Quebec's Lieutenant-Governor Gets Stamp of Disapproval
Published by Cynthia Turpin on 2010-02-03
by Rhéal Séguin
Mr. Duchesne, appointed in 2007, has re-established an old tradition of having medals stamped with the lieutenant-governor's face. They bear the French inscription of "Pierre Duchesne, 28th lieutenant-governor of Quebec."
The practice of the lieutenant-governor's office stamping medals ended more than 40 years ago at the height of the nationalist movement that viewed the monarchy as a symbol of English Canada's domination over francophone Quebeckers.
On one side of the medals is a rudimentary image of the Lieutenant-Governor that's somewhat more reminiscent of a Roman emperor than of a modern symbol of the monarchy.
The other side of the coin bears the Lieutenant-Governor's coat of arms.
The medals come in shades of bronze, silver and gold, replacing the certificates of merit a lieutenant-governor regularly hands out to individuals or organizations marking their contributions to their communities. Through an arbitrary system of distribution, the younger recipients are awarded the bronze medal, the older ones receive the silver and the gold is reserved for groups and individuals whose accomplishments warrant the ultimate distinction.
After reading about it on RueFrontenac.com, the website of the locked-out Journal de Montréal journalists, critics have contended that Mr. Duchesne crossed the line by using a "powerful symbol" to enhance the importance of an office that many in Quebec have called into question.
"I must say, the symbol is rather strong," said PQ Deputy House Leader Agnès Maltais.
"It was abandoned in 1966 ... because of its strong symbolic nature. People are fed up with this."
Mr. Duchesne exacerbated matters Thursday by refusing to appear before a National Assembly committee examining his office's expenditures.
His predecessor, Lise Thibault, was the focus of investigations by both provincial and federal auditors as well as the police when she failed to submit proper receipts for spending that included golf games, family parties and double billing. The allegations of misuse of public funds involving Ms. Thibault during her 10-year tenure continue to hamper the public's perception of the lieutenant-governor's office.
"If the committee requests the presence of the Lieutenant-Governor, then he should bow to their request," Premier Jean Charest said when confronted with the issue by reporters during a trade mission in India.
Mr. Duchesne's personal assistant, Michel Demers, explained that the Lieutenant-Governor was exercising a royal privilege granted under the Constitution to refuse to appear before elected members. Although Mr. Demers, who appeared on Mr. Duchesne's behalf, submitted a meticulous account of the office's $922,000 yearly total expenses, the Lieutenant-Governor's refusal to appear drew anger.
"Royal privilege is an archaic institution ... that cannot be used to escape accountability," Ms. Maltais said.
During their investigation of Ms. Thibault's time in office, provincial and federal auditors uncovered $700,000 in expenditures that remain unaccounted for.
A private firm was hired to help the government determine how much money Ms. Thibault should be required to pay back.
Last September, a Quebec judge authorized the government to charge Ms. Thibault with fraud, forgery and breach of trust. She has pleaded not guilty.
