment as a politicized grasp at popularity by a dying government. As such, is not the onus on her to prove herself in all facets of the position?

C-in-C of the CF is significant part of her duties, especially when there are armies overseas and dead and wounded coming home. I expect the political leadership of the country to largely ignore the CF (witness the past election campaign), but the GG, as inheritor of the royal tradition, commander of the forces, and representative of the Queen, has a central role to play. I'm not sure that showing up for a few parades and funerals is really all that difficult.

As a side point for "who else" - Australia has an ex-SAS CO, Vietnam veteran, former General as their GG. Thankfully, with the Liberals gone, it seems unlikely Dallaire will be put up, but maybe Lewis Mackenzie? 

 

[Neill McKay]

PM perhaps.

No thanks.  C-in-C is a royal (or vice-regal) job if there ever was one.

 

[Blakey]

With 7 casualties in such a short period of time, shouldn't she have been more visible?

Thats exactly what I mean, I guess I should have tried to sound more sarcastic. 

it seems unlikely Dallaire will be put up, but maybe Lewis Mackenzie?

Uncle Lew has my vote as CiC.

 

[Edward Campbell]

This is from today’s Globe and Mail; it is reproduced here under the Fair Dealing provisions of the Copyright Act:

Mission is a 'noble' job, G-G writes

JANE TABER
SENIOR POLITICAL WRITER

Governor-General Michaëlle Jean returned to Ottawa from CFB Trenton Sunday night, sat down at her computer in her Rideau Hall office and wrote a personal note to the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Rick Hillier.

Moved by the events of the day -- during which she had watched as the flag-draped coffins of two Canadian soldiers were removed from the plane that had carried their remains from Afghanistan -- the former journalist put her thoughts on paper. She had been thinking of what she would say on the trip back from the air base.

"There has been so much happening in Afghanistan in recent days she felt that it was an important moment to pen the message to them [the soldiers] as commander-in-chief on behalf of all Canadians," said her communications director, Randy Mylyk.

Gen. Hillier was on his way to Afghanistan later that evening, and she wanted him to have the note to read to the Canadian troops serving there. "Pleased be assured that I believe the journey you have undertaken will lead to lasting change," she wrote.

She said that the past few weeks have been "emotional ones for all of you who have committed yourselves to representing Canada in bringing peace and stability to a troubled region."

"The recent loss of your colleagues has hit hard, but I know that you are committed to your mission to make Afghanistan a better place to live," Ms. Jean wrote.

"The dangers you face each day must be balanced by the hope you give to Afghanis that one day their home can be safe once again," she added. "When you look back on your time in that country, you will be able to do so with the certainty that you have left a proud legacy in the region.

"The cause that you undertake under the Maple Leaf is a noble and worthy one. I wish you all a safe return home."

After completing her letter she gave it to her aide-de-camp, who was able to get it to Gen. Hillier.

Last Sunday was the first time since Ms. Jean took office last September that she had travelled to the air base in Trenton, Ont., for the arrival of the remains of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

That day she had also spoken with the families of the two dead soldiers -- Master Corporal Timothy Wilson and Cpl. Paul Davis.

There has been much controversy about the Afghanistan mission, in which even more casualties are expected. The NDP wants the issue to be debated in the House of Commons.

But the Harper government is refusing a debate, arguing that it could undermine public support for the troops. Canada's commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is for nine months, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said that his government will review that at "the appropriate times in the future."

Many have criticized Mme. Jean for a variety of reasons – including the fact that she does not appear to share Mme. Clarkson’s enthusiasm for sailors and soldiers and their rough and ready work.  I have said that each GG brings her (his) own perspective and priorities to the job and it would be a bit much to expect Mme. Jean to be some sort of attitudinal mirror of her well-liked (by the military, anyway) predecessor.

It appears, from this, that she does understand what our armed forces are doing.  I hope the CDS trumpets this loudly and clearly, in Kandahar and Kelowna, too.