“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I congratulate Her Excellency the Right Honourable Louise Arbour as she formally assumes the role of the 31^st Governor General of Canada.

The Governor General is the guardian of our constitutional order, a symbol of unity, and above all, a steward of our commitment to peace, order, and good government. Canadians entrust the Governor General to defend our institutions, to uphold our values, and to represent our ambition to build a stronger, fairer country for all. These duties call for sound judgment, deep learning, and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law.

These are the very principles upon which our new Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Louise Arbour, has built her exceptional career. Her Excellency served at the highest levels of Canada’s judiciary – from the Ontario Court of Justice to the Ontario Court of Appeal and, ultimately, to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Yet her legacy extends well beyond the courtrooms of this country. Some of her most consequential work as a jurist took place on the world stage. As Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, she held the most powerful to account in The Hague – establishing that no one, regardless of rank or office, stands above the law. As United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, she challenged the international human rights system to be worthy of the people it claimed to serve. She gave voice to those whose dignity was being denied, in places where those in power preferred silence.

At every stage of her distinguished career, Her Excellency Louise Arbour has defended and promoted justice, dignity, and equality. As Canada’s 31^st Governor General, she will carry forward this work – representing the best of Canada to Canadians and to the world.”