Editing Governor General of Canada (section)

===Selection===
In a speech on the subject of [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]], made in 1866 to the [[Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada]], [[John A. Macdonald]] said of the planned governor, "we place no restriction on Her Majesty's prerogative in the selection of her representative&nbsp;... The sovereign has unrestricted freedom of choice&nbsp;... We leave that to Her Majesty in all confidence."<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bmOi8a9V14sC| last1=Copeland| first1=Lewis| last2=Lamm| first2=Lawrence W.| last3=McKenna| first3=Stephen J.| title=The World's Great Speeches| page=381| publisher=Courier Dover Publications| location=Mineola| year=1999| isbn=978-0-486-40903-0}}</ref> However, between 1867 and 1931, governors general were appointed by the monarch on the advice of the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|British Cabinet]]; until 1890, by the [[secretary of state for the colonies]] for approval by the prime minister. After that, a policy of consulting the Canadian Cabinet was established; though, this process was not always followed.<ref name=Lib>{{citation| url=https://hillnotes.ca/2021/04/19/the-evolution-of-the-selection-and-appointment-of-the-governor-general/| last=Feldman| first=Stephanie| title=The Evolution of the Selection and Appointment of the Governor General| date=19 April 2021| publisher=Library of Parliament| access-date=11 August 2023}}</ref>

The [[Balfour Declaration of 1926]] recognized the governor general as no longer a stand-in for the British government, but, rather a direct representative of the Crown. At the [[1930 Imperial Conference|Imperial Conference in 1930]], it was decided that the Commonwealth ministers would "tender their formal advice after informal consultation with His Majesty", thereby settling the current procedure wherein the monarch appoints the governor general on the advice of the Canadian prime minister only.<ref name=Lib/> This was codified in the ''[[Statute of Westminster, 1931]]''.

How many names the prime minister puts forward to the sovereign has varied. [[R. B. Bennett|Richard Bennett]] suggested a number of names in an informal letter to King [[George V]] in 1930, all of which the King approved, leading Bennett to pick [[Vere Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough]]. [[Mackenzie King]] in 1945 gave three names to King George VI, who chose [[Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis|Harold Alexander]] (later the Viscount Alexander of Tunis). Mackenzie King then made the formal recommendation to the King, which was accepted. [[Louis St. Laurent]], however, gave only one name—Massey's—to George VI.<ref name=GoC105/> There is typically informal consultation between the prime minister and sovereign, either directly or via the incumbent governor general, on the appointment of the next viceroy before the prime minister gives his official advice to the monarch.<ref name=GoC105/>
[[File:RoyalVisitChateauLaurier.jpg|thumb|(Left to right) [[Thomas Crerar]], King [[George VI]], Prime Minister [[William Lyon Mackenzie King]], [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Queen Elizabeth]], and Governor General [[John Buchan|Lord Tweedsmuir]] at the [[Château Laurier]] hotel in Ottawa, 1939. Mackenzie King was the only leader of the opposition to ever be involved in the appointment of a governor general, in 1935 deciding with then-Prime Minister [[R. B. Bennett|Richard Bennett]] to choose Tweedsmuir.]]

The only time the [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada)|leader of the opposition]] was consulted on the choice of name to put forward to the monarch for appointment as viceroy was when [[John Buchan|Lord Tweedsmuir]]'s predecessor, Bessborough, wished to resign as governor general coincidentally just ahead of Parliament reaching the end of its maximum five year life in July 1935, after which an election was required. Mackenzie King, at the time leader of the opposition, expected to win a majority in the upcoming election and stated he would not accept a governor general recommended by then-Prime Minister Bennett, which was a constitutionally unjustifiable position for Mackenzie King to take. King George V became concerned and instructed Bessborough to either remain in office until after the election or bring Bennett and Mackenzie King together to agree on a nominee for his replacement. The governor general consulted with the prime minister and leader of the opposition and settled on Tweedsmuir.<ref>{{harvnb| Government of Canada| 1970| p=104}}</ref>

Until 1952, all governors general were members of the British aristocracy or former British military officers, diplomats, or politicians raised to the [[Peerage of the United Kingdom|peerage]]. These viceroys had spent no or little time in Canada prior to their appointment; though it was claimed as their travel schedules were so extensive that they could "learn more about Canada in five years than many Canadians in a lifetime".<ref>{{Harvnb| Hubbard| 1977| p=145}}</ref> The idea of a Canadian being appointed governor general was raised as early as 1919, when, at the [[Paris Peace Conference, 1919|Paris Peace Conference]], Canadian prime minister Sir [[Robert Borden]], consulted with South African prime minister [[Louis Botha]], and the two agreed that the viceregal appointees should be long-term residents of their respective [[dominion]]s.<ref>{{Harvnb| Hubbard| 1977| p=147}}</ref> Calls for just such an individual to be made viceroy came again in the late 1930s,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/rebellions-of-1837| last=Office of the Governor General of Canada| title=Governor General > Former Governors General > Major General The Earl of Athlone| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| access-date=29 May 2009}}</ref> but, it was not until Massey's appointment by King George VI in 1952 that the position was filled by a Canadian-born individual. The prime minister at the time, Louis St. Laurent, wrote in a letter to the media, "[i]t seems to me no one of the King's subjects, wherever he resides, should be considered unworthy to represent the King, provided he has the personal qualifications and a position in the community which are consonant with the dignity and responsibility of that office."<ref name=Lib/> Massey stated of this, "a Canadian [as governor general] makes it far easier to look on the Crown as our own and on the Sovereign as Queen of Canada."<ref>{{cite book| last=Trepanier| first=Peter| editor-last=Coates| editor-first=Colin M.| date=2006| title=Majesty in Canada| contribution=A Not Unwilling Subject: Canada and Her Queen| publisher=Dundurn Press| location=Hamilton| page=143| isbn=978-1-55002-586-6| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FhFyvhpPx8MC| access-date=16 October 2012}}</ref>

This practice continued until 1999, when Queen [[Elizabeth II]] commissioned as her representative [[Adrienne Clarkson]], a [[Hong Kong]]-born [[refugee]] to Canada. Moreover, the practice of alternating between [[French Canadian|francophone]] and [[English Canadian|anglophone]] Canadians was instituted with the appointment of Vanier, a francophone who succeeded the anglophone Massey. All persons whose names are put forward to the {{Canadian monarch, current|title=~}} for approval must first undergo [[background check]]s by the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] and the [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=LeBlanc| first=Daniel| title=Martin defends viceregal couple's loyalty| newspaper=The Globe and Mail| date=13 August 2005| url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050812.wxlafond13/BNStory/National/| access-date=22 February 2009| location=Toronto| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050815011917/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050812.wxlafond13/BNStory/National/ | archive-date=15 August 2005}}</ref><ref name=CBCPremiers>{{cite news|title=New governor general must clarify sovereignty position, premiers say| publisher=CBC| date=12 August 2005| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-governor-general-must-clarify-sovereignty-position-premiers-say-1.566449| access-date=12 August 2005|url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070204114544/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/08/12/jean-sovereignty050812.html | archive-date=4 February 2007 }}</ref>
[[File:Massey-moccasins.jpg|thumb|left|[[Vincent Massey]] (left), the first Canadian-born viceroy since [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]]]]

Although required by the tenets of [[constitutional monarchy]] to be [[Nonpartisan politician|nonpartisan]] while in office, governors general were often former politicians; a number held seats in the British [[House of Lords]] by virtue of their inclusion in the peerage. Appointments of former ministers of the Crown in the 1980s and 1990s were criticized by [[Peter H. Russell]], who stated in 2009: "much of [the] advantage of the monarchical system is lost in Canada when prime ministers recommend partisan colleagues to be appointed governor general and represent [the {{Canadian monarch, current|title=~}}]."<ref>{{Citation| last=Russell| first=Peter H.| author-link=Peter H. Russell| year=2009| publication-date=10 June 2010| editor-last=Joyal| editor-first=Serge| editor-link=Serge Joyal| title=Diminishing the Crown| periodical=The Globe and Mail| location=Toronto| url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/diminishing-the-crown/article1598033/| access-date=13 August 2010| archive-date=12 August 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812141544/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/diminishing-the-crown/article1598033/}}</ref> Clarkson was the first governor general in Canadian history without either a political or military background, as well as the first [[Asian-Canadian]] and the second woman, following on [[Jeanne Sauvé]]. The third woman to hold this position was also the first [[Black Canadians|Caribbean-Canadian]] governor general, [[Michaëlle Jean]].

There have been, from time to time, proposals put forward for modifications to the selection process. [[Citizens for a Canadian Republic]] has advocated the election of the nominee to the sovereign, either by [[Universal suffrage|popular]] or parliamentary vote;<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.canadian-republic.ca/goals.html| title=Our Goals > A Solution| publisher=Citizens for a Canadian Republic| access-date=7 June 2009}}</ref> a proposal echoed by Clarkson, who called for the prime minister's choice to not only be vetted by a parliamentary committee,<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090417.wclarkson17art021492/BNStory/politics/home| last=Valpy| first=Michael| author-link=Michael Valpy| title=Let MPs vet G-G candidates, and show hearings, Clarkson says| date=17 April 2009| newspaper=The Globe and Mail| accessdate=23 April 2009| location=Toronto| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420040141/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090417.wclarkson17art021492/BNStory/politics/home| archive-date=20 April 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.thestar.com/printArticle/620500| last=Ferguson| first=Rob| title=Crisis showed Parliamentary system not understood: Clarkson| date=17 April 2009| newspaper=Toronto Star| accessdate=7 June 2009| archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912064451/http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/620500| archive-date=12 September 2012}}</ref> but, also submit to a televised quiz on [[Canadiana]].<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://windsorstar.com/News/Clarkson+backs+test/1509256/story.html| last=Canwest News Service| title=Clarkson backs test| date=18 April 2009| newspaper=Windsor Star| accessdate=23 April 2009}}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Constitutional scholars, editorial boards, and the [[Monarchist League of Canada]] have argued against any such constitutional tinkering with the viceregal appointment process, stating that the position being "not elected is an asset, not a handicap", and that an election would politicize the office, thereby undermining the impartiality necessary to the proper functioning of the governor general.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/thing+Ottawa+that+doesn+need+fixing/1524583/story.html| title=One thing in Ottawa that doesn't need fixing| date=23 April 2009| newspaper=The Gazette| accessdate=23 April 2009}}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{citation| url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/article893164.ece| last=McCreery| first=Christopher| title=Christopher McCreery| date=22 July 2005| newspaper=The Globe and Mail| accessdate=10 May 2012| location=Toronto}}{{dead link|date=June 2015}}</ref> Retired [[University of Ottawa]] professor John E. Trent proposed the governor general be head of state and selected by the Officers of the [[Order of Canada]],<ref>{{citation| url=https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/trent-how-canada-can-shift-from-constitutional-monarchy-to-constitutional-democracy?_gl=1*amj4yw*_ga*NTgxNDY1NDE4LjE2NzgwMTQzNjg.*_ga_72QH41ZTMR*MTY3OTg5ODgwMy4yOS4wLjE2Nzk4OTg4MDQuNTkuMC4w&_ga=2.183032294.1917567572.1679631451-581465418.1678014368#Echobox=1663866026| last=Trent| first=John E.| title= How Canada can shift from constitutional monarchy to constitutional democracy| date=22 September 2022| newspaper=Ottawa Citizen| accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> something Chris Selley argued would politicize both the head of state and the Order of Canada, itself.<ref>{{citation| url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/chris-selley-what-happened-to-canadas-anti-monarchist-moment| last=Selley| first=Chris| title=What happened to Canada's anti-monarchist moment?| date=28 September 2022| newspaper=National Post| accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> In 2021, [[Treaty 6#Grand chiefs of the Confederacy|Grand Chief]] Vernon Watchmaker and Chief Germaine Anderson of the [[Six Nations of the Grand River]] wrote to Queen Elizabeth II, suggesting that the federal Cabinet consult [[First Nations in Canada|treaty nations]] before the appointment of a new governor general, stating, "we are [[Monarchy of Canada and the Indigenous peoples of Canada|partners with the Crown]]."<ref>{{citation| url=https://www.windspeaker.com/news/windspeaker-news/buckingham-palace-throws-cold-water-treaty-chiefs-request-intervene-governor| last=Ball| first=David P.| title=Buckingham Palace throws cold water on Treaty chiefs' request to intervene in Governor General replacement| date=3 February 2021| publisher=Windspeaker| accessdate=15 March 2024}}</ref>

A new approach was used in 2010 for the selection of [[David Johnston (governor general)|David Johnston]] as governor general-designate. For the task, Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]] convened a special search group—the Governor General Consultation Committee<ref>{{cite web| url=http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?m=/index&nid=546739| author=Canada News Centre| title=Governor General Consultation Committee| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| accessdate=6 August 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928040711/http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?m=%2Findex&nid=546739| archive-date=28 September 2011}}</ref>—which was instructed to find a non-partisan candidate who would respect the monarchical aspects of the viceregal office and conducted extensive consultations with more than 200 people across the country.{{refn|<ref>{{Citation| url=http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/selection-panel-ordered-to-find-non-partisan-governor-general-pmo/article1636004/?service=mobile| last=Curry| first=Bill| title=Selection panel ordered to find non-partisan governor-general: PMO| date=11 July 2010| newspaper=The Globe and Mail| accessdate=11 July 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716075324/http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/selection-panel-ordered-to-find-non-partisan-governor-general-pmo/article1636004/?service=mobile| archive-date=16 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Citation| url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/tight-circle-of-monarchists-helping-harper-pick-next-governor-general-97341094.html| last=Ditchburn| first=Jennifer| title=Tight circle of monarchists helping Harper pick next Governor General| date=28 June 2010| newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press| accessdate=10 July 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100708072815/http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/tight-circle-of-monarchists-helping-harper-pick-next-governor-general-97341094.html| archive-date=8 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Citation| url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/david-johnston-a-worthy-viceroy/article1633550/| title=David Johnston: a worthy viceroy| date=9 July 2010| newspaper=The Globe and Mail| accessdate=9 July 2010| location=Toronto| archive-date=10 September 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100910100727/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/david-johnston-a-worthy-viceroy/article1633550/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=1&id=3536&featureId=6&pageId=26| last=Office of the Prime Minister of Canada| author-link=Office of the Prime Minister (Canada)| title=PM welcomes appointment of David Johnston as Governor General Designate| date=8 July 2010| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| accessdate=8 July 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712125419/http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=1&id=3536&featureId=6&pageId=26| archive-date=12 July 2010}}</ref>}} In 2012, the committee was made permanent and renamed as the [[Advisory Committee on Vice-Regal Appointments]], with a modified membership and its scope broadened to include the appointment of provincial [[Lieutenant governor (Canada)|lieutenant governors]] and territorial [[Commissioner#Canadian territories|commissioners]] (though, the latter are not personal representatives of the monarch).<ref>{{citation| url=http://home.mytelus.com/telusen/portal/NewsChannel.aspx?ArticleID=news%2Fcapfeed%2Fnational%2F20654467.xml&CatID=National| last=Cheadle| first=Bruce| title=Harper creates new panel to ensure 'non-partisan' vice regal appointments| date=4 November 2012| publisher=The Canadian Press| accessdate=4 November 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207122847/http://home.mytelus.com/telusen/portal/NewsChannel.aspx?ArticleID=news%2Fcapfeed%2Fnational%2F20654467.xml&CatID=National| archive-date=7 February 2013}}</ref> However, the next ministry, headed by [[Justin Trudeau]], disbanded the committee in 2017,<ref>{{citation| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/queen-canadian-secretary-royal-visits-heritage-1.4295322| last=Beeby| first=Dean| title=Liberals leave royal position vacant in Queen's Sapphire Jubilee year| date=19 September 2017| publisher=CBC News| access-date=11 August 2023}}</ref> before he recommended Payette as Johnston's successor that year.<ref>{{citation| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/payette-vetting-trudeau-wednesday-1.4213743| last=Press| first=Jordan| title=Julie Payette's vetting for governor general questioned amid 'disquieting' revelations| date=20 July 2017| publisher=The Canadian Press| accessdate=20 July 2017}}</ref> Following Payette's resignation, Trudeau formed the Advisory Group on the Selection of the Next Governor General,<ref name=Lib/> which selected [[Mary Simon]] for appointment as vicereine.<ref>{{citation| url=https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2021/07/06/prime-minister-announces-queens-approval-canadas-next-governor| author=Office of the Prime Minister of Canada| title=Prime Minister announces The Queen's approval of Canada's next Governor General| date=6 July 2021| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| accessdate=11 August 2023}}</ref>