Queen is our head of state, Prime Minister reminds G-G

From the National Post.

Stephen Harper has sent a clear message to Michaelle Jean, the Governor-General, that she should not call herself head of state.

"Queen Elizabeth II is Queen of Canada and Head of State," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement issued to Canwest News Service yesterday. "The Governor-General represents the Crown in Canada."

The extraordinary reminder from the country's head of government to its top viceregal representative follows an uproar over Ms. Jean's use of the phrase "head of state" when referring to herself during a speech in Paris on Monday.

Twice during the Governor-General's address at an executive meeting of UNESCO she called herself Canada's head of state. Her speech focused on promoting cultural diversity to help achieve international harmony:

"I, a francophone from the Americas, born in Haiti, who carries in her the history of the slave trade and the emancipation of blacks, at once Quebecoise and Canadian, and today before you, Canada's head of state, proudly represents the promises and possibilities of that ideal of society."

Later in the speech, discussing the importance of education, Ms. Jean described meeting "remarkable young people" in the many places "that I have travelled as head of state."

But the "head of state" position -- as surprised constitutional experts and perturbed officials with the Monarchist League of Canada quickly Pointed Out To Canwest News Service --is held exclusively by the Queen.

The PMO statement struck one expert -- constitutional expert and University of Saskatchewan emeritus professor David Smith -- as history-making.

"I can't recall that ever happening before," said Prof. Smith, now at the University of Regina and co-editor of the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of Canadian Politics.

He said it was a welcome move by the PMO because "there seems to be a misunderstanding on the part of Rideau Hall as to the constitutional position of the Governor-General under our system."

Monarchist League chairman Robert Finch also applauded Mr. Harper for promptly and directly addressing the issue. " It is refreshing to see the Prime Minister of Canada, the Governor-General's principal advisor, make such a clear statement," Mr. Finch said.