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Green Party Leadership Candidates and the Monarchy: Amita Kuttner

5/19/2020

Amita Kuttner

Well, the trees are getting a bit of green on
them, the fiddleheads are out, and the
grass will soon be long enough to mow. It
has been a slow start to spring but it looks
to finally be here. Continuing this theme of
green renewal I have received a reply from
Green Party leadership candidate Amita
Kuttner regarding my policy questions.

Of the questions asked only one received a direct response. It
should also be noted that this response came through Amita's
campaign manager Anthony and not directly from the
candidate.

What are your views on the monarchy?

"The impact of the Monarchy on Canada cannot be
understated. The Royal family and Queen Elizabeth II have
shaped much of the Canadian identity for decades. However
we must also acknowledge that the Monarchy is also a
symbol of genocide and systemic violence perpetrated
against the Indegenous (sic) people of this land for centuries
in the name of colonialism. If Canada is to be united in
overcoming the crises we face, we must first find a way to
reconcile our traditions with those of all people who call
Canada home."

As prime minister would you make use of the
Advisory Committee on Vice-Regal Appointments
that was active between 2010 and 2015?

During the previous parliament the government
cancelled a program that mailed physical copies of
the Queen's portrait to any Canadian who asked free
of charge. Would you restore this program?

The government also removed the Queen's portrait
from the lobby of the Foreign Affairs Office and
replaced it with paintings by Alfred Pallen. Would
you find a way to have both paintings and portrait
share the ample wall space of the Foreign Affairs
Office lobby?

"...at the moment Amita does not know enough to give you
an answer to these questions. Amita and the team are still
looking at a broad range of policy areas including the issues
you've raised. It would be inappropriate of me to give you an
answer before Amita and the team have researched these
issues and completed their work. Rest assured we have not
forgotten about your questions and will get back to you as
soon as we can. Thank you for reaching out."

Amita appears to have made no public statements regarding
the monarchy. As such I only have the statement from their
campaign which isn't great. I will update this post should they
ever get back to me.

UPDATE: Amita has added abolishing the monarchy to
her campaign platform.

Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour

Evolution of the Right to Encourage

5/18/2020

Walter Bagehot was a contemporary of Queen Victoria having
been born after, and died before, the long-lived queen. And
while Queen Victoria was the one who set about creating a
greater symbolic role for the monarchy going forward, it
was Walter Bagehot who codified the monarchy's political
role. Now, Mr. Bagehot would likely object that he was only
observing what was already falling into place but in the years
since his death The English Constitution has been
studied by every heir to the throne as to what their role should
be. In physics there is a theory that the mere act of observing
a phenomenon inevitably changes that phenomenon. And in
this instance it holds true of political science as well. Walter
Bagehot observed that:

To state the matter shortly, the sovereign has, under a constitutional monarchy
such as ours, three rights — the right to be consulted, the right to encourage,
the right to warn. And a king of great sense and sagacity would want no others.
He would find that his having no others would enable him to use these with
singular effect. He would say to his minister: “The responsibility of these measures
is upon you. Whatever you think best must be done. Whatever you think best shall
have my full and effectual support. But you will observe that for this reason and
that reason what you propose to do is bad; for this reason and that reason what
you do not propose is better. I do not oppose, it is my duty not to oppose; but
observe that I warn.” Supposing the king to be right, and to have what kings often
have, the gift of effectual expression, he could not help moving his minister. He
might not always turn his course, but he would always trouble his mind. In the
course of a long reign a sagacious king would acquire an experience with which
few ministers could contend. The king could say: “Have you referred to the
transactions which happened during such and such an administration, I think
about fourteen years ago? They afford an instructive example of the bad results
which are sure to attend the policy which you propose. You did not at that time take
so prominent a part in public life as you now do, and it is possible you do not fully
remember all the events. I should recommend you to recur to them, and to discuss
them with your older colleagues who took part in them. It is unwise to recommence
a policy which so lately worked so ill.”

Walter Bagehot

Of the three rights Bagehot ascribes to
a constitutional monarch the first and
third have little changed from his day.
But I feel the second right, the right to
encourage, has slowly transformed. So,
slowly in fact that it was only with the
recent pandemic that factors led me to
notice it. What was once a right to
encourage politicians has become a
right to encourage the greater public.

Walter Bagehot would not have thought such a change
possible, or perhaps even desirable. His well-known contempt
of the political, and even rational, abilities of the lower classes
created blinders to such an expansion of the right to
encourage. At the same time technology did not yet allow the
expansion of this right with radio and television still in their
infancy. And finally, the character of Queen Victoria herself
did not allow it to expand as for much of her reign she shut
herself away from the people.

But what exactly am I referring to? In the quoted section
above Bagehot notes that a monarch can encourage a prime
minister to refer to events that occurred during previous
administrations, ask them to consult with the older men who
experienced those events, and suggest actions that might be
better. During the conference in London to finalize Canadian
Confederation Queen Victoria made use of her right when she
told John A. Macdonald that “I am very glad to see you
on this mission. It is a very important measure and
you have all exhibited so much loyalty.” This is the
right to encourage as traditionally defined.

My first suspicion that a change has occurred without anyone
really commenting on it was the Queen's recent broadcast to
the UK and the Commonwealth:

Here we had the Queen both encouraging people to do their
part during the pandemic and encouraging (in the sense of
comforting) those who were having a hard time during it. It is
not about legislation but instead advocating people do what is
right.

The Queen's decision to record an Easter message (a first in
her long reign) again functioned to encourage people to
practice social distancing and to instill hope for the future:

But looking back such encouragements are a common thread
throughout the Queen's Christmas messages as well. It would
seem that as the monarchy has taken on a more public role
the right to encourage has expanded in scope with it. The
Queen did not start this expansion (that distinction belongs to
her father) but her long reign has cemented its new form as a
prerogative of the Crown. Current events have simply made such encouragement more necessary. Her Majesty seems to
be everywheres in recent months. Her Covid-19 address was
accompanied by a special note for Canada. The New
Zealand Prime Minister was also surprised by a phone call
from Her Majesty. Of the videos that have been released only
the VE address was previously planned.

Some claim that the monarchy needs to evolve (without ever
really stating how) but miss the fact that the monarchy is a
living institution that has always been evolving to meet the
needs of its people. The expansion of the right to encourage is
necessary because politicians are bad at encouraging people
to follow rules. The respect people once held for elected
officials just isn't there to the degree it once was.

But let me switch gears before I sign off and note that in some
provinces restrictions start loosening tomorrow. Be sensible
with the increased freedom and have a Happy Victoria Day.

Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour

2020 Conservative Party Leadership Race: Views on the Monarchy

5/2/2020

Andrew Scheer

This article is a collection of every
candidate response received thus far to
my questions regarding the monarchy.
It will continue to be updated as more
replies roll in.

I have again included a scoreboard for
the candidates as well as a section for
notable quotes.

This leadership race is to replace out-
going tory leader Andrew Scheer.

Questions & Replies

The questions posed to each candidate:

1. What are your views on the monarchy?
2. As prime minister would you make use of the Advisory Committee on Vice-Regal
Appointments that was active between 2010 and 2015?
3. During the previous parliament the government cancelled a program that
mailed physical copies of the Queen's portrait to any Canadian who asked free of
charge. Would you restore this program?
4. The government also removed the Queen's portrait from the lobby of the Foreign
Affairs Office and replaced it with paintings by Alfred Pallen. Would you find a
way to have both paintings and portrait share the ample wall space of the Foreign
Affairs Office lobby?

Below are links to each candidate's reply and a short look at
any previous comments they may have made in regards to the
monarchy. Candidates who failed to qualify or withdrew are
included for historical reference.

Qualified to appear on the ballot
Leslyn Lewis
Peter MacKay
Erin O'Toole
Derek Sloan

No longer in the race
Marilyn Gladu
Aron Seal

Crown & Cap Scoreboard

Here I have ranked the candidates support for, or opposition
to, the monarchy. Keep in mind this is only my assessment
and your mileage may vary. Also, note that changes may occur
as the campaign goes on.

The crown score is out of five crowns with each candidate
receiving one crown for stating support for the monarchy
in their reply, one crown for having defended the monarchy
in Parliament, two crowns for outlining how they would
improve the monarchy's role in the future, and one crown for
having spoken in support of the monarchy outside of
Parliament.

The cap score is likewise out of five caps with one cap given to
a candidate for being opposed to the monarchy in their reply,
one cap for desiring a referendum on the monarchy, one cap
for opposing the monarchy in Parliament and two caps for
making the establishment of a Canadian republic a part of
their policy platform.

Marilyn Gladu

Ms. Gladu scored well with only a lack
of dialogue about the monarchy
outside of parliament holding her
back.

Score:

Erin O'Toole

Mr. O'Toole improved his score from
2.5 to 5 crowns from the last
leadership race.

Score:

Aron Seal

Aron Seal is the first tory candidate
surveyed to hold strong republican
views. I believe the only thing that
kept his cap score as low as it is was
his lack of public office.

Score:

Leslyn Lewis

Dr. Lewis' score suffered from not
having much to say about the
monarchy outside of her email reply
and no plans that deal directly with
it.

Score:

Peter MacKay

Score suffered most from never
having defended monarchy outside of
Parliament. However, he was the
minister who in the past restored the
royal moniker to the navy.

Score:

Derek Sloan

A dearth of comments regarding the
monarchy inside or outside of
Parliament lowered Mr. Sloan's
overall score.

Score:

Loyal Quotes

"The heavy burden of public service and constitutional duty
devolved on the Queen when she was only 25 years old and
the mother of two was an awesome and daunting task. For
half a century she has, with grace and complete and total
integrity, discharged her constitutional obligations to the
people of this country and throughout the Commonwealth."
~Peter MacKay, 2002

"My own personal view is that we should embrace this
particular link...to our very origins, and embrace the fact
that the Queen has continued, in a very diligent and
forthright way, to continue this lineage, this connection to
our country. It is something that I as a Canadian feel very
proud to continue.... I am proud to say... that the constituents
in my riding have expressed to me, and members of the
Monarchist League of Canada have expressed quite clearly,
that they are satisfied to continue the traditions of
recognizing the Queen as the official head of Canada. They
wish to continue the symbolism and history that comes with
it, and the Governor General as Her official representative in
Canada. It is something that is inextricably linked to our
country's past and something that we should proudly
embrace."
~Peter MacKay, 2002

I would like to thank all of the candidates for getting back to
me. While I might disagree at times with the replies I receive
it is at least good to know that politicians still take the time
to reply to ordinary Canadians.

Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour

Green Party Leadership Candidates and the Monarchy: Amita Kuttner

Evolution of the Right to Encourage

2020 Conservative Party Leadership Race: Views on the Monarchy

Questions & Replies

Crown & Cap Scoreboard

Loyal Quotes

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Green Party Leadership Candidates and the Monarchy: Amita Kuttner

Evolution of the Right to Encourage

2020 Conservative Party Leadership Race: Views on the Monarchy

Questions & Replies

Crown & Cap Scoreboard

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