Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Inuit leader Mary Simon will serve as Canada’s next Governor General and become the first Inuk to hold the position in Canada’s history.
Governor General Designate Simon was born in Nunavik, in northern Quebec. She has been an advocate for Inuit rights and culture and is an Officer of the Order of Canada. For more than four decades, she has taken on senior leadership positions, such as President of Makivik Corporation, where she helped protect and promote Inuit rights with the application of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. She also served two terms as President of the Inuit Circumpolar Council and as President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. As the first Canadian Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs, Ms. Simon played a crucial role in building better relations between the people of the Arctic regions in Canada and the World, including through the creation of the Arctic Council. She is also the founder of the Arctic Children and Youth Foundation. She has also served as Canada’s Ambassador to Denmark.
This is a historic day. I do not doubt that she will carry out the role of Governor General with the passion and dedication that she has shown in all her previous work. Should you wish to learn more about Ms. Simon, I invite you to visit this link:
https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2021/07/06/mary-simon-oc-oq
Wishing you all my very best,
Peter Schiefke
MP Vaudreuil-Soulanges
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship