As governor general-designate Michaëlle Jean

prime minister paul martin, recommended jean queen elizabeth ii appointment sovereign s viceroy

from majesty s loyal opposition, upcoming appointment met favourable comments, jean s predecessor applauded choice, saying jean exciting , imaginative choice governor general. in first remarks after announcement, jean herself encouraged canadians involve in communities, , stated wished reach out canadians, regardless of background, , made goal focus on canadian youth , disadvantaged.

however, august 11, 2005, reports emerged of forthcoming piece rené boulanger quebec sovereigntist publication le québécois reveal jean , husband s support quebec independence, citing lafond s associations former members of terrorist organization, front de libération du québec (flq), jacques rose. though boulanger admitted motivated incite rejection of jean anglophone canadians, gilles rhéaume, former president of saint-jean-baptiste society, called on governor general-designate reveal how voted in quebec s 1995 referendum on independence, , members of parliament, provincial premiers, demanded jean , husband clarify sympathies lay. then, 4 days after prime minister publicly explained jean , spouse had both undergone thorough background checks royal canadian mounted police , canadian security intelligence service, there came light, on august 17, existence of documentary in jean had been filmed several hard-line quebec separatists, toasting independence after jean stated: independence can t given, must taken.

that same day, jean responded public statement, saying wish tell unequivocally both husband , proud canadian , have greatest respect institutions of our country. committed canada. not have accepted position otherwise... [we] have never belonged political party or separatist movement, , went on in documented footage had been speaking haiti, , not quebec. martin added on earlier comments: there no doubt in mind devotion canada longstanding , resolute, though critics continued argue jean s response had been vague. late august, polls showed there had been 20% drop in support recommendation of jean next governor general, in response haitian community voiced support jean, holding special church services in honour. jean reaffirmed in late 2010 rumours of separatist sympathies untrue , revealed had been upset journalists saw capitalizing on sensationalism, rather seeking accuracy through investigation, had been advised repeatedly not respond.

the queen held audience jean , family on september 6, 2005, @ balmoral castle. though type of meeting governor general-designate standard, jean s unique in presence of young daughter marked first time in elizabeth s reign designated viceroy-to-be had brought child audience, caused protocol issues. weekend informal; 1 dinner, coincidentally on eve of jean s birthday, queen drove jean , family cottage on balmoral estate, joined prince philip , prince edward, who, along queen, performed cooking , washing up. of it, jean said [i]t best birthday of life. commission appointing jean issued on september 10 under royal sign-manual , great seal of canada.

upon return canada, jean yet again became target when subject of dual citizenship raised, in particular french variety had obtained through marriage french-born lafond. section of french civil code forbade french citizens holding government or military positions in other countries, yet jean, governor general, hold governmental position representative of canada s head of state, and, such, have military role carrying out duties of commander-in-chief of canadian forces, constitutionally vested in monarch. french embassy in ottawa stated there no question law not enforced in jean s case, but, on september 25, 2 days before swearing-in, jean made public had renounced french citizenship [in] light of responsibilities related function of governor general of canada , commander-in-chief of canadian forces , france acceded request decree on september 23, 2005.

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