Ignatieff urges Harper to extend Jean’s term as Governor General
Posted May 2, 2010 3:17 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is urging the prime minister to extend Michaelle Jean’s term as Governor General when her current five-year stint expires in September.
The Canadian secretary to the Queen consulted Ignatieff on a successor at Stephen Harper’s request.
Ignatieff says Jean has served her country with “distinction and honour” and deserves Canada’s thanks.
He says Canadians were “deeply moved by her strong and passionate performance” after the devastating earthquake in her Haitian homeland, which is said to have killed more than 200,000 people.
Ignatieff says Jean’s role in bringing attention to Haiti and its people’s plight has been significant, profound and needs to be sustained.
He says Jean has also been a powerful advocate for aboriginal and Arctic peoples, and a proud commander-in-chief who has stood alongside Canadian troops in Afghanistan.
