[EyeBrock]

$1:

Governor general a French citizen
Michaelle Jean became dual citizen by marriage

Jack Aubry
The Ottawa Citizen

August 10, 2005




CREDIT: Rod MacIvor, The Ottawa Citizen
Michaelle Jean's dual citizenship poses no barrier to the vice-regal office, officials say.





Canadians will not only have a new governor general when Michaelle Jean moves into Rideau Hall -- they'll also have a new French governor.
That's one possible conclusion Canadians may reach after a spokesperson for Canada's future representative of the British monarchy confirmed that Ms. Jean holds dual citizenship, and is a French citizen through her marriage to filmmaker Jean-Daniel Lafond.
"I will represent the Crown in Canada and I believe in that institution -- the oldest in our history.
"From Samuel de Champlain to Michaelle Jean, we went a long way," said Ms. Jean last week when asked for her thoughts on the monarchy.
Champlain, who is considered the founder of Quebec, was Canada's first French governor. In a curious way, Ms. Jean's dual citizenship will make her the country's latest French governor when she takes up her post in September.
The Prime Minister's Office says the dual citizenship held by Ms. Jean was not an issue in her selection as governor general, pointing out she and her husband are Canadian citizens "by choice" and they brought their adopted six-year-old daughter, Marie-Eden, to Canada from Haiti to become a citizen.
Ms. Jean, who fled from Haiti to Canada in 1968 with her family, became a French citizen when she married Mr. Lafond, who holds dual citizenship, in a civil ceremony in 1990. Mr. Lafond, who left France for Canada in 1974, became a Canadian citizen in 1981.
Fluent in five languages, the 48-year-old former CBC broadcaster was approached recently to replace Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.
Prime Minister Paul Martin was following the tradition of alternating the post between English- and French-Canadians.
With her daughter and husband by her side, Ms. Jean also told a press conference last week: "You know I know exactly where I was born. I know exactly where I'm from ...
"Having a person like me as governor general of Canada will mean a lot, not only to Canadians, but all abroad.
"I think it will mean a lot for humanity."
Ms. Jean was on a retreat this week preparing for her new duties.
Ms. Jean's biography, which is posted on the prime minister's website, listed among her awards the Ordre des Chevaliers de La Pleiade by the Assemblee internationale des parlementaires de langue francaise.
Mr. Lafond's bio, meanwhile, mentions that he is a former professor of philosophy in France who worked closely in his homeland with the research branches of the Service de radiodiffusion television francaise, the Institut National de la Recherche Pedagogique and the Atelier de Creation Radiophonique de Radio-France before leaving for Quebec in 1974.
Mr. Lafond indicated at the press conference last week that he intends to stay active while living at Rideau Hall: "I am who I am. I'm like that. You know I stay myself. That's important and not to leave my place, my seat, my films and so on."
Mr. Lafond, a filmmaker, has never shied away from controversy, including his work on a documentary in 1994 on the 25th anniversary of the October crisis and the FLQ murder of Quebec labour minister Pierre Laporte.

Canada is a tolerant country and we immigrants are allowed to maintain dual citizenship. I personally believe it’s time that our public officials gave up citizenship of foreign countries, especially Governors General, Lieutenant Governors, MP’s and Provincial MP’s.

Our leaders should not have mixed loyalties, the should be exclusively Canadian citizens, not keep one foot in Canada and another foot in some foreign country.

What do you guys think?

[xerxes]

She only has French citizenship by marriage. Considering she's lived in Canada since she was 11, that sort of thing we can let slide.

[EyeBrock]

I dunno mate, why did she need to become a French citizen when she lived in Canada? Do you have to be French to marry somebody in Quebec?

[xerxes]

I think it's just one of those automatic things. Marry a man from France, gain French citizenship. Just like all the war brides from WW2. They married a soldier and automatically gained citizenship of the soldiers home country (except in Canada, that took a while, if I remember correctly).

[EyeBrock]

Ok, that makes sense. Still I think our MP's , Governors etc should be Canadian citizens only.

[Motorcycleboy]

xerxes xerxes:

I think it's just one of those automatic things. Marry a man from France, gain French citizenship. Just like all the war brides from WW2. They married a soldier and automatically gained citizenship of the soldiers home country (except in Canada, that took a while, if I remember correctly).

It's not actually. You have to actively pursue French citizenship and jump through a number of hoops to get it. It's not automatic.

Further, would you be ok with a GG who was a dual American citizen? The Canadian nationalist types on this site would be screaming if that were the case and you know it.

[EyeBrock]

Motorcycleboy is right. You have to apply, and there are residency requirements and it takes about a year.

Why would she apply for French citizenship when she came to Canada at 11?

[ShepherdsDog]

Martin needs to choose someone else and be a little more careful in his choice. There are just too many questions and controversies surrounding the current choice.

[EyeBrock]

Another example of Martin's poor leadership.

[xerxes]

Which would be the worse controversy: Mme. Jean or some politcal crony like Romeo LeBlanc or Ray Hnytyshn (spelling)?

[canucker]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

Martin needs to choose someone else and be a little more careful in his choice. There are just too many questions and controversies surrounding the current choice.

They thought it out and investigated her whole family. If she is the right person for the job then good for her. She has to be smarter than the last GG. No matter who they chose, I'm sure there would be some sort of controversies popping up.

[Motorcycleboy]

IceOwl IceOwl:

[As long as they're a Canadian citizen first, before all other nationalities, why does it matter?

What if a person who was born in Canada becomes a citizen of another country, while retaining their Canadian citizenship, does it make a difference then?

It matters because in order to be a citizen of another country you have to swear allegience to it. You can't be loyal to two masters.

I've got no problem with individual Canadians who hold more than one citizenship, but for somebody who is expected to personify the nation, I think we should demand a higher standard.

As for your second point, no it doesn't. I don't think someone who holds that high an office can have citizenship other than Canadian. Period.

[Motorcycleboy]

lily lily:

Motorcycleboy Motorcycleboy:

I've got no problem with individual Canadians who hold more than one citizenship, but for somebody who is expected to personify the nation, I think we should demand a higher standard.

Why would it be okay for a regular Canadian but not a person chosen to represent him?

Because I don't believe Government should regulate aspects of people's lives unless there's a clear, demanding reason for it.

That said, those who hold the highest offices in the land should be held to a higher standard. With privelege, comes responsibility.

[EyeBrock]

I think immigrants who want to be Canadian citizens should renounce their other citizenship.

Don't you think it's weird Lily that the GG designate actually applied for French citizenship even though she came to Canada as a refugee and purports to be a proud Canadian?

Why the hell would she need to be a French citizen?