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OTTAWA
— Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean says her appointment
as UN special envoy to Haiti is an expression of
the "solidarity and friendship"
Canadians have demonstrated since the devastating
earthquake in her homeland.
"It is with great passion, conviction and
enthusiasm that I have agreed to take on this
important mission, which fits in perfectly with
the people-to-people diplomacy I have practiced
throughout my term," Jean said in a statement
Tuesday.
Her appointment as special envoy for the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) is "a tribute to
Canada's leadership role in rebuilding
Haiti," said Prime Minister Stephen Harper,
who helped get her the high-profile job.
"She will be in a position to further
advance the international community's response to
the urgent needs in Haiti as it recovers from
January's devastating earthquake."
Jean, whose term as GG officially ends Sept.
27, said she'll support efforts to rebuild Haiti's
heritage infrastructure and national education
system in her new role.
"I will be encouraging the international
community ... to make basic education, vocational
training and higher education a priority and to
work with the Haitian government and population to
ensure sustainable and human development."
Jean said she'll "remain engaged with my
fellow Canadians" through the Ottawa-based
Michaelle Jean Foundation, which supports
youth-oriented organizations engaged in
constructive civic activities.
UNESCO was founded in 1945 and Canada became a
member in 1946. Its mission is to contribute to
building peace, eradicating poverty and promoting
education, culture, science and communication. The
organization currently has three designated
special envoys: for water, for education, and for
literacy and development.
There is speculation Harper wants to install a
new vice-regal in time for the Queen's visit to
Canada in less than two weeks.
The Governor General is largely a ceremonial
post, but Jean has had weighty decisions to make
and an unusually high profile during an extended
period of minority governments.
In December 2008, she allowed Harper to
prorogue Parliament and buy time to thwart an
attempt by the Liberal, NDP and Bloc Quebecois
opposition to form a coalition government.
Jean also gained international notoriety thanks
to a video showing her eating raw seal meat at
Rankin Inlet in what some interpreted as a sign of
support for the controversial seal hunt.
The most lasting image of Jean, however, may be
her tearful appeal in support of Haiti relief
following the Jan. 12 earthquake that killed some
230,000 people and left another million homeless.
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