The prime minister is set to announce on Tuesday who he’s appointing to become Canada’s next governor general, CBC News has learned.
Multiple sources said Mark Carney’s selection is expected to be fully bilingual in English and French. Two sources said the appointee is a woman.
The current governor general, Mary Simon, is nearing the end of five years in the vice-regal role at Rideau Hall.
Simon made history as the country’s first Indigenous governor general.
Her husband Whit Fraser told the Globe and Mail last month they were planning their exit from Rideau Hall.
Simon, who is Inuk, has spent her time in office focusing on reconciliation between Indigenous and non-indigenous people, advocating for de-stigmatizing mental health, diversity and nature.
During her mandate, Simon has faced criticism for her lack of proficiency in French. She speaks English and Inuktitut, but despite taking French lessons hasn’t become fluent in that language.
By the end of 2021, the commissioner of official languages received more than 1,300 official complaints related to Simon’s appointment that year. Then commissioner Raymond Théberge ruled in 2022 that Simon’s nomination process didn’t violate federal legislation concerning bilingualism.
Carney told Radio-Canada last month the next governor general would “absolutely” be fluently bilingual in English and French.
Recent governors general have served between three to seven years in the job.
