Louise Arbour took her oath as Canada's 31st Governor General on Monday morning, and wasted little time offering a pointed message about the state of the country she now represents.
Speaking from the Senate chamber throne in Ottawa, the former Supreme Court justice said both extreme polarization and forced consensus are threats to a healthy democracy. The only path forward, she said, is through the "peaceful management" of our differences.
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"It is through our differences, and our fundamental right to express them, that we will nourish critical thinking, creativity and innovation," Arbour said. "It is through our differences that we will build a common future."
A warning about AI
Arbour, 79, used part of her inaugural speech to flag concerns about artificial intelligence and what she described as the "profound societal shifts" it is already setting in motion.
She said the ease of access to information is making it harder for people to distinguish reliable sources from unreliable ones.
"The lines between knowledge and belief, between truth and falsehood, between facts and assumptions are increasingly blurred," she said. "AI could be threatening not only the way we live and work, but also the control we exercise over our own destiny."
She said the challenge is manageable, but only with strong public institutions and a private sector that "upholds the standards of integrity that Canadians expect."
Protecting democratic institutions
Arbour said protecting the spaces where Canadians debate and disagree is itself a democratic priority. She listed universities, the media, courtrooms, legislative bodies, and the arts as institutions worth defending.
She also had a pointed message for young Canadians, saying they should recognise what they have even while they grapple with real concerns about climate change, wealth inequality, and armed conflict abroad.
She touched on Arctic security and said Canada must serve as a "beacon" at a time of global instability.
"We must remain attentive to the rights of those directly affected, and we must always ensure a fair sharing of both burdens and benefits. Our collective security rests above anything else on the trust that we place in each other," she said.
She also allowed herself a moment of levity: "We do not mistake humility for weakness, nor do we measure a person's worth by the thickness of their wallet. We don't think we are perfect, but we believe we're pretty well on the way there."
Ceremony and transition
Chief Justice Richard Wagner administered Arbour's oaths just before 10:30 a.m. EDT at the Senate of Canada building. Prime Minister Mark Carney and his wife Diana Fox were among the dignitaries in attendance, along with outgoing Governor General Mary Simon and Usher of the Black Rod Greg Peters.
An Algonquin elder opened the proceedings with a territorial welcome, reflecting the significance of the Crown's relationship with Indigenous peoples under Canada's treaty framework.
The ceremony included musical performances from francophone artist Sara Dufour, who sang "La Reine" by Les Cowboys Fringants, and anglophone artist Tyler Shaw, who performed Raffi's "Like Me and You." Parliament's poet laureate, Chimwemwe Undi, read an original poem titled "Reasons," written for the occasion. A French translation was delivered by a student from Louise Arbour Elementary School in Ottawa.
A 21-gun salute was fired from Parliament Hill as Arbour took the throne, and the Governor General's Flag was raised on the Peace Tower as the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces played "God Save the King."
Mary Simon's farewell
Outgoing Governor General Mary Simon, who received a standing ovation in the Senate, released a farewell statement through Rideau Hall as the ceremony got underway.
"I believe in the importance of strengthening relationships and deepening understanding among all peoples, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike," Simon wrote. "Reconciliation belongs to all of us. It is not only about acknowledging the past, but also about shaping our shared future. It calls for us to share our stories, to learn from one another, and sometimes to have difficult but necessary conversations. This is how we move forward together, in dignity and equality."
Arbour thanked Simon for her service through the COVID-19 pandemic and economic upheaval, and for demonstrating that reconciliation is "a lifelong exercise."
Louise Arbour's background
Louise Arbour brings considerable international legal experience to the role. She served as chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and became the first person to indict a sitting head of state when she charged Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic with crimes against humanity.
The Montreal native also secured the first genocide conviction under the 1948 Genocide Convention in a case involving a former Rwandan mayor.
King Charles, who approved Arbour's appointment, met with her at Buckingham Palace last week. It is the first gubernatorial appointment since Charles ascended the throne in 2022.
The Governor General's duties include serving as commander-in-chief of Canada, swearing in cabinet ministers, proroguing and dissolving Parliament, making appointments on the prime minister's advice, and granting Royal Assent to legislation.
*With files from CP
