Mary Simon assumes ‘comforter-in-chief’ role during uncertain times
Recent message to Canadians projects calm despite looming trade war, rocky politics and potential national unity crisis
Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, in a Jan. 15 letter to Canadians, says Canadians should ponder what hope means to them as the country faces uncertain times. (Image courtesy of the Office of the Governor General)
A little ajuinnata might be what Canadians need to get through uncertain times over the next four years or so.
Gov. Gen. Mary Simon introduced a lot of Canadians to the Inuktitut word for “commitment” in 2021 as part of her year-end message, about six months after she became the first Indigenous person to serve as the Queen’s (now King’s) representative to Canada.
It was at the end of what she called a “hard year.” The world was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She defined ajuinnata as a “commitment, a promise, a vow” and invoked it as a call to do what needs doing to get through tough times.
Suddenly, it’s as relevant today as it was then.
Last week, in a “Letter to Canadians,” Simon said, “Many Canadians are concerned about what lies ahead.”
Without mentioning politics, she referred to the “period of uncertainty” the country finds itself in in 2025.
Her letter came out of the blue. She had only given one other similar message — in 2022, marking the end of her first year on the job.
Simon doesn’t weigh in regularly on politics, so it’s hard to ignore that her Jan. 15 letter arrived just five days before U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
It also came a little more than a week after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shut down Parliament until March, announced his resignation and plunged the Liberal party into a leadership race that will select the next prime minister.
Opposition parties are clamouring to force a spring election and champing at the bit to bring down the Liberal minority government as soon as Parliament resumes.
And then, of course, there’s Trump.
Put all the domestic politics aside. Much of the uncertainty Canada faces has been foisted on it by the new American president’s threat to impose tariffs on Canadian goods coming into his country. Those tariffs could hurt the Canadian economy by making it more expensive for Americans to buy Canadian-made products.
Trudeau says Canada will retaliate with tariffs on goods entering this country from the U.S. That could hurt Canadians by making the American items they buy more expensive.
What appeared to start out as a joke about Canada becoming the 51st state and Trudeau being its “governor” has escalated to the point people are afraid that it might just be a real part of Trump’s off-the-cuff foreign policy.
And, of course, there’s Greenland and Panama. Trump’s ramblings about the U.S. buying Greenland and taking control of the Panama Canal have become unsettling aspects of his approach to foreign policy.
The prime minister and (most) premiers, including Nunavut’s P.J. Akeeagok and Quebec’s François Legault, are putting up a united front in the face of an increasingly unpredictable Canada-U.S. relationship.
But Alberta’s Danielle Smith warns of a national unity crisis if Ottawa tries to prevent the sale of oil and gas to the U.S.
So 2025 is off to a rocky start. In the midst of it all, there’s Mary Simon, projecting calm in the face of a stormy horizon. More comforter-in-chief than commander-in-chief.
Back in 2021, when Simon assumed the role, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed said Simon was “an ideal Governor General for this place and time.”
Simon arrived at Rideau Hall during a time of great uncertainty. And uncertain times will likely continue to dominate the rest of her term.
It’s a shame that the liberal party has put its own interests well ahead of Canada’s. Around 75% of Canadians want an election, yet this delay raises a huge risk for devastating economic effects. Everything will cost more. I wish Mary Simon, could act in the best interest of the country and not antiquated parliamentary rules that gives the current rock bottom government more time to gain a mere few seats.
There is one word you used without sufficient emphasis. “Rules”. Until rules are changed that is the guiding principals of our country. Ya, I know Skippy is overly anxious that he might be loosing ground.
Despite how badly you want an election, the problem is that if Canadians get an election every time they are unhappy, this will end up costing a LOT of money.
It costs over half of a billion dollars for an election.
How about when the majority of Parliament loses confidence in the government? Is that a good enough measure of when we need an election for you?
Former GG, Adrian Clarkson’s biography I read. It tells of escapes with her parents from countries in turmoil; Her relationship with her mother was difficult, her dad was a jockey which allowed him a pass into a privileged Hong Kong circle where he met Adrian’s mother. Adrian led a Canadian group to Russia and had the opportunity to meet Russian officials (Vladimir Putin and others) in more peaceful times. Godspeed to peace.
“Every day that goes by it just gets more and more maddening that Trudeau has forced Canada to endure this wasteful, months long Liberal Party beauty pageant that serves absolutely no purpose other than sparing him the indignity of losing the next election.”
Justin circles about the bowl. Meanwhile we are to accept a few with endless wealth rocket to space for fun rides as the homeless numbers grow and children going hungry grow. Poilievre will walk the same well worn path, serving the Ottawa lobby. Think Green, vote Green.
In its current iteration the Green Party has lost its way. Instead of focusing on what it should, the environment and good fiscal management its become enmeshed in absurd, progressive-identity issues that the majority of Canadians are exhausted of.
I have voted green many times in the past, but will not do it now. I can only hope the party gets no seats and is forced to completed recalibrate with a new leader and more serious vision of its purpose.
Trump is distracting with all his treats. They are just that threats.
Trump is definitely getting the reaction out of it all. He dog all the dogs in Canada chasing their tail over his threats.
25% tariffs on Canadian products were going to be levied in January 20th,
Now the threat is pushed back to February 1,
This treat will be further pushed back to March 1 and so on as long as he gets a reaction that is favorable to the US.
Right now Canadian Federal and Provincial Governments are finally investing in boarder security with the USA which was never really done….ever, favorable reaction for the US
Now Canada is ramping up military defense spending and should reach their 2% target in 2 short years instead of 7, another favorable reaction for the US. We should have been here already with the way our government has been spending our money on foreign aid. Liberals should cut all this aid to WEF, to WHO, to Climate action plans in other countries and invest it in Canada, beefing up our boarders and military in my personal opinion.
In other words, just take the salary and perks and don’t rock the boat.
I would call Simon the most useless GG we’ve ever seen, but it wouldn’t be true, they are all useless. The position itself should not exist.
Another toothless editorial that says almost nothing interesting or useful. How is this, can we elect a new editor too?
This is what Nunatsiaq has been reduced too, puff piece editorials that routinely skirt the good questions in favour of the warm, easy and sure not to offend.
Example, rather than scrutinizing the $100 hand out to voters by NTI, we got an editorial called ‘Here’s to more voters.’ Also, rather than a discussion around the scope of the Governor Generals powers to prorogue including the ethical issues of this case, we get ‘the comforter in chief.’
Go back to sleep everyone.
Unbelievable…
Yes times may be hard for many people. But not for our highly overpaid and over-pensioned GG.
Totally, she’s an actress playing the roll of national mommy… the exact scope of what Trudeau wants from her, and not anything more.