The recent highly successful visit to Canada of Queen Elizabeth II, coming as it did at the end of Jean's term, makes this an auspicious moment for the crown in Canada, and so for the naming of our next governor-general.
And Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in accepting the recommendation of a carefully composed and non-partisan search committee, has done the country proud. A glance at his CV reveals that David Johnston, who will take office on or around Oct. 1, is a paragon of ability and accomplishment. At 69, he has every prospect of fulfilling the usual five-year term with grace and distinction.
We understand that full fluent bilingualism was a sine qua non for this appointment, and so should it be from now on. Most francophones take little interest in the crown in Canada, but the monarchy -and therefore the governor-generalship -is cemented firmly into the constitution. There will, in other words, be a governor-general for the foreseeable future; in that case the office-holders should be comfortable in both languages and cultures.
A lot of the punditry during and after the queen's visit was much more favourable to her than to the institution she incarnates. (One paid-to-be-hip CBC broadcaster seemed to surprise even himself by speaking well of the queen, though he rather spoiled the effect by referring to her repeatedly as "Your Highness.")
The point missed by those dismissive of the monarchy for Canada -well, one of the points missed -is that what they like about the queen is also true of the crown in general: It is a symbol of continuity, stability, tradition -and, because it is above the political fray, of unity. Perhaps it is only a coincidence that so many constitutional monarchies enjoy political stability. Perhaps not.
Johnston will have a tough act to follow. The last two governors-general, Jean and Adrienne Clarkson, have been foreign-born visible-minority women who had worked for the CBC. That's fine, and both improved the profile of the post after the dreary terms of an unfortunate succession of washed-up politicians. But white guys in suits are part of the population, too.
Though he might lack his predecessor's media allure, Johnston has all of the personal qualities the post demands. He has an important job to do, and we wish him every success.