Do you remember the over-the-top fanfare that accompanied the appointment of Canada's now ex-Governor General Julie Payette? Here are some examples.
Some people were so in love with this appointment that they gushed about Ms. Payette's admittedly impressive accomplishments. For example, here is the unabashed love-article from a now probably-slightly-embarrassed news reporter:
Well the gushing and the fanfare are over. Madame Payette is resigning after 3 years of controversy. A workplace investigation is so damning of her behaviour that she is leaving the post at least 2 years earlier than anticipated. Instead of being a "role model for Canadian Girls," she has been identified as the chief problem in a toxic workplace.
And let's face it, the Governor-General's office is a pretty cushy place to work. You'd have to be pretty poisonous to poison that cushy workplace.
Do you know what the Governor-General does? Aside from her ceremonial duties, her real-life functions are to either approve or deny the Prime Minister's requests to prorogue parliament, and to approve or deny the Prime Minister's requests for an election. The Governor-General is the nation's democratic gatekeeper. And for that role, it would be very useful to have a background in law (preferably constitutional law) and/or parliamentary history.
I invite you now to scroll through the many impressive accomplishments of Julie Payette. Which one of those would prepare her for the role of our nation's democratic gatekeeper?
I don't know about you, but choosing a flag-bearing, scuba-diving, astronaut-engineer for Governor-General makes about as much sense as choosing a black-facing, dictatorship-loving, drama teacher for Prime Minister.
Trudeau didn't choose Payette because she was qualified for the job (she was not). Trudeau chose Payette because, like him, she was a symbol.
Here's the sad part: Justin Trudeau could have chosen among many, many qualified women who have the legal and/or historical background to understand the role of Governor-General and to execute those duties professionally and responsibly. I could name five qualified women right here in Essex County. Instead, he chose a symbol. Yep, many qualified women got passed over for this role because Justin Trudeau preferred symbolism over substance.
Symbolism over substance: that defines Justin Trudeau.