Cablegate: Nova Scotia's New Lieutenant-Governor

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P R 211316Z JUN 06
FM AMCONSUL HALIFAX
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1028
INFO RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0376
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RUEHHA/AMCONSUL HALIFAX 1095

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FOR WHA/CAN AND INR/B

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL CA
SUBJECT: NOVA SCOTIA'S NEW LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR

1. (U) Prime Minister Harper has named Mayann Francis to be
the next Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, replacing Myra
Freeman. Francis has been since 1999 CEO of the province's
Human Rights Commission, where she has developed a reputation as
an effective manager and advocate for human rights. She is a
native of Sydney, Nova Scotia, and holds a master's degree in
business administration from New York University. She will be
the first African-Nova Scotian to hold the largely ceremonial
post as the Queen's representative in the province.

2. (SBU) Francis is well-known to the Consulate. She still
maintains close ties to the U.S., generally traveling to New
York to spend Thanksgiving with relatives. We have found her to
be very interested in bilateral exchanges; she has organized
meetings on several occasions for our visiting Black History
Month speakers, gathering professionals from Halifax with shared
interests for informal conversations on a wide range of topics
including race relations in both countries. Following the
President's visit to Halifax in December 2004 she wrote a
positive newspaper column about her experience at his speech.
Earlier this spring Francis collaborated with Valerie Payne,
President of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, to invite
Secretary Rice to visit Halifax to speak to a Chamber audience.

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3. (SBU) COMMENT: Myra Freeman's more than six years as a
very active and visible Lt-Governor will be a hard act to
follow, but if anyone can do it, Mayann Francis can. Freeman
was tireless in promoting the province's academic and arts
sectors and opening up Government House to thousands of people
from all walks of life. Mayann Francis has impressed us with
her intelligence, political savvy and energy, and we expect her
to make full use of her new office to promote positive civic
values such as academic excellence. END COMMENT.

4. (U) Full biographic information will follow septel.

HILL

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