Oh Canada...

Today, the new Governor General of Canada was sworn in, in a tradition full of "Canadian color" and "British tradition".

Oddly enough, this is one political(ish) changing-of-the-guard that I just can't motivate myself to care about. Other than to fleetingly wonder two things:
1. Why on earth do the British still put up with actually having a monarchy? A brief attempt on my part to come up with a single benefit yields...nothing.
2. Even more: Why does Canada have a such a position as Governor General, when it's apparently essentially obsolete?