New Lt. Gov. introduced at Queen’s Park

The next lieutenant governor has been introduced to Queen’s Park. Elizabeth Dowdeswell says she’s been a public servant for most of her life. She says it is the greatest calling because you can make a real difference.

Dowdeswell is a Saskatchewan native who has spent half her life in Ontario but also lived, for many years, abroad.

She met with current lieutenant governor David Onley and the media in the music room this morning.

As an environmentalist, Dowdeswell has written about the perils of the Alberta oil sands. So she was asked why the prime minister chose her to be the next lieutenant governor of Ontario.

“I cannot read the prime minister’s mind but I’m delighted that he did pick me,” she said.

The 69-year-old has been everything from a Saskatchewan teacher to undersecretary general of the United Nations.

“I’ve had the good fortune to change careers every three or four years, and none of those were on the radar screen when I took them,” she said. “My key requirement was, am I going to be working with interesting people on something I can become passionate about?”

David Onley has held the post seven years, longer than the usual five. He was kept on because the last provincial government could have fallen at any time.

“It would have been unfair to plop a new LG in when there could have been a complicated constitutional issue. Voters took care of that for us,” said Onley.

The job comes with a $135,000 salary and a staff of about ten. It doesn’t come with a residence, but a grand office at Queen’s Park where he can carry out official duties like welcoming royalty.

Onley says he’s sad to leave, but looking forward to other things.