Louise Arbour to Replace Mary Simon as Governor General Amid Ongoing French-Language Lawsuit

Mary Simon will be replaced by Louise Arbour as Governor General on Monday after a formal ceremony, Cbc reported. Simon, 78, said she questioned halfway through her five-year term whether she could finish it. "Sometimes it can be overwhelming," she told CBC's The House.

She described a short period when she wondered if she could complete the mandate but said she got through it and became stronger. Simon was sworn in July 2021 as Canada's first Indigenous Governor General. She is Inuk and bilingual in English and Inuktitut.

She had promised to learn French upon appointment. The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages received 59 complaints shortly after her appointment. French-language advocacy groups filed a lawsuit arguing she could not hold the position because she does not speak French.

The Quebec Superior Court allowed the case to proceed in 2024. In a separate interview last month, Simon said the criticisms were unfair and her level of French did not impede her connection with Canadians. Simon cited two federal elections during her time at Rideau Hall as challenging moments.

She said she was responsible for ensuring a government supported by Canadians and that the processes were completed. Simon previously served as Canada's first ambassador for circumpolar affairs and as ambassador to Denmark. She said she was "upset" when President Donald Trump posted about buying Greenland because Greenlanders are proud Inuit who told her their relationship is with Denmark and the territory was not for sale.

Trump has revived "51st state" threats toward Canada ahead of the July 1 CUSMA review. Simon said the key response is to build Canada to be self-sufficient as much as possible and noted the country came together in a heartening way that should continue. Simon said she committed to working on reconciliation and described it as a "way of life" practised each day.

National Indigenous leaders met twice with King Charles during her term, most recently earlier this week. Simon said she and Arbour have spoken about reconciliation and that Arbour wants to continue working in this area with Indigenous people and other Canadians. She added that Arbour's experience as a judge and lawyer will be helpful and that she is sure Arbour will do a wonderful job.