History
The current Oath of Allegiance dates to 1689 and was used in all of the colonies that came together to form Canada. The oath for MPs is entrenched in the constitution while the oath for new citizens, as part of the Oath of Citizenship, is not. A source of trouble I will address further down.
Text of the Oath
"I, [name], do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors. So help me God."
Those with religious reservations may affirm rather than swear.
Those with religious reservations may affirm rather than swear.
Oath Taken by Members of Parliament
English Text:
"I, [name], do swear, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."
French Text:
"Je, [nom], jure que je serai fidèle et porterai une vraie allégeance à Sa Majesté la Reine Élizabeth II."
Alternate Affirmation:
"I, [name], do solemnly, sincerely and truly affirm and declare the taking of an oath is according to my religious belief unlawful, and I do also solemnly, sincerely and truly affirm and declare that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."
"I, [name], do swear, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."
French Text:
"Je, [nom], jure que je serai fidèle et porterai une vraie allégeance à Sa Majesté la Reine Élizabeth II."
Alternate Affirmation:
"I, [name], do solemnly, sincerely and truly affirm and declare the taking of an oath is according to my religious belief unlawful, and I do also solemnly, sincerely and truly affirm and declare that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."
Oath of Citizenship
English Text:
"I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen."
French Text:
"Dorénavant, je promets fidélité et allégeance au Canada et à Sa Majesté Elizabeth Deux, Reine du Canada. Je m'engage à respecter les droits et libertés de notre pays, à défendre nos valeurs démocratiques, à observer fidèlement nos lois et à remplir mes devoirs et obligations de citoyen(ne) canadien(ne)."
The current Oath of Citizenship dates from 1947. There have been various changes proposed including making a reference to 'Canadian Values' (for now I'll ignore the absurd suggestion of removing the monarch).
On this matter I share W. L. Morton's sentiment that because Canadians owe their allegiance to a monarch, rather than to an intangible concept like 'the People', there was no pressure on anyone to conform to a single 'Canadian way of life'; as he stated "the society of allegiance admits of a diversity the society of compact does not, and one of the blessings of Canadian life is that there is no Canadian way of life, much less two, but a unity under the Crown admitting of a thousand diversities."
Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour
"I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen."
French Text:
"Dorénavant, je promets fidélité et allégeance au Canada et à Sa Majesté Elizabeth Deux, Reine du Canada. Je m'engage à respecter les droits et libertés de notre pays, à défendre nos valeurs démocratiques, à observer fidèlement nos lois et à remplir mes devoirs et obligations de citoyen(ne) canadien(ne)."
The current Oath of Citizenship dates from 1947. There have been various changes proposed including making a reference to 'Canadian Values' (for now I'll ignore the absurd suggestion of removing the monarch).
On this matter I share W. L. Morton's sentiment that because Canadians owe their allegiance to a monarch, rather than to an intangible concept like 'the People', there was no pressure on anyone to conform to a single 'Canadian way of life'; as he stated "the society of allegiance admits of a diversity the society of compact does not, and one of the blessings of Canadian life is that there is no Canadian way of life, much less two, but a unity under the Crown admitting of a thousand diversities."
Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour
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