Categories: Capital Read, Inside the Queensway

UPDATED – Obamathon: We have an ETA! And — possibly a constitutional crisis!

by kadyomalley on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 10:43am - 57 Comments

Note that Rideau Hall seems to have beaten PMO to the punch as far as putting out the first official announcement on President Obama’s arrival. (No, the background briefing for bureau chiefs doesn’t count; it has to be on paper. Or pixels. You know what I mean.) Not that ITQ is keeping track, of course.

Governor General to meet with President Obama upon his arrival in Canada

February 18, 2009
OTTAWA—Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Jean-Daniel Lafond, will welcome The Honourable Barack H. Obama, President of the United States of America, on Thursday, February 19, 2009, at 10:30 a.m., at the Ottawa International Airport. The Governor General will then meet with President Obama.

For information on media accreditation, please contact 613-995-xxxx.

A couple of questions that spring immediately to mind:

“Honourable”? Really? Is that the standard honorific? I’m not sure why that surprises me , but I guess I expected something a little more impressive for a sitting president of the United States of America. I mean, any old Privy Councillor can be styled “Honourable”.

Also, re: the very last line: “media accreditation”? More media accreditation? By the time the plane touches down, we’re going to be so weighed down by lanyards and badges that we’re not going to be able to chase the motorcade, yelling questions at random SUVs. (Unless … that’s the whole cunning plan!) (Just kidding, PMO.)

Seriously, though, didn’t yesterday’s briefing stipulate that there would be “no TV cameras, audio equipment, or reporters [...] permitted in the airport lounge where the president will meet with Jean for 15 minutes,” according to Canadian Press? This isn’t going to turn into a showdown between PMO and Rideau Hall, is it? Because — actually, come to think of it, at this point, bring it on.

UPDATE: Okay, I think we may have a simmering four-alarm protocol fire on our hands here. According to Miss Manners, the president is styled as, simply, “Mr. President” or “The President of the United States”. The Canadian Heritage guide to protocol does allow for the use of “The Honourable”, but only when it follows “His Excellency”, which would still render the above incorrect — unless, of course, excellencies don’t address other excellencies as His Excellency, which makes just enough nonsense to be the case. Still, I’d tend to go with Miss Manners when it comes to anything involving American etiquette, or, really, anything else. She’s kind of awesome.

Tags: o-day, oh boy

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Geiseric the Lame

I hope she’s doing that on purpose.
JennyC

Seriously? Our head of state is going to meet the head of state of our nearest neighbour and largest trading partner in an airport lounge?

Come ON!
John

His official honorific is “Honorable”. The G-G is trying to Canadianize the American President.

GG

I think he should be called “king of the world!!!”

http://caiti-online.blogspot.com/ Transcanada

But a NICE airport lounge. Catered appetizers by Swiss Chalet upstairs.

GG: Try our rotisserie chicken Mr President, It’s from Switzerland…

BO: Real Good, Canada is such a diverse country and with great native chicken dishes!
Anon

This will be interesting.

Stephen Harper refusing live coverage of the meeting between the first African American US President and the first African Canadian Governor General.

Yes, this should be interesting. Kady, I hope you’re planning to liveblog this thing, whatever it is.

Shenping

He’s just jealous that both are way more attractive than he is, and just possibly a little afraid of all those terrorist fist jabs.

GG

I cannot agree. PM Harper is also a good looking person. A guest from Chile ( young attractive woman in her late 20′s) saw Harper on tv while here and asked if he was our “presidente” I said, yes something like that, and she said ” He is very beautiful”. It was admittedly a nice camera shot, and he was sans fishing vest. Anyway, he really is alright.

J@ck M!tchell

I understand that, in Chile, “guapo” is slang for “megalomaniacal”; perhaps she didn’t quite make the translation?

herringchoker

Will she be taking the open-topped carriage and the “musical ride” escort? I’d pay to see that.
Dennis Prouse

Our American neighbours aren’t as big on the honorifics as we are. You just don’t hear, “honorable” tossed around down there as much as we do. Even at the local level, in the States Mayor Smith is just Mayor Smith, whereas here many still get into the whole, “His Worship” thing.

The one interesting thing they do, though, that we don’t, is keep conferring the title on someone long after they have left office. It’s not just Presidents, either — Senators keep being referred to as, “Senator” even after they are no longer serving, former Congressmen are still, “Congressman Smith”, even after they leave, etc. No one would go up to Jean Chretien or Brian Mulroney today and refer to them as “Prime Minister”, but anyone greeting Bill Clinton would almost certainly say, “Mr. President”.

http://mikeanddean.blogspot.com Dean P

It’s true they don’t like honourifics as much, but they love titles down here. My mom was a high school principal, and she was always addressed as Principal ____, which she thought funny. I’m a lawyer, and plenty of attorneys call themselves Attorney Smith (which I think is silly). Basically, if you’ve got an appellation other than Mr. or Ms., it tends to get used.
SAB

Kady can correct me if I’m mistaken, but I believe once you’ve been Prime Minister of Canada, you are “Right Honourable” forever.

Michael

I think calling calling Obaba ‘Honorable’ cheapens it for bone fide deservers of the title. Don;’t get me wrong , I think Obama is fantastic, but don’t you have to be a member of the Queen’s Privy Council or of Parliament to be labeled Honorable? By titling him Honorable makes it seem like a haphazard title that can be bestowed upon anyone of great esteem, which is NOT what the title means at all.
I’m actually a little surprised that this came from the GG – don’t they have a cheat sheet for honorifics and protocols somewhere in that big house?
JohnSmith

No, the US President is normally styled His Excellency when travelling abroad.
http://carnewsandviews.com jwl

John Adams thought the President should be referred to as “His Highness, the President of the United States of America, and Protector of the Rights of the Same.” but he was laughed out of the room for that suggestion.

I agree with Michael, not sure why the Honourable is added. Obama is the President of the United States and that’s it, just like all his predecessors.
Torontonian

. . . Rideau Hall seems to have beaten PMO to the punch . . .
——————–

Remember back during Mulroney’s days, he thought he’d be the one to
go to the UN to receive the Nansen Medal from the High Commission for
Refugees.

Her Excellency, Jeanne Sauve, reminded Mulroney that she represented
the all the people of Canada. Granted she clipped his wings, and he
never did get toschmooze with “the boys” while hoping to suck up to the
Secretary-General’s job.

Stephen

Ah yes the old protocol thing. Given that this is officially a working visit and not a state visit the PM is being co-operative by letting ms Jean and her seperatist (oh sorry thats a bad word) soft nationalist husband do the grip and grin.

Maybe for all those protocolophiles out there we should have the GG discuss policy him, maybe she can attend the meetings.

Sauve was correct to remind BM the PM, and the mme Jean should recognize that according to protocol she isnt required to be there and act accordingly….but then I am sure her crack staff remimded her of that.

John D

Does our Head of Government really get to dictate how our Head of State can meet with other Heads of State, and whether media can be there?
http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com Scott Tribe

So Kady, are you and others of the press going to ask for press accreditation to this event, to see whether the head of state is overriding the PMO’s directive?

I’m sure Harper and Kory would be ticked if she did that.. that would be rather fun to see.

http://www.macleans.ca Kady O’Malley

I’m sure some reporters will do just that, but I wasn’t ever planning on being out at the airport, since that pretty much precludes making it back to the Hill in time for the arrival of the motorcade, and I wanted to liveblog from the crowd.

http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com Scott Tribe

Well then, I hope to hear that others on the Maclean’s staff are going to test whether this is an epic clash of wills between Rideau Hall and the PMO.

I mean.. what if the reporters show up and Kory and security are there trying to turn away the accredited reporters. Is Jean’s staff then going to help the reporters run the gamut and tell Rory to get lost?

That would be popcorn time alone on that event, never mind seeing the G-G greet Obama live.

http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/prtcl/address4-eng.cfm Steph C aka Smarty Pants

It’s supposed to be “His Excellency the Honourable (full name) President of the United States,” but the GG is more Excellent, I suppose.

And another thing: Our GG is a Haitian-Canadian, not an African. Adrienne Clarkson was the first visible minority to serve as head of state in North America.

So there!

http://www.macleans.ca Kady O’Malley

Is she more excellent? I mean, will the president call her “Your Excellency”? I’m off to do a thing for a whatsit, but I’ll try to find out this afternoon if nobody beats me to the Googling.

John D

You’re more excellent.
No, I insist, you’re more excellent…

Wotcher?

I believe Mme Jean is/was a Haitian of African descent.

Brent Fullard

If Obama is a rock star, what does that make the GG and PMSH? Almost Famous?

Stephen

A roadie and a groupie

Wayne

I prefer his/her most glorious excellent plenipotentiary. Yes I know generally speaking the ambassador gets the title but it really means someone with the ‘ Full Powers ‘ so persoanlly it is far more apt and sounds cool!
Frank

Article 1, section 9 of the US constitution reads:

“No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.”

This isn’t just a matter of protocol, the Constitution prevent a foreign state from giving ANY American a title.

I wonder how big the budget of the protocol office is at DFAIT?

Tiamat

There is a difference between ‘title’ like “you can have some of our land, and a spot in our senate” and ‘title’ as in “Dear Sir/Madam”.

The US Constitution wisely rules out the first, and makes no reference at all to the second.

Stephen

Security trumps whatever games the GG is playing, assuming this is true, sad if she is playing games given that her qualification for the appointed job was what exactly…..as for oohing and awing over the meeting of two “black” heads of state in North America, apparently the amount of melanin in your skin seems to matter…..how post racial of us all…….

Back to security, if media being present at the meeting wasnt pre approved by the US secret service then it just isnt happening. I must admit, I hope this is the case, I look forward to the GG issuing a correction.

But from a newshound point of view seeing daylight between an appointed GG representative and an elected PM is always interesting and worthwhile, even if it makes Canada look like a bunch of amatuers. Hey maybe her husband can discuss the finer points of Quebec seperation with Pres Obama in between his pitch to have Omar Khadr dropped off at the border.

What a joke.

PS. The honorific is more than miss manners Kady…that is an incredible mistake by what should be an expert in protocol. Perhaps the GG went outside of normal channels, putting egg on her own face.

John D

Yeah Stephen, I bet she booted up her Macbook and wrote the press release herself.

Stephen

Then explain why she, or her staff would make such a bonehead error.

GG staff doesnt have a lot to do, but one of those things is protocol.

Not for me to explain…I only ask the question in Jack Layton fashion,

“Is it because she is incompetent or because she doesnt care?”

Ti-Guy

Someone overdosed on crabby pills today.

Stephen

Ti-Guy stays on point yet again….
Sisyphus

Fulfilling his core mission. That is the point.

Brent Fullard

Harper’s insecurity is showing:

The names of any other Canadians present for Harper’s meeting with Obama would be confidential.

The PMO didn’t budge when told that the White House had disclosed that some Canadian cabinet ministers would be present, in addition to providing a detailed list of U.S. officials who would be in the room.

Harper’s spokesperson (Kory Teneycke):

“We’re not releasing the names of officials,”

Obama’s spokesperson (Denis McDonough)

“The President will be joined in that lunch with members of his official delegation, which will include General Jim Jones, the President’s National Security Advisor; Dr. Larry Summers, the Chairman of the National Economic Council; Carole Browner, who is the Energy and Climate Coordinator in the White House; John Brennan, who is the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism matters; and Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg; as well as White House spokesman, Robert Gibbs.”

Stephen

Hey maybe when Harper refuses to reveal number of bowel movements that Obama takes we can say that is his insecurity as well.

What a joke and I have never seen such slobbering in my life. I like Obama but I am not holding my copy of TigerBeat while I faint as he passes by.

Who is cuter, Obama or Simon Le Bon?

Brent Fullard

Bowel movements? Harper’s officials? I see the connection? Made even more apparent by the reference to Simon Le Bon?

Stephen

Brent,

Ever since this meeting was announced there has been nothing high alert for slights and disrespect. Your comments are within snippiness that has gone along with this. Who cares who will be attending from the host side, it all comes out later.

The guest list tells you everything you need to know about which ministers will likely be there.

Maybe I should have said, “what other irrelevant detail are people going to make into some kind of incident.” Thank goodness Obama and his people are adults, because their fanboi’s in this country sure arent

Brent Fullard

Stephen:

I find your argument of “guest list tells you everything you need to know” to be most unconvincing:

Government systematically preventing thousands of records from being released to public

OTTAWA – The Conservative government is systematically preventing the release of thousands of Access to Information records, Liberal Public Works Critic Martha Hall Findlay and Treasury Board Critic Dan McTeague said today.

“Under this government, Access to Information requests have been ignored, responses have been delayed and when information is finally provided, it is often so largely blacked out as to be useless,” said Ms. Hall Findlay. “Timely and full disclosure of information-real governmental transparency and accountability-are the very foundations of our democracy. Canadians should not feel that their government is hiding things from them.”

Ms. Hall Findlay was referring to media reports that revealed the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) has systematically prevented the release of hundreds of thousands of government records.
John D

Who cares who will be attending from the host side(sic)

Well, if they’re public servants, probably the ones who pay their salaries. And if they’re elected officials, probably the electorate. And if they’re neither of the above, I assume everyone.
Stephen

Oh my god! grains of sand that magically become planetoids.

That there isnt a released list of every server that will be refilling the water glasses beforehand has nothing to do with the Freedom of Information Act.

You will know who attended from our side afterwards. Who cares if you know beforehand, maybe they are still working it out honestly, does it matter? Hmm Larry Summers and whoever the Naional Security Advisor are will be there. The agenda seems to be Afghanistan, Trade, Stimulus, Automotive Sector, Environment, and Finanical regulatory reform, a pretty heavy agenda, hence it being a working meeting not a State visit…..hmmm who do you think mght be there

Flaherty, Mackay, Prentice…probably carney from the Bank of Canada…maybe the solicitor general (or whoever is in charge of CSIS) maybe the head of CSIS. Some Deputy Ministers and maybe the Chief of the Privy Council, Kevin Lynch. Do any of those people worry you….whose attendance would worry you?

As I said, pretty packed agenda with some heavy policy wonks. And people are focussing on the lack of ruffles and flourishes and dining at the museum of civilization…..Somebody is missing the point.

http://ruralcanadian.blogspot.com/ rural

If the airport lounge is good enough to meet with the GG and the airport hanger is of for igniff maybee Harper should meet with Obama in the airport men toilet. Is small and private and should solve their security and MSM problems.! Seriously though this manipulation of the meeting and the press makes Canada look like a mickey mouse nation……

GG

You can be sure the White House has the major say in all of the logistics. And no doubt security is trumping everything.

Mike Redmond

The honorific “honourable”, albeit with the idiosyncratic American spelling, appears to be the correct one to use for the Amercian president. This is from a web-site maintained by the University of Mary Washington, but the information is pretty similar elsewhere:

Information gathered from A Guide to Virginia Protocol and Traditions, 2002, which can be accessed on the General Assembly’s web site (under Publications) and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s web site. Another useful source is Etiquette and Protocol, A Guide for Campus Events by April L. Harris, 1999, which can be purchased from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) by calling (800) 554-8536. Copies of each publication are located on campus in the offices of the President, University Relations and University Development.

Forms of Address

The Honorable
In the federal government, The Honorable is used to address, by name, high officials and former high officials of the American government (this includes officials who have held a commission), foreign ministers and heads of international organizations. A person once entitled to The Honorable continues to be so addressed. A wife or husband does not share the other’s official title. See page 5 of A Guide to Virginia Protocol and Traditions for a more complete listing of federal and state positions that would warrant the use of this title. (It includes American Ambassadors, Judges, Mayors, Governor’s Chief of Staff and State legislators, but it is not used for other elected officials such as treasurer, sheriff, or members of a board.) As a general rule, it is never abbreviated. Your Honor is never used, nor is The Honorable used with military or scholastic rank.

Stephen

According to this defintion it doesnt look appropriate. Mayor traditionally gets referred to as his honor, but it doesnt appear to be used for President or Governor.

If there is another definition that clears it up that would help, but I am sure the GG’s crack staff can point to the appropriate reference they used.

Mike Redmond

Well, according to the definition I posted, it does seem apply to the President – as in “high officials of the American government”. The introduction, “His excellency the honourable ,,,” appears also to be used, But, as you point out, the GG has protocol officers who can be presumed to know what they are doing.

As for the same term applying to both the President and a mayor, well, they do try and pretend to be without class distinctions down there.

Stephen

It is referring to high officials like the secretary of state, the Honorable Hillary Clinton.
But we await proper protocol experts to opine on the matter.

If the rideau hall Protocol Officer says this is so, then it is so. If it is some PR official within rideau I wouldnt believe it.

Brad

From Bartlby.com

But perhaps the greatest difference between English and American usage is presented by the Honorable. In the United States the title is applied loosely to all public officials of apparent respectability, from senators and ambassadors to the mayors of fifth-rate cities and the members of state legislatures, and with some show of official sanction to many of them, especially congressmen. But it is questionable whether this application has any actual legal standing, save perhaps in the case of certain judges, who are referred to as the Hon. in their own court records. Even the President of the United States, by law, is not the Honorable, but simply the President. In the First Congress the matter of his title was exhaustively debated; some members wanted to call him the Honorable and others proposed His Excellency and even His Highness. But the two Houses finally decided that it was “not proper to annex any style or title other than that expressed by the Constitution.”
DianeG

While the President might be referred to as The Honorable Barak Obama,( though I see nothing wrong with using “Mr. President” which is the normal way of addressing him); only our Governor General is always referred to as “Her Excellency”. I rather like that.
http://jamesbowie.blogspot.com James Bowie

His Most Excellent Majesty His Highness The President of the United States of America? John Adams would approve.

I would also like to commend you on your excellent reference to Judith Martin. Gentle readers would do well to add her as a bookmark.
Stephen

Perhaps Michaelle Jean could, just as he arrives say….I for one welcome our new overlords…just for grins and giggles….