Prime Minister Carney names Quebecer, former Supreme Court justice, Louise Arbour governor general
Posted May 5, 2026 10:39 am.
Last Updated May 5, 2026 1:57 pm.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has named former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour as Canada’s next governor general.
Arbour has also served as the UN human rights commissioner and prosecuted war crimes in Rwanda and Yugoslavia.
She will replace Mary Simon, Canada’s first Indigenous governor general, who will reach the five-year mark of her tenure in July.
Following controversy over Simon’s struggles with French, Carney said the next viceregal representative would speak both official languages. Simon speaks English and Inuktitut and has improved her French but she is not fluent, despite taking lessons.
The governor general is appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the prime minister and usually holds office for five years.
