17.06°C Vancouver

May 5, 2026 2:52 PM - Connect Newsroom - Ramandeep Kaur with files from The Canadian Press

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

Share On
louise-arbour-appointed-canadas-next-governor-general-replacing-mary-simon
Carney had previously stated that the next governor general would be fluent in both English and French. Arbour is fully bilingual. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

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.

Latest news

BCJul 24, 2026

Woman fatally shot in Toronto's Etobicoke; suspect arrested, police say

A woman was fatally shot in Toronto's Etobicoke neighbourhood early Saturday morning, and a suspect has been arrested, according to Toronto Police. Police said officers responded to reports of a shooting at about 7:20 a.m. near Humberwood Boulevard and Rexdale Boulevard. The woman was found with gunshot injuries and was pronounced dead. Police have not publicly identified the victim or the accused, and the investigation remains ongoing. An eyewitness told media the victim appeared to be a woman in her early 20s and was walking from a nearby bus stop when a man approached her from behind, brief
BCJul 24, 2026

Surrey Council to Vote on Contract for 56 New Speed Bumps Near Schools and Parks

The City of Surrey is moving ahead with plans to install 56 new speed bumps near schools and parks as part of efforts to improve safety for children and pedestrians. Surrey City Council is scheduled to vote Monday on a contract to carry out the project. According to the council agenda, the project will be funded through the City's 2026 transportation budget. If approved, installation is expected to begin later this month, with work targeted for completion by the end of September ahead of the new school year. The proposed construction schedule would allow work to take place Monday through Frida
roundtable-to-examine-canadas-proposed-safe-social-media-act
EnglishJul 24, 2026

Roundtable to examine Canada's proposed Safe Social Media Act

The federal government is set to hold a roundtable discussion on Monday to examine the proposed Safe Social Media Act, known as Bill C-34, as consultations continue on new digital safety measures. According to the government, Canadian Culture Minister Mark Miller will co-chair the discussion with British Columbia Member of Parliament Patrick Weiler. The meeting is expected to focus on key provisions of the proposed legislation and broader digital safety regulations. The government introduced Bill C-34 in the House of Commons in June. The proposed legislation would prohibit children under the a
BCJul 24, 2026

Livingstone Avenue closed through the weekend in Abbotsford for Highway 1 widening project

Abbotsford Police have issued a traffic advisory as construction continues on the Highway 1 widening project through the Fraser Valley. According to the B.C. Ministry of Transportation, Livingstone Avenue in Abbotsford will be fully closed through the weekend. The closure begins Friday and is expected to remain in effect until Monday morning. The affected section extends from east of Mall Access Road to west of Gardner Park. According to Abbotsford Police, access to local businesses and residential properties will be maintained throughout the closure. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate
BCJul 24, 2026

Wildfire smoke degrades air quality across parts of B.C.; warnings remain in effect

Smoke from ongoing wildfires in British Columbia continues to reduce air quality across several parts of the province, with Kelowna experiencing hazardous conditions on Thursday. According to IQAir, Kelowna's Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeded 300 at one point Thursday afternoon, making it the city with the poorest air quality in the world during that period. Earlier in the week, Ashcroft recorded Canada's worst air quality on Monday morning. Environment Canada has maintained high-impact air quality warnings for several regions, including the Fraser Canyon, Merritt and Kelowna. The agency says w

Related News