[Image-1]
On May 2, members of the Monarchist League of Canada’s Halifax and South West Nova Scotia Branch celebrated the birth of princess Charlotte by donating funds to support children in a local community centre. For those following the event, there was relief in the ease of the birth and, for many, delight in the fact that the baby was a girl.
There was significance in the baby’s gender as the princess becomes fourth in line to the throne due to the passage of legislation in both the United Kingdom and Canada eliminating discrimination against females in the line of succession.
Inevitably on occasions like this, questions resurface on the relevance of the monarchy in today’s world. I am happy to share a few reasons why I am a monarchist and support our particular system of constitutional democracy.
I must assert that I am a proud Canadian. In 1867, the fathers of Confederation determined that Canada would be a constitutional monarchy, and political ties with Britain have been severed through legal and constitutional reforms through the years. Canada has since evolved as an independent country, not subservient to Britain or a foreign monarch beyond our shores. Queen Elizabeth II is queen of Canada, and we have chosen to recognize her, and her heirs and successors, as Canada’s head of state.
We are fully capable of choosing our own sovereign or to decide to have no sovereign at all. However, I am not enamored with the idea of a president as both head of government and head of state, with popularity as changeable as the weather. I am far more attracted by consistency, continuity and historical relevance. The crown, as represented by the monarch, is the symbol of our collective freedoms and institutions, and it serves as the guardian and safeguard of our democratic form of government. It is a golden thread that runs through the fabric of all our institutions. It represents the rule of law and serves as a safety valve to remind the government that the power it holds is entrusted to it by the people through the crown.
Our allegiance is not to a passing politician, but to a democratic process that ensures that power is not to be used arbitrarily or through privilege. It reminds us no one is above the law.
My colleagues and I in the League have a great affection for the person of the queen and the great service she continues to provide. We love to see her and other members of the royal family when they regularly come “home” to Canada. Canadians may not constantly have in mind that the queen also personifies the state and the concepts and traditions it represents. It is easy to confuse symbolism and personality. It may be simpler to just break open a bottle of champagne and celebrate the birth of the second child of a future monarch and his beautiful wife. This we do with great pleasure and in a spirit of fun. Let’s also pause to think of the latest royal birth as an enduring part of our own living history and of the benefits of continuity, stability and the freedom we enjoy with the crown as an important democratic institution in Canada.
———
Voice of the City is a platform for any and all Halifax individuals to share their diverse opinions and writings. The Coast does not guarantee the accuracy of, or endorse the views of those published. Our editors reserve the right to alter submissions for clarity, length and style. Want to appear in this section? Submissions can be sent to voice@thecoast.ca.
This article appears in May 14-20, 2015.
So the lucky circumstance of birth leads to them being the Head of my Government.
Sounds like a perfectly logical 21st century way of thinking.
Oh to be back in the bosom of our feudal lords…
No. It was the circumstance of the drafters of the Canadian Constitution, the BNA Act, the Statute of Westminster (1931), the 1982 repatriation of the Constitution and the concurrence of the Parliament of Canada and 10 provinces in numerous legislative enactments.
Monarchists are deluded if they think the royal family (or any other title holding person) is any less fallible than the rest of us. “Golden thread,” it is to laugh. These people aren’t stewards of our realm, they’re more an institution for pomp, ceremony and entitlement. At least the UK can make some argument for them based the amount of tourism revenue they generate from them.
I’d like to think that Canadian society is struggling toward some kind of equality and the royals by virtue of what they represent are in conflict with that ideal. Monarchists have a misguided faith in an institution that has never deserved it and represents years of a system that generations world over suffered under. You want to talk about oppression and exploitation? look no further.
But of course Monarchists don’t consider this, they’re too obsessed with their symbols of virtue and daydreams of having tea with the Queen to focus on the real lives of Canadians. There are much more pressing matters in our country that we should be concerning ourselves with.
I mean this in the least political way I can, but I have more faith in the Canadian people than I ever would a monarch.
Maybe corporations should be run this way (some private ones are, I’m talking public) where the CEO’s son/daughter takes over when the old man kicks the bucket. Even if Bill Gate’s son is a retard, he gets the reigns when the Geek King passes on. Makes sense.
The queen and her demon seed brood are German descending nazi’s…there is no coming back from the whole raping and killing of the children…depraved,inbred sorry excuse for a human being…the queen in the end is just serving the Jesuit agenda…a puppet with privileges.
“Our allegiance is not to a passing politician, but to a democratic process that ensures that power is not to be used arbitrarily or through privilege. It reminds us no one is above the law.”
I don’t see this working at present, with Harper.
Perhaps if we had a native Crown chosen by the traditional native polities pre-Confederation…
The Queen is a decent person (so far as is known) and I bare her no ill will.But she is a foreign and non-resident national.As such,she should NOT be Canada’s head of state.The Brits. can keep her if they want.