Friday 28 May 2004
It's no easy thing to be a Governor General
In the last few weeks the Canadian Governor General has been raked over
the coals by some politicians and media for the cost overrun of a recent diplomatic state
visit to Russia and other northern countries, as they cannot see where the taxpayer has
gotten value for the money. They have the idea that the GG's office arranges these things
on its own volition and spends indiscriminately. In response Her Excellency defends this
by stating, correctly, that the government is responsible for all her missions inside and
outside Canada's borders, and budgets for them. It got the Jester thinking about what
exactly a governor general does and the people who have held the office before.
Now for the benefit of those readers who don't know the term, countries like Canada,
Australia and New Zealand with a system of government called a Constitutional Monarchy,
have the Queen (or current monarch) as their Head of State, with a Prime Minister as Head
of Government. They act as the Queen's representative, performing duties like opening
Parliament, hosting visiting foreign heads of state and essentially doing what the Royal
Family does in the UK and around the Commonwealth-making friends and influencing people.
Although their powers are largely ceremonial now, and their influence over the cultural
and social lives of Canadians is diminished, it didn't start out that way.
The British Empire in Queen Victoria's reign was at its zenith and the
Colonial Office, whose job it was to control all these outlying territories, decided that
the only people capable of providing the resources and experience to do this were members
of the aristocracy. They all had Eton, Oxford, military or political experience, were
established family men and high enough on the social register to impress even the
backwaters of Upper and Lower Canada.
Now it would be expected that these Viscounts, Barons, Earls, Dukes and a Prince of the
Blood would be horrified to exchange their estates and palaces for five years in a leaking
house in a mud-soaked colonial backwater, and would immediately take refuge in their
country gentlemen rites. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Accompanied by their wives, (some commoners, some the daughters of peers, one the favoured
daughter of Queen Victoria) each dove right into the spirit of local life. They traveled
extensively throughout Canada and the US, establishing cordial relations with Presidents,
founding hospitals, museums and art galleries. They directed the social life of the
country while driving social activism, undertaking projects to provide medical care for
women and children, and strengthening friendly ties between divergent cultures and
languages. They dropped all social boundaries to welcome people from all walks of life
wherever they went. And they complained to the Colonial Secretary that they were never
paid enough. Presumably it was thought they were personally rich enough to cover the
extras.
Plenty of Royals visited during this time. Prince Arthur, Queen Victoria's second son made
two trips-the first age 19, the second age 61 when he returned as GG in 1911. Prince
George made three trips while in the navy, one with his wife the future Queen Mary to his
King George V. The Marquess of Lorne, son of the Duke of Argyll and chief of Clan
Campbell, arrived in 1878 with his wife, Princess Louise. Victoria had only OK'd this
assignment because by then Canada was just a speedy 10 days' sail away. Princess Louise
was badly injured in a sled accident and thereafter spent much time back home. What was
not known then was that due to Ireland's continuing troubles the Fenians had been
threatening her life. Some things never change.
According to Lorne it was no easy thing to be a governor general. You, "needed the
patience of a saint, the smile of a cherub, the generosity of an Indian prince and the
back of a camel". He used them all to establish a Royal Society, advocated a
permanent defense force and used his diplomatic skills to convince an unhappy west coast
colony to remain joined to the rest of the country.
They also had a profound effect on the sporting life of the land. 1st Baron of
Stanley donated the Holy Grail of hockey supremacy-The Stanley Cup. The 4th Earl Minto
supported lacrosse with the Minto Cup. 4th Earl Grey established Canadian Football's Grey
Cup trophy.
Grey may have been a steadfast Edwardian Imperialist but he became the champion of all
things Canadian. It was he who declared that certain hotels, clubs and theatres could be
designated "Royal", to keep the monarchy in the public eye. He stayed six years
due to the death of King Edward VII, keeping his replacement the Duke of Connaught (Prince
Arthur) home longer. On his staff served the future Lords Albermarle and Lascelles and
Duke of Northumberland.
Perhaps it was this influence of public service and vision that these couples established
in both Prince George and Prince Arthur that have governed how the Royal Family has
distinguished themselves since.
Granted it is a life of restrictions, of constant public display, of seeming glamour and
hard work, requiring stamina and patience, knowledge and diplomatic skills, drive and
commitment. Regardless of whether you are born to it or appointed to it, being regal or
vice-regal is constantly treading the fine line between working within politics while
appearing to be above politics.
Those early pioneers refused to 'lord' it over anyone, used their social and diplomatic
skills discreetly, risking the wrath and defying the lack of political will of the
government of their times to accomplish much of it. In doing so each left a legacy that
continues to thrive today.
Now why can't politicians see that the value of that was, and is, priceless?
Anon til we meet again!
- The Court Jester
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