After yesterday’s 7 minute and 30 second Speech from the Throne, I have some serious questions about the purpose of the Governor General in Canada (questions like, why do we still see fit to continue having a Governor General?). I posed this question on twitter, and received some great responses (I feel like @ricksanchezcnn!).
Question: davecournoyer Could someone please remind me why we have a Governor General?
Responses:
crazydan @davecournoyer I wish we have a “strong” republican movement in Canada like Australia. But that’s a long-shot dream.
dkaszor @davecournoyer To take ceremonial and some diplomatic duties off of the plate of the PM.
CitizenFish @davecournoyer Oh, you know. “Tradition”
bgrier @davecournoyer Uh, in case the government has ‘…fallen and can’t get up.’?
ConalPierse @davecournoyer Because somebody needs to wear all those fancy capes we have lying around, and Mr Dress-up is gone, man. Gone
glenkruger @davecournoyer so the PM can tell them what to do
djkelly @davecournoyer Because no federal politician wants to re-open the constitution
jdarrah @davecournoyer I have no idea. “Throne” is keeping Canada from an identity as a place in the world.
phendrana @davecournoyer To represent the state in a non-partisan fashion – sometimes it is really needed. She was doing a different function today.
KenChapman46 @davecournoyer To give retired CBC on-air people a job?
chrishenderson @davecournoyer those sad European monuments don’t tour themselves.
keppykarpala @davecournoyer not only that but why is the Queen still the head of state? It’s all about tradition and ritual.
AB_get_rich @davecournoyer Because its one of the few visible things that make us not American.
chigaze @davecournoyer http://tinyurl.com/24dlww 😉
