On July 26th, Mary Simon was officially appointed the Queen’s representative to Canada. What is extraordinary is that Mary Simon is Inuk, having been born and raised in what is now Nunavut. Nunavut is one of Canada’s three northern territories and is populated primarily by the Inuk people. Now of course, the role of the Governor General is primarily ceremonial, but there are certain situations where the Prime Minister as head of government must consult with the Governor General, such as in the case of dissolving Parliament and calling a federal election. What is more important, that as head of state, the Governor General will oversee a number of ceremonial events such as the opening of Parliament and awarding Canadians with various titles of recognition for service and achievements.
What is even more important, in this period of reconciliation with indigenous peoples, Mary Simon will have numerous opportunities to travel the country and meet with Canadians in their communities. She appears to be devoted to trying to bring Canadians together and to serve as a bridge for people of different races, colour, life preferences, religions, etc., etc. She is also committed to improving the economic and social situation for people in the Artic, many of whom have been forgotten by past governments in Ottawa. She has also been a major spokesperson for issues surrounding climate change, particularly in global Artic regions. In her inauguration address to Parliament, Mary Simon demonstrated her sincere desire to serve all Canadians in a respectful and humble manner.
In a time when the current pandemic has created more divisions among Canadians, an effective and respected Governor General can certainly help to address some of the critical issues we face, without the appearance of adhering to any particular political biases. She has talked about real acts of meaningful reconciliation and the need for healing in Aboriginal communities across Canada. Through tolerance and understanding, she believes that Canada can truly become a country of diversity, greater equality and hope. I, like many Canadians, could not but be impressed with the inspiring words of our new head of state. We can only hope that Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon, as our 30th and first Inuk Governor General, will help all of us to heal and move forward in a positive way. She certainly has challenging work set out for her!
FROLITICKS 
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