god save the queen (or not)

8/3/2019 God Save the Queen (Or Not)

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GOD SAVE THE QUEEN (OR NOT)

Differences in Canada and the United States can be seen in the organization of theCanadian and the U.S. Governments. Besides being a parliamentary democracy (closer toa true democracy than the U.S. system) the most obvious political difference is that

Canada is a constitutional monarchy.

What does this mean? Basically, that Canada is part of a magical kingdom, ruledover by a queen. Yes, Canada has a queen. Perhaps we forgot this fact, because shedoubles as the queen of Great Britain, for which she is better known, and where the

palace she resides in is located. You see, unlike the United States, Canada has never completely severed its ties with the British Empire.

The American colonies gained their separate and equal status to the UnitedKingdom in one swift move with the Declaration of Independence. For the rest of British

North America the acquisition of sovereignty has been a much more gradual process.

Thousands of American colonists who remained faithful to the Empire went north to findrefuge, and sank their loyalist roots into Canadian soil. From the treachery of GeorgeWashington, and the rebellions that later took place in Upper and Lower Canada, GreatBritain saw that were limits to how far you can push the loyalty of your subjects.

Not wishing to loose the rest of their possessions in the Western Hemisphere, the provinces of British North America were granted a degree of self-governance within theframework of the Empire. To make management of these colonies cheaper and moreefficient, and to prevent the United States from invading and annexing this land in their insatiable hunger for territorial expansion, these self-governing provinces united to formthe Dominion of Canada in 1867. Only a small section comprising four provinces in the

southeastern corner of British North America made up this dominion, but over time these provinces were granted more territory, and new provinces were founded, all carved out of what used to be Ruperts Land, the territory that Canada purchased from the Hudson BayCompany. Some portion of Canada remained under direct rule from Britain, until

Newfoundland and Labrador joined the confederation in 1949.

This gradual addition of territory from British to Canadian rule is a goodmetaphor for the gradual achievement of sovereignty over time. The British Military


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Now, some Canadians want to completely sever what is left of this umbilicalchord, declaring a Republic of Canada. Members of the group Citizens for a CanadianRepublic have protested visits of the monarchy, holding up signs like, were not bees,why do we need a queen? Chapters exist throughout the country. They proudlyacknowledge the red maple leaf as the symbol of their nation. These people love their

country, they want what is best for it, and for that I must respect them.

Symbol of Citizens for a Canadian Republic www.canadian-republic.ca

A short-lived Republic of Canada actually existed before Canada was even aunited country. After the former Toronto mayor William Lyon Mackenzie fought againstBritish rule in the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837, he made himself the provisional headof state for the Republic, which he established on Navy Island just above Niagara Falls.

Being on the border, it was easy for Mackenzie to seek refuge in the UnitedStates, where he received a lot of support for his rebellion. The U.S. government wasofficially neutral, but did not do much to prevent Americans from volunteering their efforts.

There is nothing wrong with getting outside support for a rebellion. It is importantto remember though that there might be some ulterior motives behind the solidarity. A lotof Americans felt that getting rid of British rule in North America would help in the causeof Manifest Destiny, in hoping to gain control of the entire continent, including Canada.Americans helped the Republic of Texas to gain independence from Mexico, but only

because they wanted to make it another state in the Union. Later in life, William LyonMackenzie himself came out in favor of the annexation of Canada by the United States.Looking at the flag he used for the Republic of Canada makes it seem like he certainlylooked to the U.S. for inspiration.

I like liberty, but this looks less like a flag and more like a bumper sticker on a pick-up.
http://www.monarchist.ca/http://www.monarchist.ca/


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It should also be noted that it is easier for many Canadian subjects to retain their sense of connection to the British crown because it never treads on their freedom. Had theredcoats not tread on the freedom of the thirteen colonies, the United States might havekept King George as their sovereign. These freedoms that keep most Canadians from

being resentful of Britain are the same ones that the anti-monarchists like Mackenzie

helped fight to establish.

Despite their opposing opinions, the monarchists and the anti-monarchists have alot in common. They are all Canadians, and it is with a passionate love of country thatthey are trying to work for what is best for Canada. This is a bond shared by a lot of

people in opposition to each other that is often forgotten. All Canadian patriots have thesame goal but there are a lot of different methods to choose from in trying to work towards this dream that drives them all.

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What would be really great is if the royal family made their primary residence inOttawa. Then, instead of being viewed as the Queen of England first and the Queen of Canada second, it would be the other way around. This vast territory would make theideal crown jewel for Her Majestys realm. If this was the center of the royal domain, Icould be exited by the notion of the Queen reclaiming her former territories from theVictorian Age, and creating a Canadian Empire where the sun never set.

The rest of the world might not be too enthusiastic about this. Countries that wereonce ruled by England usually dont have the fondest memories of that time. I know

people in the thirteen American colonies were upset about being forced to buy their tea, but that is a small sufferance compared to the insults that other British dependencies hadto endure. They let the Irish starve, even though there was plenty to eat in Ireland besidesthe failing potato crop. People in Africa or India didnt really have it any better.

Despite the crimes against humanity that were perpetrated around the world, I canstill see a how some people could have a romanticized vision of the British Empire, atleast if you were British. Imagine being able to travel the world without ever needingyour passport, as if you could be in the most exotic places on Earth and somehow stillfeel like you were home. I have not stood on the shore of Canadas Atlantic seaboard, andgone without imagining something invisible that connected that land with the Australianoutback, the Southern Alps of New Zealand, or the turquoise Caribbean waters of St.Kitts. On a planet that has had so much trouble seeing itself as connected, there isactually something kind of nice about that.

The problem with empires such as these is that they try to make the world one bytaking it over, and getting rid of anything they cant assimilate. Native cultures areoppressed, if not completely eradicated. They used to say that the ways of Britain werethe ways of the world, expecting all nations except but their own to change.


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I am glad that Canada was allowed to come into its own. Great Britain did notmake itself bigger by making its colonies smaller. I am also glad that the British Empirewas able to morph into the partnership of equals that the Commonwealth of Nations is. Ikind of wish they still called it the British Commonwealth however. Perhaps they couldstill call it such in Britain, but call it the Indian Commonwealth in India, and the

Canadian Commonwealth in Canada. After all, we are all centers of our own world.

Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations

As a constitutional monarchy, Canada remains part of an exclusive inner circle of the Commonwealth of Nations, known as Crown-Commonwealth Realms that retainQueen Elizabeth II as their head of state. Back when Westminster began granting thegovernments of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand greater autonomy there was analternative plan to create an Imperial Parliament. This would seem to keep the BritishEmpire unified, as it was when Westminster was in full control, except now there would

be a parliament that included members elected by the citizens of each of its realms whowould finally have an equal voice. Although not as glorious as complete subjugation byEngland, this devolution of power must have seemed like a welcome alternative todissolution of the Empire.

There are still dreams of closer political ties between the Crown-CommonwealthRealms, and they are voiced through the United Commonwealth Society (UCS).

Symbols of the United Commonwealth Society from their Facebook page


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find themselves under British rule by choice. Their presence in the land pre-dated theBritish. They have less reason to pledge allegiance to a queen of the royal lineage thatconquered them. It is no wonder then that support for the constitutional monarchy islowest in Quebec. It has even been suggested that a Canadian republic could be a goodcompromise position to keep Quebec within the confederation.

For any ties that Canada has with the UK, it should not have to sever any of theties that it has with France. I am glad that Canada can have its voice in theCommonwealth of Nations, but to spread its influence even farther it should retain itsstatus as a full-fledged member of La Francophonie. This Paris based organization is aninternational cooperative of territories emphasizing the use of the French language, andincludes many former colonies of the French Empire, like Quebec.

Canada and other members of La Francophonie from Wikipedia

As a member of both La Francophonie and the Commonwealth of Nations,Canada is expressing that it has dual roots of European heritage and that they willcontinue to pay homage to both of them.


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The flags of La Francophonie and the Commonwealth of Nations being flown on

opposite sides of the capitol in Ottawa Source: Wikipedia

It is difficult to treat them as equal though, when it is the British monarch that picks the governor general as the official head of the Canadian government.

To resolve this issue, I find inspiration in the agreement to have the Northern Irishcity of Derry (still known as Londonderry by British loyalists) rotate between having aloyalist mayor and a nationalist mayor. Canada could develop the same kind of system of rotation for their governor general, a post that one person holds for five years. Have every

other governor general appointed by the British monarch, and have the ones in betweenappointed by the president of the French Republic.

There is still the issue that new Canadian citizens have to take an oath of allegiance, which includes declaring loyalty to the monarch. This is one of the major characteristics that the anti-monarchists want replaced. So here is my proposal. Canadahas two official languages, English and French. The English language is an obviousinheritance from Great Britain, and if you want to take the oath of allegiance in English,then it should remain as is. However, for those who are staunchly anti-monarchist, I saythat they should not be forced into acknowledging her royal majesty as their sovereign.They should have the option of taking an alternative oath of allegiance, in French, where

they still promise to abide the laws of the land, but they pledge loyalty to the Republic of Quebec, and to all the people of Canada. A third option would be for people to make anoath of allegiance in Gaelic to the Republic of Newfoundland.

Such symbolic political actions would not help to increase the number of peoplewho swear fealty to the crown, but it would certainly increase the meaning behind theoath of allegiance for anyone who chooses to freely give it.

god save the queen (or not)

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