Queen And Canada: Liberals To Vote On Resolution To Sever Ties With Monarchy At Convention
Members of the Liberal party will vote later this month on whether Canada should cut ties with the monarchy and replace the Queen with an elected head of state.
The Huffington Post CanadaMichael Bolen
First Posted: 01/04/12 09:58 AM ETUpdated: 01/05/12 09:10 AM ET
Members of the Liberal party will vote later this month on whether Canada should cut ties with the monarchy and replace the Queen with an elected head of state. The vote will take place at the Liberal convention, taking place January 13-15 in Ottawa, in response to a resolution put forward by the youth wing of the party.
The resolution makes several arguments against monarchical rule, most based around the fact that currently a Canadian cannot become head of state of their own country and that the British monarch must be Anglican. More interesting, perhaps, is the argument that Canada pays more for the institution than the British.
There is little sign that the growth in spending on the royals in Canada has slowed since then. Prince William and his wife Catherine made a much-publicized trip to Canada. The federal government estimated their trip would cost roughly $1.2 million, but that projection didn't include many of the costs associated with the tour, such a local policing.
The Liberals don't seem likely to find much support for their resolution with Canadians. An Angus Reid poll conducted at the time of William and Catherine's visit found just 33 per cent of Canadians favour cutting ties to the British crown. However, the resolution may help the Grits make gains in the key province of Quebec. The same poll found that 58 per cent of Quebecers favour dissolving our ties to the monarchy.
WILLIAM AND CATHERINE TOUR CANADA
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The Royals Leave Canada
Will and Kate wave goodbye to Calgary as they conclude their royal Canadian tour.
The Royals Sign The Guest Book
William and Kate sign the guest book at the ENMAX Conservatory in Calgary with Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, left, and Lt. Gov. Donald S. Ethell.
Kate Meets Frances Miller
The Duchess of Cambridge meets with Frances Miller as she prepares to leave Calgary with her husband to head to Los Angeles.
The Portraits Of Honour
Prince William and Catherine view the Portraits of Honour on display at their official departure ceremony in Calgary.
The Royals In The Conservatory
William and Catherine tour the ENMAX Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo.
Kate Arrives At The Zoo
The Duchess of Cambridge visits the ENMAX Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo.
The Royals And Stelmach
Will and Kate speak with Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach at the ENMAX Conservatory in Calgary.
Will And Kate In Matching Hats
The Royals at the Calgary Stampede Parade.
Royal Greeting
Will and Kate wave to the crowd while at the Calgary Stampede parade.
The Royals Watch The RCMP
Will and Kate watch the RCMP march in the Calgary Stampede parade.
The Royals Watch The Parade
The Duke and Duchess watch the beginning of the Calgary Stampede parade.
The Duke Arrives
Prince William arrives in cowboy gear to the Calgary Stampede parade.
The Royals Push The Button
Will and Kate push a button to start the Calgary Stampede parade.
The Rodeo Shocks Kate
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge watch a rodeo demonstration at the Calgary Stampede.
Kate And A Calgarian
The Duchess of Cambridge speaks with a little girl while at the Stampede.
The Duchess Receives Flowers
Catherine meets well-wishes and receives flowers at a Government Reception in Calgary.
The Government Reception
A view of the Government Reception at the BMO Centre in Calgary.
Kate Checks Her Hat
Will and Kate watch Stampede activities in Calgary at the BMO Centre.
Will Tips His Hat
Prince William during a speech at the Calgary Stampede.
The Royals At The BMO Centre
Will and Kate watch traditional Calgary Stampede activities.
Will Gets Down To Work
Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, throws a barrel into the back of a chuckwagon during his visit to the Calgary Stampede on Thursday, July 7, 2011, in Calgary, Alberta.
Royal Tour Canada
Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, arrive via stage coach for a reception at the BMO Centre in Calgary, Canada as they continue their Royal Tour of Canada Thursday, July 7, 2011.
The Royals And Harper
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, second from right, Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Laureen Harper, left, watch a child sheep ride event at the Stampede in Calgary, Alberta on Thursday, July 7, 2011.
Stampede Dancer
Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper watch dancers while attending a reception at the Calgary Stampede on Thursday, July 7, 2011 in Calgary, Alberta.
The Royals Go Western
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, wear their new Smithbilt cowboy hats as they watch a rodeo demonstration in Calgary, Alberta, July 7, 2011.
The Royals Wave To Admirers
Prince William and Kate after a tour of the 21st Century Research and Innovation Centre in Calgary.
Will Waves From The Car
Prince William waves from his car with Kate on the eighth day of their Canadian tour.
The Duke And Duchess Are Greeted
Prince William and Kate are greeted when arriving at 21st Century Research and Innovation Centre Calgary.
Kate Inspects A Mannequin
Kate follows her husbands lead and saves the life of a medical test mannequin at the University of Calgary.
Will And Kate Tour U of C
Prince William and Kate are shown how to save a life with a medical test mannequin at the University of Calgary's Ward of the 21st Century.
The Royals And RCMP In Calgary
Prince William and Catherine look at a RCMP officer after arriving in Calgary.
A Calgary Chinook?
Kate's hair doesn't agree with the wind as the Royals land in Calgary for the final stretch of their Canadian tour.
Will Meets Shy Calgarian
Prince William meets -- or tries to meet -- shy 6-year-old Diamond Marshall in Calgary.
Catherine Gets A Hug
Kate hugs 6-year-old Diamond Marshall in Calgary after arriving.
Kate Is Greeted
The Duchess meets with shy 6-year-old Diamond Marshall in Calgary.
Will, Kate And Flight Crew
The Royals get their photo taken with flight crew members as they arrive in Calgary.
Will Gets A White Hat
Prince William is presented with a white cowboy hat from Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi.
The Royals Land In Calgary
The Royals land in Calgary for the last Canadian city on their tour of the country.
Royal Tour
Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, pose for a photo with members of the Canadian Forces flight crew upon their arrival in Calgary, Alberta on Thursday, July 7, 2011.
Tired of all the attention for the monarchy? You're not alone.
Members of the Liberal party will vote later this month on whether Canada should cut ties with the monarchy and replace the Queen with...
Tired of all the attention for the monarchy? You're not alone.
Members of the Liberal party will vote later this month on whether Canada should cut ties with the monarchy and replace the Queen with...
TORONTO - Depending who you ask, the Conservative government's high-profile attempts to strengthen Canada's ties to the monarchy over the past year are either a...
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Constitution's amending formula requires unanimity of all ten provinces and federal parliament to get rid of the Queen. Ain't gonna happen.
Next topic...
tkondaks: Constitution's amending formula requires unanimity of all ten provinces and
They don't have a leader who would be accepted by the public at large, their party has been taken to third place for the first time EVER, and meanwhile Canada is being dismantled by a barely-closeted fascist who will have absolute power for at least four years.
And THIS is what they're the most worried about???!!
BoredomCorner: Seriously? They don't have a leader who would be accepted
Tired of all the attention for the monarchy? You're not alone. !! What a completely biased directed lead line by the cdn press. This is just Rae trying to garner votes by being anti anything the govt tries to do. The cdn press jumps in of course.
butchcliff: Tired of all the attention for the monarchy? You're not
It may be more expensive to cut ties with the monarchy than anyone thinks. Consider all the legal documents. The Crown Prince of the liberals Pierre Trudeau brought home the constitution but didn't include Property rights. No One owns their Property in Canada. It all belongs to the Government or at least that is what many political's think. The very existence of Government was created to protect property rights, otherwise we don't need Government. When First elected he went to China instead of our largest trading partner. Can we say communist sympathizer. I am sure i'll get letters over that comment. But the fact remains if you don't have checks and balances in Government you end up with cameras on every corner and eventual slavery of the masses. Oh we already have that movement toward totalitarianism. My bad. Regardless of whether or not we have a Confederate Constitutional Monarchy or a Republic when those in power have too much power the population on mass will eventually suffer. Either from law Enforcement, Military, feudal war lords or just the general lunacy of megalomaniacs in High ranking Political Positions. I choose freedom, local militias in your community where everyone has to take on responsibility for the protection and greater good of the society. If you don't step up then expect to be beaten down. BTW Trudeau got rid of the Militias. In the United States the Militias balance police and population. What will we have when the SHTF.
BCAB: It may be more expensive to cut ties with the
We voted Harper into government so the ones that didn't are going to have to suck it up. I think the ones who hate him are the ones who didn't bother to vote at all and it's your guilty consience that has your knickers in a twist...lol
nokiddingme: We voted Harper into government so the ones that didn't
Anyone keeping score at how well constitutional monarchies are doing vs the republics out there? Seems like those that fall under constitutional monarchies tend to be doing better overall on a broad spectrum of issues.
I have a quick theory on why this would probably happen: In the modern age, monarchies are of course irrelevant; however it is because they are irrelevant that they are actually important. Take the House of Windsor which has done all it can to gain public support; they spend a lot of time and effort promoting the people, to encourage and help them; this makes it so that the public will continue to support them. Doesn't this sound a lot like how politicians should be acting in principle?
I mean if in Canada if Harper does go all crazy and insane (as so many fearmongers like to fantasize about) then I would find it ironic that the Queen of England could intervene to set things straight (The very branch of our government that the Liberals want to do away with)
With republics, people get corrupted by power and wealth, so in the end they care little about the public discourse. Think about it, in the USA the Queen of England is more popular than their government. It seems to me that within constitutional monarchies, the monarchy can serve a rather important role of representing the people (or at least maintaining excellent PR) which is more than can be said of your average politician.
Add_In_Canadia: Anyone keeping score at how well constitutional monarchies are doing
I think having a non-partisan head of state to hand out medals and greet visitors certainly beats the back-stabbing and slandering that goes on in the US. It's far less embarrassing for a start.
Maryanne_Slater: I think having a non-partisan head of state to hand
Get a grip folks...This is an attempt by the liberals to win back seats in Quebec (who hate monarchy). Just another pathetic political stunt yet most people just can't seem to see that.
nokiddingme: Get a grip folks...This is an attempt by the liberals
For a country obsessed with maintaining it's own identity, I don't see how losing the Monarchy will help us differentiate ourselves with our neighbours to the south. It's our history, let's not erase it. And being part of the Commonwealth makes it so much easier to work in other Commonwealth countries. Also, I can't see how rejecting the Monarchy will bolster trade b/w the UK and Canada. I think the Liberals should run on this so that they can completely run themselves into the ground...
ossum_possum: For a country obsessed with maintaining it's own identity, I
We have a Constitutional monarchy that, on paper may seem a bit outdated and irrelevant. but it does work. The cost to Canadians is negligible in the big scheme of things and ditching it in favour of a republic wouldn't be free either.
Around the world there are dozens of monarchies and they seem to work quite well. The commonwealth members plus the Scandinavian counties, Holland, Denmark and so on, all seem to run pretty well. If you list the best and safest countries to live, they all tend to be Constitutional monarchies. Elections are fair and honest, pretty much without exception.
Republics on the other hand tend to be the places you'd least like to live. Anyone think the new Russian "democracy" is working? How about the US? Their system of government is barely functional (at the moment at least).
For me, the best reason to keep the monarchy is the thought of the alternative : President for life Baby Doc Harper.
Time_Lord: We have a Constitutional monarchy that, on paper may seem
I guess you THINK all these countries need Brits? Brits are done, done- it is United Nations living there now, and we definitely do not need Brit monarchy in Canada.
Commonwealth is another sad joke.
Liban_CZ: I guess you THINK all these countries need Brits? Brits
All one has to do is think of what would actually be required to actually do that and the answer is "no" (even if you don't like the monarchy). First, you'd have to get the approval of the provinces...
opprobrious: All one has to do is think of what would
the article states that this idea was proposed by the Youth branch of the liberal party. which will be voted on at the convention, so it's just an idea. that the media decided was important, not the party.
all_appologies: the article states that this idea was proposed by the
I hope this is true. The BRITISH monarchy is smybol of racism, elitism, colonialis, feudalism, sexism, oppression, war, scandal, slavery and the list go on. In the 21st century, Canada needs a DEMOCRATIC and Domestic head of state.
LadyMellM: I hope this is true. The BRITISH monarchy is smybol
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The Huffington Post Canada Michael Bolen First Posted: 01/04/12 09:58 AM ET Updated: 01/05/12 09:10 AM ET