Inuit leader appointed to panel to select next Governor General

Obed is the sitting Inuit Tapiriit Kanantami President who is now serving his second term. He was elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2018.

He will join five others in deliberating over who should fill the important vacancy of Governor General.

According to Nunatsiaq News, Julie Payette, a once-darling of the Trudeau administration, resigned on Jan. 21 amid serious allegations of misconduct and mistreatment of her staff. She has been accused of creating a toxic work environment.

Richard Wagner, as per the Canadian Constitution, has been serving as interim Governor General since that time, but people feel it is now time for someone to properly be appointed to take Payette's place.

"Recognizing the unique nature of the situation and understanding that the position of Governor General needs to be filled on an expedited basis, the members of the advisory group have agreed to work quickly," said Dominic Leblanc, the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, who has called the panel together for this purpose.

There exists some speculation due to Obed's appointment that the next Governor General group could be coming from the First Nations. Proponents of such an appointment cite its historical relevance, and also Payette's performance as reasons why a First Nations appointee would be a good decision.