The public should have a say in who is installed as Canada's next Governor General, according to some MPs. As controversy rages over Adrienne Clarkson's lavish spending and frequent globetrotting, a report from the Commons government operations committee to be tabled today recommends a review of the nomination and appointment process for the GG. It also suggests probing ways to get around a constitutional exemption that enables Clarkson to dodge annual reporting to Parliament on plans, priorities and expenditures. Liberal MP Paul Szabo, the committee chair, said the GG is formally appointed by the Queen. But the PM isn't the only one with ideas on who would be the best nominee, he said. "Because the constitution says it's an appointment by the Queen, the latitude is really going to be about what you do prior to the Prime Minister of the day coming up with a nominee," he said. Conservative MP Ken Epp said that the pick for the next GG must be more than a "friend" of the PM. "There should be opportunities to develop the long list and parliamentary participation in developing the short list," said NDP MP Pat Martin, who had proposed slashing the GG's budget to $5 million, with a provision to increase on a project-by-project basis. Amy Butcher, a spokesman for Prime Minister Paul Martin, said the GG is exempt from parliamentary review. Because the GG gives royal assent to legislation, parliamentarians would be in a "conflict of interest" by having input on the nominee, she said. Clarkson's term ends in October, so the process won't likely change before her replacement is named.
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