Outgoing Gov. Gen. says she questioned completing full term due to age, job demands

Outgoing Gov. Gen. Madonna st. Simon says she wondered midway through and through her five-year mandatory whether she'd be able to complete the full term.

"I think I became stronger at that point."

Simon, who is 78 years old, cited her age and the demands associated with the role as factors that made her question how long she could stay on the job.

She was sworn in July 2021 as Canada's first Indigenous Governor General. She highlighted big moments, particularly around constitutional affairs.

"We've had two federal elections during my time at Rideau Hall, and we had to work through those processes because I'm ultimately responsible to make sure we have a government that's supported by Canadians," Simon told host Catherine Cullen.

Carney thanks outgoing Gov. Gen. Mary Simon for 'extraordinary service' to Canada

"Those were some of the challenging moments, not that we couldn't deal with them. We did."

Simon, who is Inuk, has also faced criticism over her grasp of the French language. She is bilingual in English and Inuktitut, and promised to learn French when she was first appointed. 

A lawsuit was later filed by French-language advocacy groups who argued Simon could not hold the position because she does not speak French. That lawsuit was given the go-ahead in 2024 by the Quebec Superior Court despite Ottawa's objections.

Over the last year of her term, Simon spoke about U.S. President Donald Trump's desire to acquire Greenland. Prior to becoming Governor General, she was Canada's first ambassador for circumpolar affairs and a former ambassador to Denmark.

Simon said she was "upset" when Trump was posting about buying the semi-autonomous territory "because I've worked a long time with Greenlanders and they're very proud Inuit."

"There's issues, like we have, that they have to deal with — but their relationship is with Denmark. They certainly told me they didn't want to have somebody else take over," Simon said. "And it was not for sale."

Trump recently turned his attention back to Canada, reviving his "51st state" threats as trade talks between the Canadians and Americans heat up ahead of the July 1 CUSMA review.

Simon said the key response to that "is to build our country to be self-sufficient, as much as we can possibly do."

"What happened in Canada was quite heartening, because the country came together…. We need to keep that moving," she said. "It can't just happen that one time."

Simon told Cullen she made a commitment to work on reconciliation while in office. She said reconciliation must be understood as a "way of life" practised each day.

She highlighted how national Indigenous leaders have twice met with King Charles during her time as Governor General — the latest being earlier this week.

But Simon will leave her post at a time when Indigenous communities are also expressing concern about how much their voices matter to Canadian governments.

That includes Alberta as it grapples with separatism — raising concerns about treaty rights — and Ottawa as the federal government mulls lifting an oil tanker ban that applies to the North Coast of B.C. First Nations have warned allowing oil tankers there comes with catastrophic risk.

Reconciliation is a value, not a policy issue: Governor General

The Governor General acknowledged she's apolitical due to the nature of her role, but stressed the importance of unity in Canada and the duty to consult Indigenous communities.

"Large projects and the duty to consult, that all has to be worked through. And there is a commitment to do that. It's finding the right path to make sure that the consultation and the duty to consult is clear," Simon said.

She also said that no matter where she has gone in Canada, when she's met with Indigenous communities "they always talk about their relationship with the Crown and how important that is."

As for her successor Louise Arbour, who will be sworn in Monday, Simon said she doesn't know what her priorities will be but the two have spoken about reconciliation.

"She wants to continue working in this area with Indigenous people and other Canadians," Simon said. "As a judge and as a lawyer, [Arbour] has a tremendous experience that can probably be helpful in any way.

"So I'm sure she will do a wonderful job in her new role."

Associate Producer

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