Louise Arbour appointed Canada’s next governor general, replacing Mary Simon

Prime Minister Mark Carney says former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour will serve as Canada’s next governor general, succeeding Mary Simon when her term concludes this summer.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Arbour’s appointment follows a selection process that prioritized official bilingualism and public service experience. Arbour is a former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and has held senior international roles, including United Nations high commissioner for human rights and chief prosecutor for international tribunals in The Hague.

Simon, who was appointed in 2021 by then-prime minister Justin Trudeau, will complete her five-year term in July. She made history as Canada’s first Indigenous governor general. Her tenure included scrutiny over her limited ability to speak French, one of Canada’s two official languages.

Carney had previously stated that the next governor general would be fluent in both English and French. Arbour is fully bilingual.

The governor general serves as the Crown’s representative in Canada and carries out constitutional and ceremonial duties, including granting royal assent to legislation and formally appointing governments.