Bilingualism seen as a key requirement to GG post
It’s never been entirely clear what makes a good Governor General, but bilingualism appears to be a must. “Look for the PM to choose someone who speaks to things he admires in Canada—those hard-working main-street values,” says Conservative strategist Tim Powers, “and can do it in both of Canada’s official languages. There are lots of capable Canadians that fit that profile.” Two of the Conservatives’ rumoured favourites, however, aren’t among those “that fit that profile.” Neither Rick Hansen nor Wayne Gretzky are proficient enough in French to be considered fluently bilingual, making their chances of landing the job slim.