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Canada Monarchy Abolition

Name

Institution Affiliation

Course

Date
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Canada Monarchy Abolition

A monarchy is a type of administration in which the head of the family serves as a

monarch and embodies the state's national identity. The Queen or King in Monarch is the ruler.

There are two kinds of monarchy forms of government; constitutional monarchy and absolute

monarchy. Canada is under the rule of a constitutional monarchy where written rules govern the

ruler, and they abide by the rules. Canadians lack the right to elect the ruler of their own choice,

thus not exercising full civil rights or control of their government (Estep, 1993). Canada has

witnessed numerous benefits as a result of the Monarch. However, during the era of freedom and

self-determination, the monarchy's presence in Canada threatens the people's freedom. The

country's foundation also relies on a single family as the core and the nation's identity. It may be

challenging to continue with the monarchy, which requires getting rid of it and becoming a

republic.

Canada must advance to build a society where everyone can live in equality and under

the rule of law. The basic place of the monarchy in the Canadian constitutional system is

established by Section 17 of the Constitution Act of 1867, which states: "There shall be one

Parliament for Canada, consisting of the Queen, an Upper House termed the Senate, and the

House of Commons (Heinbecker 2014)." Therefore, any REX-IT would necessitate that the

Queen and her representatives in Canada be dealt with. The legislative bodies of every province,

the Senate, and the House of Commons must all agree before any changes to the Queen's role in

Canada can be made. Due to the high standard of unanimity, delays or even disruptions may be

encouraged.

Opinion polls in Canada have shown increased demand and support for abolition of the

monarchy and to pave the way for the establishment of a republic. The governor’s general
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website has statements showing that the country is under the control of a monarchy. Such

statements are, “as representative of the crown and head of state, the governor carries out

responsibilities with a view to promoting Canadian sovereignty (Messamore, 2021).” Such

statements indicate that Canada is not sovereign and its people cannot exercise the freedom they

deserve. The Canadian government received power delegation in 1947 from King George VI

through a Letters patent. The letters patent empowered the governor general to exercise different

powers and responsibilities constitutionally held by the Queen. However, the powers were not

formally devolved, making it possible for the powers to be revoked by the sovereign. The sense

of the Canadian nation being under the ultimate rule of a monarch in Britain is both irrelevant to

its political operation and also misleading (Smith & Firmini, 2017). Therefore, changes must be

initiated to eliminate such irrelevance and misleading.

Canadian culture does not blend well with the monarchy system since people are seen as

propagators of rights, but the system does not provide room for total freedom. Canadian people

have legislative powers, but the powerful Monarch can influence the policies to become law and

has control over leaders (Ramphal, 2021). Therefore, the true power of the Canadian people

toward self-determination is limited. The Canadian people need to embrace change in their

government system and achieve their freedom desires. The process may be challenging due to

numerous obstacles brought by constitutional restrictions but pursuing the course will be worth

it.

Canada may be built of monarchial structures, but that does not mean it is a

representation of present-time Canada and the country's needs. The monarchy is regarded as the

perpetrator of crimes against humanity in Canada, including slavery, exploitation of the country,

and assimilation of indigenous people. If anyone wants to hold onto the history of the monarchy,
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it is important to take into account the discrimination that monarchial structures have imposed on

minorities (Patmore, 2005). In addition, it is important to look at the recent instances of the

British monarchy's human violation. Canada must move forward to establish a society where all

beings can be equal under government rule, and it must not hang on to its historically

discriminatory styles. The monarchy plays a minimalistic role in Canada's regime, and thus the

Canadians demand a reform should be executed.

According to Paul Heinbecker, through the globe and mail, he states that the monarchy

causes more harm to Canada’s standing in the world, and it is the right time to let it go. Dealing

with the British monarchy in the Canadian administration drags the Canadian foreign policy and

delivers little. Breaking Buckingham palace does not need to disavow the country’s history and

not to cause respect to the King (Heinbecker 2014). The country’s contribution to Global aspects

shows the strength of the country towards foreign policy. Canada decided not to join in the

catastrophic 2003 Iraq war, which caused the country to seek freedom since it could decide.

According to Klassen T. (2021), the monarchy adds celebrity to Britain’s reputation but

not Canada's. Being under the control of the British Monarch creates confusion about what

Canada is and its relation with London. The link with Monarch necessitates endless explanations

that the crown is a kind of legal convenience in Canada. The leadership of the Monarch creates

conflict between Britain's and Canada's interests since the country is under the watch of the

British Monarch (Klassen 2021). The Queen or King, being the head of state of Canada and

Britain, cannot represent Canada from a global perspective and disregard British opportunities.

Therefore, Canada, under the Monarch's control, will have much to lose globally. The Monarch

will always promote the UK business leaving out the issues of Canada without being addressed

as long they compete with UK interests.

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It is important to treat the governor general as the de facto head of state in all capacities,

and this should begin with the constitution's preclusion. The governor general must personify the

values and aspirations of Canadians better and should not be based on the current state of

representing the King or the Queen. Canada should be represented without discrimination on all

occasions of state at home and abroad and is under the leadership of a monarchy; it will be

impossible for the Queen to represent Canada and overlook the interest of her main country. The

Canadian should swear allegiance not to her majesty queen or King but to Canada and the

Canadian constitution (Lagassé 2021). The future kings and queens can't have a connection with

Canadian culture. Canadians understand that the King and Queen do not and will not form the

civic culture of Canada, and this pushes Canadians to be more isolated from the monarchial

leadership.

The governor's involvement in making decisions regarding the life of governments and

parliaments is critical to the country. The country's security is not guaranteed when the governor

has to follow the guideline of the Monarch. Therefore, the officeholder of the governor should be

independent and impartial. The only way the officeholder can be independent is by breaking the

monarch's bond. The Monarch retains the discretionary powers in the Canadian constitution,

which affects the performance of the internal activities of the country (Cardinal & Headon,

2002). The governor's dependence on the Monarch's guidance creates a toxic workplace

environment for the governors. It is important to ensure that the country and its citizens get the

freedom to enjoy their rights.

The fact that the people of Canada do not elect the governor generals; the appointment

comes from the crown makes the position biased towards the Monarch and not the people. The

governor has veto powers of appointing court judges and royally assenting bills passed by
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parliament; thus, the people's representatives have no absolute power. The governor can dissolve

the parliament, giving the Monarch more power in Canada than the Canadian people. Such

powers to the Monarch make me believe that the Monarch needs to be abolished since such

powers only need to be under the control of someone elected by the people to represent them in

the parliament (Benoît, 1982). The governor general is appointed and confirmed by the Queen;

thus, the Queen and King become the sovereign head of Canada and are represented by the

governor. Therefore, any action by the governor portrays the interest of the Queen. For the

benefit of Canada and its sovereignty, Canada needs to detach itself from the Monarch and

become a republic.

Canada is a monarchial by law but a democratic country by convention. It is important to

deal with the monarchy and eliminate all the limitations to break the monarchy's attachment. The

crown is currently experienced in Canadian government systems. The court cases in Canada are

presented as Crown vs. Defendants, and such representation gives the King a high degree of

responsibility in Canada. Most of the actions are conducted through the majesty's representatives

despite being a symbolic figure in Canada (Whyte, 2015). The governor general has functions

that make the representation suspicious and confusing. If the monarchy is symbolic, the governor

does not need such functions. It is more confusing why the governor serves as the guardian of a

responsible government in Canada, a role that can be executed through constitutional laws and

enforced by elected representatives (Lagasse & Baud, 2016). Therefore, it is important to uplift

the confidence of the house and make a responsible government out of it. Canada needs to act in

Canada’s independent name and not in a symbolic majesty name.

The actions by L’Affaire Payette go down as the saddest moment in the constitutional

history of Canada. Payette's resignation allows one to examine key aspects of the governor's
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office. The issues that arose due to her resignation are; when the governor general might be

called upon to exercise powers with discretion, how the governor’s generous annuity leads to

Canada’s independence, and the role of the Queen when a governor needs replacement. Tension

rose as Payette resigned since there was a need for someone who could act responsibly on their

behalf (Messamore, 2021). At times of minority government, Canadian people must develop

confidence in the officeholder. There is a need to fill the crown's essential role with impartiality

and good judgment without violating the Canadian government's existing operation norms. The

change will require observing the constitutional limitations in dealing with the abolition of the

monarchy.

The appointment of King Charles II as the King of the British monarchy after the death of

Queen Elizabeth II poses an opportunity for Canada to exploit the possibility of becoming a

republic. The King has no direct connection with Canada and does not understand the long-term

relationship between the Queen and Australia, which triggers the need for a republic country.

With Australia taking the necessary steps towards abolishing its country's monarchy, it also

prepares Canada to look keenly into the importance of becoming independent (Woolstencroft

2021). Regarding Canada's demographics and generational divides, there may be a sizable

variation in viewpoint on the abolition of the monarchy. Over half (51%) of Canadians support

ending the monarchy, according to a random sample of the country's population conducted by

"The Forum Poll." Ages 65+, the richest persons, those who live in Ontario, and supporters of

the Liberal Party of Canada are the groups most likely to oppose abolition. Males aged 35 to 44

who live in Quebec and support either the NDP or the Bloc Quebecois are more likely to support

the abolition (Lagassé 2021). Also noteworthy is that 71% of responders from Quebec want the

monarchy abolished.
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Because of the ongoing tensions between the French and English in Quebec, the French

populace may reject the monarchy. The governments currently governing Quebec have

concentrated on enforcing laws to establish religious neutrality and secularism. Although these

measures and rules may be divisive in Quebec's English community, the majority French

populace unquestionably supports them (Cardinal & Headon, 2002). Quebec should put equal

emphasis on neutralizing the monarchy. A ceremony is required for immigrants who want to

become citizens of Canada to finish the procedure. They must pronounce the Oath of Citizenship

during this event. They affirm their commitment to the Queen and their allegiance by taking this

oath.

The monarchy is not just not extremely prevalent in Canadian culture but doesn't align

with current Canadian ideals and motivations. The King could not practice another religion and

wed a Catholic until 2011. Still, the Monarch is not permitted to marry a non-Christian. These

regulations directly contravene section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, a

cornerstone of Canadian constitutional law and the country's legislation enforcing religious

equality (Benoît, 1982).

Given that the Monarch's claim to the throne is inherited, the position of Head of State in

Canada is one that of inheritance. This violates not only Canadian democracy but also the

purposes of everything the monarchy is supposed to protect. If the representative of the Queen's

duty was handed to them, how could they ensure that an elected government had the support of

the house and the populace? The Head of State of Canada ought to be a Canadian who Canadians

chose to represent Canadians. Canada should not uphold the outmoded principles and

unconstitutional laws of the monarchy. Canada has continued to grow independently and reduce

the influence of the monarchy since World War One. Before this, the governor-general was still
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permitted to take action and make judgments in Canada without the Queen's consent

(Woolstencroft 2021). As time went on, the Queen's influence in Canada gradually waned, and

constitutional conventions were established that made the governor's role more symbolic.

The regime can function without the use of a monarchy. The Queen's authority and that

of her representatives would still be in full force if her role in Canada benefited the general

populace. However, as Canada is still growing democratically, there is no need for a monarchy.

The claim is that the monarchy and its structures are not essential to the operation of Canada's

governmental systems and that her symbolic duties can be carried out in a way that will still

uphold concepts like responsible government and maintaining the confidence of the house

(Estep, 1993). There is no blame to be placed on Queen Elizabeth II or her heirs.

In conclusion, although some people could support preserving the monarchy's historical

role in Canada, a monarch is not necessary for the functioning of the country's system. This

essay aimed to show why a republican government could be preferable to a constitutional

monarchy for Canada. This essay covered a variety of subjects, including historical crimes

against humanity committed by the Crown, the complexity of Canada's political structure,

generational and geographic differences in attitudes toward the monarchy, particularly in

Quebec, a French-speaking province, and the absence of the monarchy from Canadian culture

and motivations. Finally, the unnecessary symbolic role played by the Queen and her

representatives in the country. Although the monarchy has not yet had a negative effect on

Canadians' lives, independence and leaving the British Commonwealth of Nations might be

advantageous for the country. Although the monarchy will always be a part of Canadian history,

it shouldn't be a part of the country's future. Removing the ties to the monarchy and establishing

a true Canadian government with a head of state who is a Canadian and understands how to
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protect Canadians would be the first step in allowing Canada to prosper as an independent

country.
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References

Benoît, P. (1982). Remembering the Monarch. Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue

canadienne de science politique, 15(3), 575-587.

Cardinal, L., & Headon, D. (Eds.). (2002). Shaping nations: Constitutionalism and society in

Australia and Canada. University of Ottawa Press.

Estep, D. (1993). Losing jewels from the crown: Considering the future of the monarchy in

Australia and Canada. Temp. Int'l & Comp. LJ, 7, 217.

Heinbecker P. (2014, July). The monarchy hurts Canada’s standing in the world. It’s time to let

go. The Globe and Mail. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/the-monarchy-

hurts-canadas-standing-in-the-world-its-time-to-let-go/article19395567/

Klassen T. (2021, January). Julie Payette’s resignation is a chance to reimagine the role of

Governor General. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/julie-payettes-

resignation-is-a-chance-to-reimagine-the-role-of-governor-general-153788

Lagassé, P., & Baud, P. (2016). The crown and constitutional amendment after the senate reform

and supreme court references.

Lagassé P. (2021, January). L’Affaire Payette and the Office of the Governor

General. Policy. https://www.policymagazine.ca/laffaire-payette-and-the-office-of-the-

governor-general/

Messamore, B. J. (2021, January). What the Payette episode teaches us about fit and the

Governor General. The Policy Option. https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/january-

2021/what-the-payette-episode-teaches-us-about-fit-and-the-governor-general/

Patmore, G. (2005). Choosing the Republic: The Legal and Constitutional Steps in Australia and

Canada. Queen's LJ, 31, 770.

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Ramphal, S. (2021). The Queen and her stand against racism in the Commonwealth. The Round

Table, 110(2), 290-291.

Smith, J., & Firmini, M. (2017). The Crown in Canada.

Whyte, J. D. A (2015). Case for the Republican Option. Canada and the Crown: Essays on

Constitutional Monarchy, 119-37.

Woolstencroft P. (2021, March). What would Canadian politics look like without a Queen or

King? Policy Option. https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/march-2021/what-would-

canadian-politics-look-like-without-a-queen/