More than a month before she officially takes the title of governor general of Canada, a descendant of slaves and child of political exiles from one of the world's poorest countries is already the pride of Canada's Haitian community.
Michaelle Jean, a Quebec-based journalist and documentary filmmaker whose family fled dictatorship in Haiti when she was a child, is set to become Canada's first black vice-regal, and at age 48, one of its youngest when she is sworn in on Sept. 27.
Though mostly ceremonial, the post carries great prestige. It's one of the oldest institutions in Canada, representing its official head of state, the Queen of England, while promoting Canadian sovereignty and national identity at home and abroad.
Rising up
"We're always at the bottom, whether it's the violence and corruption back home or the gangs in Montreal," said Haitian Marie-Michele Comeau. "When someone's made it to the top, everybody gets very excited."
But while Haitians are rejoicing in Quebec -- the French-speaking province that is now home to 100,000 immigrants or descendants of the Caribbean island -- others are painting Jean as a former supporter of Quebec independence who doesn't deserve to represent Canada.
Still others have claimed the stunning black woman is a token and a pawn, picked by Prime Minister Paul Martin to boost the slipping support of federalism and his Liberal Party in Quebec.
The allegations have tempered the joy among the Haitian community.
"In the 30 years I have been in Quebec, I have never felt such a swell of pride as a Quebecer, followed by such disappointment among the Haitian population -- a disappointment that could well turn to anger," wrote Haitian-born author Dany Laferriere in the op-ed pages of La Presse newspaper.
The heated charges against Jean -- who holds dual Canadian and French citizenship and speaks five languages -- were launched by a nationalist publication that claimed she and her husband were once known in Quebec cultural circles as sovereignists.
Quebec issue
Others pointed to a 1991 documentary produced by her husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, in which Jean joined a group of well-known separatists in a toast to independence. It wasn't clear whether she meant the independence of Quebec or of the French Caribbean island of Martinique. The film was an exploration of the life of Aime Cesaire, a Martinique poet and legislator, and his influence on the Quebec independence movement.
The Quebec separatist movement, an extremely sensitive issue in Canadian politics, can make or break politicians and contribute to the downfall of a government.
Though Quebecois narrowly defeated the last independence referendum in 1995, recent polls have indicated that if another poll were held today, Quebecers might vote in favor of some sort of autonomy within Canada.
Jean remained quiet about the ordeal until Wednesday, when she released a short statement that confirmed her commitment to Canadian federalism and denied belonging to any political party or the separatist movement.
"I am deeply touched and wish to thank all those who have so warmly greeted the news of my recent nomination to the office of Governor General of Canada," she said. "Others have questioned my attachment to Canada and that of my husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond.
"I want to tell you unequivocally that both he and I are proud to be Canadians and that we have the greatest respect for the institutions of our country. We are fully committed to Canada. I would not have accepted this position otherwise."
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