Canada’s newly appointed Crown representative, who will liaise with King Charles III, has previously criticized the predominance of “white boys” within the country’s military forces.
Louise Arbour, aged 79, has been named as the King’s representative and will serve as the commander-in-chief of Canada’s Armed Forces. This announcement was made on Tuesday by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
However, following the announcement, Arbour’s earlier statements regarding the composition of Canada’s military resurfaced, sparking renewed attention.
In a July 2022 interview, Arbour was questioned about her plans to “rehabilitate” the military, during which she advocated for increased diversity within its ranks.
She recommended that the Canadian Armed Forces draw inspiration from advocacy organizations like the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
“It could also incorporate insights from civil corporate experts or allow cadets to attend civilian universities, where diversity is far more advanced than what we currently witness in military colleges,” Arbour told the Canadian magazine Maclean’s.
She added that similar recruitment patterns could supposedly shape an institution, such as the military, before commenting on the armed forces’ demographics.
‘If you just recruit white boys who like guns but don’t like women or anybody who doesn’t look like them, you’ll perpetuate that culture,’ Arbour said.
Louise Arbour, Canada’s incoming governor general, previously pushed back against the ‘white boys’ in her country’s military
Arbour, who was named by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, will become King Charles III’s representative and also serve as commander–in–chief of Canada’s Armed Forces
Arbour oversaw an independent ‘external comprehensive’ review of the Canadian military in April 2021 (Picture of Canadian troops)
Arbour is expected to start in her new role as governor general in early June.
In April 2021, she was tapped to lead an independent ‘external comprehensive’ review of the Canadian military.
Arbour’s review, which lasted a year after starting that May, found that there was a ‘deeply deficient culture fostered by a rigid and outdated structure.’
‘I was told that almost every female cadet has experienced an incident or more of sexual misconduct “or worse,”‘ Arbour wrote, per the Globe and Mail.
When asked about the findings of her inquiry, Arbour also said there was ‘no question’ about misogyny being the supposed key issue in the Canadian military.
‘Women always served in military support positions, like nursing, but they were only fully integrated into combat when the courts ordered it,’ she told Maclean’s.
‘It’s not enough to think that, over time, this culture will start to dissipate,’ Arbour added.
She also called on the Canadian military ‘to accept that it can’t fix everything by itself.’
‘If they keep thinking they can change things with PowerPoints and internal anti–misconduct initiatives, it’s not going to happen,’ Arbour said.
Arbour’s comments in a July 2022 article resurfaced after Tuesday’s announcement by Carney
Arbour previously pointed to misogyny as one of the supposed key issues in Canadian military culture and said the armed forces need ‘to accept that it can’t fix everything by itself’ (Picture of Canadian troops)
Arbour also criticized what she perceived as a lack of accountability across the Canadian government and military.
‘I don’t think there’s anything in my report that is ideologically unacceptable to the government, but it’s not a priority,’ she said.
‘There’s no price to pay for not doing anything,’ Arbour added. ‘Until seven years later, when you appoint another judge.’
She could now get the chance to institute her desired culture on the Canadian military, with Carney naming her governor general on Tuesday.
‘Louise Arbour will represent the best of Canada to Canadians and to the world,’ Carney said.
He praised Arbour for having ‘held nearly every office a Canadian jurist can hold, and several that no Canadian had held before.’
The Canadian PM also noted ‘the conviction that institutions are the load–bearing walls of a civil society’ which would ‘remain trustworthy only as long as someone is willing to hold them accountable.’
In her first remarks after being named governor general, Arbour made mention of diversity.
‘Canada is a wonderful country shaped by its diversity of people, of perspectives and experiences,’ she said. ‘But I think shaped also mostly by a common respect for strong public institutions and for the rule of law.’
When asked about being a monarchist, Arbour said she would ‘be the representative of the Crown in a constitutional arrangement that has served Canada extremely well’
While announcing Arbour as the new governor general, Carney said she would ‘represent the best of Canada to Canadians and to the world’
Arbour said representing Canada would be a ‘great honor’ and a ‘privilege’ to be present in the case of adversity.
‘I’m fully aware of the responsibility that I’m about to take on as the chief commander of the Canadian armed forces,’ she added.
‘I will serve with respect and professionalism to the men and women in uniform, and it will be an immense honor for me to be among them.’
After her initial comments, Arbour was asked if she considered herself a monarchist.
Before answering, Arbour said the ‘term [was] unfortunately very often used in a pejorative way.’
‘I will be the representative of the Crown in a constitutional arrangement that has served Canada extremely well throughout our history but even more in recent decades,’ she answered.
Arbour made her remarks switching back–and–forth between English and French, which is already a contrast to current retiring governor general Mary Simon, who lacked French–speaking skills.
Beyond the Canadian border, Arbour is known for having served as the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Arbour and Mark Carney’s office for comment.
