IMAGE SOURCE: Geoff Pugh (The Telegraph) There is a pretty good chance if you are reading this article, that you know who the Queen of England is--at least, you've heard of her, and perhaps even other members of the British royal family who may have recently captured news headlines. The fact is, the Queen is one of the most recognisable people the world over. In Canada (as well as in Britain, Australia, and numerous other countries), the Queen's effigy, along with the inscription, "ELIZABETH II D. G. REGINA" is stamped onto each and every one of our Canadian coins. She is also the head of state in sixteen different countries, and is the head of the Commonwealth of nations, which is comprised of fifty-three independent states. Queen Elizabeth II is a remarkable figure no doubt, and admiration for Her Majesty is evident even in countries where HM has no affilitaion, but what of the monarchy as an institution? Is it not an outdated relic of days-gone-by? An antiquated institution representative of a system of government that has all but died out? This is the opinion of many Canadians, however today I am going to show you why the monarchy is important as a Canadian institution, why it isn't just for Britain, and why you should be concerned about its preservation. 1. The Monarchy is a Canadian (Not Just British) Tradition Now, I know that statement seems odd, but it's true. Although the origins of the monarchy lay across the pond, Canada has a long tradition of monarchy. Since the 16th century, Canada has been ruled by either a French or British monarch. Thus, Canada has one of the oldest continuing monarchies in the world! Surely, that is a tradition to be proud of. In addition, our connection to the monarchy links our country back to an older tradition of democracy. Canada's democratic history is deeply intertwined with that of the United Kingdom's. Just think of Magna Carta, or the Bill of Rights! 2. The Crown is Central to Our GovernmentThis point can not be emphasised enough. From Canada's foundation, the role of the monarch was heavily integrated into the legislative and judicial processes governing the country. The Crown still plays a significant role today. Think of positions like that of the "Crown prosecutor", or "Lieutenant Governor", or even consider the Governor General, the Queen's representative in Canada, and her many responsibilities. These roles all serve to represent the authority of the Crown as the head of state in Canada. 3. The Queen Has Real PowerDespite what you may have thought--the above statement is very true. The sovereign (Queen Elizabeth II) holds all executive authority in Canada, meaning all legislation requires royal assent before it can become law. In addition, all official state documents (such as royal proclamations and letters patent), must bear the Great Seal of Canada, which is effectively a royal stamp of approval. This Seal is not even the property of the Canadian government, but it is officially "lent" to cabinet when the Great Seal is entrusted to the Governor General. Passports too for example, are issued only on behalf of the Crown. Additionally, the Canadian Crown retains the right to declare war and deploy troops (though both actions are undertaken by the federal government on behalf of the sovereign). The monarch, through the Governor General, also has the power to prorogue parliament. The Great Seal of Canada. IMAGE SOURCE: Wikipedia. 4. The Commonwealth ConnectionBefore 1965, Canada's national flag was a symbol of unity between her and a multitude of former British Dominions. Today, the Canadian monarchy represents the primary connection between Canada and the rest of the Commonwealth countries. Namely, those countries with whom we not only share our history, including major conflicts fought under one flag, but with whom we also share our culture. These include nations like Australia, New Zealand, and of course the United Kingdom. 5. 7 of the 10 Happiest Countries on Earth are Constitutional MonarchiesAccording to the World Happiness Report in 2018: Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden & Australia make up 7 of the world's top 10 happiest countries. The scores are based on various factors such as social support, life expectancy, freedoms, and generosity. However, it is interesting to note that another thing all of these countries have in common is a constitutional monarch. 6. The Monarchy Costs Canadians Nothing To MaintainCanadians do not give any financial support to The Queen in her roles as Head of the Commonwealth, as Queen of the United Kingdom or as Sovereign of her other Realms; nor does she receive any salary from the federal government. Canadians pay for The Queen only when, as our head of state, she performs duties in Canada. As was demonstrated in 2010 and during her previous tours, people flock to welcome her, and there is clearly great excitement at her homecomings. The most recent tour of HM cost each Canadian approximately 15 cents per person, which is no different than the costs incurred at the visiting of any other Head of State to Canada. 7. What Else Could be More Un-American?This has to be one of the hardest parts about being Canadian--being mistaken for someone from the United States. Canada has a bit of a tendency after all to take cues from its southern neighbour. Think about it: we have McDonald's restaurants, Burger King, Walmart, American Express cards, and we even drive on the right side of the road. We have hockey, but so do the Americans, and although we do a fairly consistent job of out-playing them at our winter sport, one thing the United States does not have is a monarch. We are inherently different from the U.S in that we have a Head of State that is non-partisan and acts as a constant through political change. IMAGE SOURCE: http://madmonarchist.blogspot.ca/2010/06/queen-of-canada-is-home-again.html 8. The Queen is Simply ExtraordinaryHer Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the longest reigning British monarch to date. To put this into perspective, she has seen Canada through the Korean War, the Quiet Revolution, First Nations Enfranchisement, the FLQ Crisis, the re-patriation of our Constitution, Canada's 100th and 150th birthday, and the creation of Nunavut. She has held audiences with the likes of Sir Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, Mackenzie King, Lester Pearson, and two Prime Ministers with the last name Trudeau. When her father King George VI's health began failing rapidly in the early 1950's, Elizabeth was called on to perform many official tasks, and in 1952, when King George VI passed away, Elizabeth assumed the throne at just age 25. Through it all, Her Majesty's commitment to her numerous subjects has been unwavering, and she is still going strong at age ninety-one. Watch Below: Queen Elizabeth (then Princess) declares her lifelong commitment to public service. Starts @ 6min50secs Additional Reading & Sources:
http://www.monarchist.ca/index.php http://worldhappiness.report/ed/2018/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Canada https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/crown-canada.html
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AuthorMy name is Danny Randell. Whether it's music, movies, or nearly anything else, I have opinions (and ideas) about a lot of things. I will also post travel updates here. Like history or music? Check out my other pages up top! ArchivesCategories |