Monday, February 28, 2011

A political plum?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post, "Judging our judges!"

Good evening Mr. Pieuk:

In answer to your question, the Lieutenant Governor is appointed by the Governor General, as a representative of both the Crown and Federal Government, on recommendation by the Prime Minister. The Lieutenant Governor has all the same tasks, rights and privileges of the Governor General, just on the Provincial level, "selects" the Premier (though this is usually the Leader of the Party with the most votes) and may, as a last resort, dismiss a provincial government.

Like the Governor General they serve a 5-year term, and the office is sometimes used as a partisan "reward" for services rendered to the sitting government in Ottawa.

Here endeth the lesson ...

VJH
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Dear VJH:

Thank you for writing with the civics class lesson. Upon reading your e-mail we couldn't help but wonder shouldn't Manitobans choose their Lieutenant Governor rather than the Prime Minister and Governor General? Why not allow candidates to put their names forward for a vote?

Every time government leaders are allowed to appoint individuals invariably it opens the door to political patronage - look at the Canadian Senate. Why should people with ties to a particular Party simply be handed a plum without having to campaign and convince citizens they're worthy. Is this idea too radical?

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

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