Louise Arbour departs after being installed as Governor-General during a ceremony in the Senate chamber in Ottawa on Monday.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
Canada’s new Governor-General says she is embracing her new role, and looking to be informed and sustained by the best qualities of the nation.
Louise Arbour, a former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada who has also held key roles for the United Nations, was installed as Canada’s 31st Governor-General in a ceremony on Monday at the Senate building in downtown Ottawa.
“As I take on my new role, I am mindful of the privilege given to me to go and meet with Canadians across this country,” she told an audience that included Prime Minister Mark Carney, who announced her appointment in May, as well as former prime ministers Joe Clark and Jean Chrétien.
Read and watch Louise Arbour’s first speech as Governor-General
Ms. Arbour called for a unified effort to harness Canada’s resources, talent, “collective know-how” and boundless imagination.
“The world is watching us, not to copy everything we do, but to draw inspiration from a country striving to embrace the future with greater security, prosperity dignity for all.”
The new Governor-General said she will showcase the country’s diversity when asked to represent Canada beyond its borders or welcome foreign dignitaries at home.
She said that she aims to embody the spirit of empathy that lies at the heart of Canada’s reconciliation project. Earlier in the proceedings, Ms. Arbour praised the work of her immediate predecessor, Mary Simon, Canada’s first Indigenous Governor-General, with words that prompted a standing ovation.
“She has reminded us that reconciliation is a lifelong journey that begins with listening,” Ms. Arbour said of Ms. Simon, who was in the audience with her husband, Whit Fraser.
Ms. Arbour delivered a speech that touched on a broad range of issues, including the challenges of artificial intelligence, the need to respect varied points of view – “extreme polarization is dangerous, but so is extreme consensus,” she said – as well as the economic challenges affecting young Canadians.
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Young people “face the headwinds of inequality,” Ms. Arbour said. “In that, we are failing them. It is our shared responsibility to correct course.”
The week after Mr. Carney released his government’s long-awaited AI strategy, Ms. Arbour said Canada is well-positioned to respond to the technology, citing the country’s trustworthy public institutions; strong education system; sustained investment in science, research and development; and a private sector that upholds high standards of integrity.
Ms. Arbour, now the Commander-in-Chief of Canada, also praised the service and professionalism of members of the Armed Forces.
“Those vital efforts are complemented by a renewed focus on defending our own vast territory,” she said.
Mr. Carney said Ms. Arbour has built her career on qualities of sound judgment, deep learning and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law that are key to a governor-general exercising their responsibilities.
Excerpts from the speech by Prime Minister Mark Carney during the installation ceremony for Canada's 31st Governor-General, Louise Arbour. Carney references Arbour's 'remarkable career' and says as Governor-General she will be the steward of Canada's values and institutions.
The Canadian Press
“At every stage of her distinguished career, Her Excellency Louise Arbour has defended and promoted justice, dignity and equality,” he said in remarks to during the ceremony.
Dignitaries in attendance included former governors-generals Adrienne Clarkson and David Johnston, as well as Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who was among the crew of the Artemis II space mission.
Also on hand were Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, and Natan Obed, the president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, which represents Inuit across Canada.
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The governor-general represents the King in Canada, with responsibilities that include carrying out constitutional duties, representing Canada at home and abroad, and recognizing Canadian excellence through such institutions as the Order of Canada. By comparison, the prime minister is the head of government.
NDP Leader Avi Lewis said the sustained applause for Ms. Arbour reflected the respect she brings to the role.
“It felt like a moment of consequence for a country facing challenges on every front, for at least the Ottawa bubble, to come together and celebrate this transition in our democracy. Institutional continuity matters these days,” Mr. Lewis said in a Parliament Hill news conference following the ceremony.
Ms. Arbour’s speech included a few wry observations. “Our humour is grounded in self-deprecation,” she said of Canadians. “We don’t think we are perfect, but we believe we’re pretty well on the way there.”
But she also challenged Canada to aim higher.
“To help Canada reach our full potential, we must adopt a new perspective, one that is ambitious and confident in ourselves and on our place in the world.”
Editor’s note: This article has been corrected to refer to the Governor-General as the representative for Canada's head of state. Our head of state is King Charles III.