Archived Articles

Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.

He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.

In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.

Global Real Estate Project
News Index

Directories
  Int'l Realty
  US Realty

Canada will have very soon a new Governor-General (GG), a French-speaking woman and current TV journalist born in Haiti. The new GG Mrs. Michaelle Jean, which will officially represent the British monarch to Canada, will most probably be in office during and immediately after the next Quebec referendum for independence. The name and the origin of the next Canadian GG indicate that the current government in Ottawa doesn't want to leave anything to the chance in case of such referendum. It's hardly surprising then that the main party in Quebec that fights for independence has reacted negatively to this nomination.

The name of the new GG of Canada is already announced to the public. The CBC media corporation's journalist Michaelle Jean will enter the office in late September 2005, replacing English-speaking Mrs. Adrienne Clarkson that was too a TV journalist before becoming a GG. Canadian constitutional tradition suggests that the GG office should be moved consecutively between English and French-speaking persons.

There is an element of social justice in this nomination and it would be unwise to deny it. By appointing a Haiti-born woman for the office of Canadian GG the government in Ottawa has all rights to claim that in reality it has renounced with the old concept of a country reserved for whites of English and French origin. Those with talents must know they are welcomed everywhere, even at the very top of the constitutional pyramid. To make this principle a reality on every social and political level will take lots of time, but this nomination is a step ahead that must be acclaimed.

There are although other aspects of this nomination and they have more to do with the political developments in one particular province Quebec. The current Liberal party provincial government is highly unpopular. The main opposition party "Partie Quebecois" may call for new referendum for independence as early as one year after it gains the majority in the provincial parliament. The new provincial election should be organized not later than 2008, although the local political conventions say the most likely date will be the spring of 2007. This will put the new referendum on the agenda for 2008 or 2009, which are well within the new GG mandate that is expected to end by 2010-2011.

The new GG as a person born in Haiti will have an enormous moral influence over an ethnic and racial minority within the French-speaking majority in Quebec. Haitians in Canada live predominantly in Montreal, the largest city in Quebec. They are currently more than 80,000 and their number is rising helped by positive demographic trends and the new waves of political refugees and economic migrants that come from Haiti. By 2008-2009 they will represent an even larger community. Given the lack of clear majority for or against independence in Quebec this community as one of the largest and fastest growing minority groups may decide the fate of the referendum and by this the fate of Canada. In case of referendum Michaelle Jean will have to choose her camp and by doing so she will influence the Haitian vote in Quebec.

The office of GG in Canada seems for many mostly like a bygone ages relic. In fact this office may play some important roles during the process of forming and dismissing the federal government. The current government had to appoint French-speaking Canadian for the office of GG, but there was no certainty that in times of political crisis this GG wouldn't opt for independence by dismissing the federal government instead of asking from the GG lieutenant in Quebec to dismiss the provincial government. In times of deep crisis even not acting soon enough may change the situation from bad to worse.

That's the reason why the Quebec pro-independence politicians didn't like this nomination. Perhaps they understand that Michaelle Jean that has been received by Canada as a political refugee together with her family and has been given any help for social and professional promotion won't have any reason to put the Quebec independence cause over the Canadian political unity.

--------------------

See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of Canada.