A former war crimes prosecutor is exactly the kind of Governor General that Canada needs right now

Louise Arbour can remake the role to become Canada's Charter and constitution champion.

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Louise Arbour is an excellent choice for Governor General, but her appointment cannot merely be political. That she is a woman, a Francophone and Québécoise should all be of secondary consideration to the fact that she's a former Supreme Court justice.

Irrespective of what past Governors General have done with the job, Ms. Arbour has an opportunity to take the role in a new direction. Because what Canada needs right now, more than anything, is an experienced jurist who will uphold our constitution, defend Charter rights and hold Canada accountable to the rule of law — both domestically and in its foreign relations.

We need a Governor General who will defend the constitution, which has been under attack in recent years, both from conservative provinces using the notwithstanding clause to push their socially conservative agendas, as much as Alberta separatists looking to become the 51st state.

Louise Arbour must be more than just a representative of the British monarchy — a family that's gone to extreme lengths to shield themselves from accountability as it relates to numerous instances of sexually assaulting minors. This country needs a constitutional champion, someone who isn't a politician who will advocate for a united Canada where the law reigns supreme.

As a former war crimes prosecutor, Arbour has a moral responsibility to insist that Canada plays by the rules it claims to uphold. If our allies commit war crimes, she needs to speak up. If there is evidence that Canada has sheltered war criminals, she must hold the government accountable. And when Canadian courts recognize Indigenous territorial claims, she needs to stand with the rule of law against opportunistic politicians looking to capitalize off anti-Indigenous racism.

This is how Ms. Arbour can best serve the people of Canada — not by being a rubber stamp or a ceremonial figurehead. It is the judicial branch that has long been the cutting edge of progressivism in Canada. 

Arbour must now be the shield to complement the sword. â– 

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