Canada names Louise Arbour as next governor general

Arbour will become Canada’s 31st governor general since Confederation and the first to be appointed during Charles’s reign. She will serve as the monarch’s representative in Canada, carrying out constitutional duties and ceremonial functions.

A former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, Arbour has held senior roles in both domestic and international law.

She served as chief prosecutor for United Nations war crimes tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, where she led prosecutions that included the first genocide conviction under the Genocide Convention and the indictment of a sitting head of state.

She later served as United Nations high commissioner for human rights and as special representative for international migration. More recently, Arbour led an independent review into misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces, which informed subsequent reform efforts.

Carney, in a statement, said Arbour’s career reflects a commitment to accountability and justice, adding that she would represent Canada’s values domestically and internationally.

Arbour succeeds Mary Simon, whose tenure the prime minister said contributed to advancing Indigenous rights and reconciliation.

The governor general acts on behalf of the monarch as Canada’s head of state, with responsibilities that include granting royal assent to legislation, serving as commander-in-chief and representing the country at official events in Canada and abroad.