Category: Alberta

Candidates in Airdrie-Cochrane on the Canadian Monarchy

4/2/2019

Airdrie-Cochrane is just north of Calgary

Perhaps it is because I lived
in Alberta a number of years
ago or maybe it is because I
still have family living there
but I find it very easy to get
dragged into their political
discussions. The recent
Alberta election has not been
any different. And, as is my
tradition, I began surveying
various candidates on
where they stand on the
Canadian Monarchy.

As always the question asked was simple:
What are your views on the monarchy?

Follow-up questions were not asked. Each candidate was
permitted to say as much or as little they wanted on the topic.

Steve Durrell (NDP)

Contacted via: Facebook

"Hi, the monarchy and Canada's
relationship with it, is of federal
concern, and the Alberta New
Democratic Party has no position
on it."

(Full disclosure: This is a friend of a friend of mine)
I'll note this is not entirely true. Her Majesty also serves as
Queen in right of Alberta. Much as federalism splits the roles
of government between federal and provincial levels, the
office of the Crown can also be said to be split. As such the
monarchy functions in Alberta in much the same way as it
does at the federal level. It should also be noted that I didn't
ask what the NDP's views on the monarchy are.

Peter Guthrie (UCP)

Contacted via: Facebook

"The monarchy is symbolic in
Canada."

A tad short but it will do. Often this type of comment is made
as a criticism (perhaps not in this case though). It shouldn't
be. Symbols are an important part of governance. When the
government invited the Queen to address the legislative
assembly during the 100th anniversary of Alberta's entry into
Confederation it was a symbol of the provincial pride in all it
has accomplished.

Matthew Morrisey (FCP)

Contacted via: Telephone

"I like the tradition of it. I swore an
oath to defend Queen and country
when I was in the Canadian Armed
Forces"

(Full disclosure: I am related to this candidate)
I think this is where many Canadians stand. They don't have a
great appreciation for the constitutional and legal roles of the
monarchy but they like that it makes Canada a little bit
different. I have also noticed that those who have actually
gotten to see how the monarchy infuses our system first hand
of government are the ones who have a stronger support for
it.

Vern Raincock (AP)

Contacted via: Email

"To be honest - given the
circumstances that we find
ourselves within Alberta - I have
not even considered a position on
the Monarchy and the impact the
Monarchy may or may not have on
our every day lives."

Mr. Raincock's first email to me actually asked what he should
consider in regard to Canada's ties to the monarchy. And if I
wasn't collecting survey responses at the time I certainly
would have. But I held back. Maybe I'll send him some links
to arguments in favour of the monarchy. Maybe I'll
send him some quotes by prominent Canadians. Or
maybe I'll just recommend an interesting book I've read.

I think this pretty much wraps up this blog's coverage of the
Alberta election. It has been an enlightening, if not always
comfortable, experience.

Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour

Alberta's Freedom Conservatives and the Canadian Monarchy

3/18/2019

As regular readers of this blog already know I often survey
political parties and their candidates to discovery their views
on our monarchy. The focus has often been on the federal
level but on occasion I have also surveyed provincial
politicians as well. Over the last month I have surveyed the
Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta to get their views
on the Canadian Monarchy.

The FCA is a right-wing, autonomist
party operating at the provincial level
in Alberta.

I sent the current slate of party candidates* the following two
questions. Their replies are below in roughly the order they
were received.

Question 1: What are your views on the monarchy?
Question 2: If the worst case scenario of Alberta leaving
Canada happened do you see it leaving as a monarchy or as a
republic?

*I was unable to find a contact for Regina Shakirova of the
Calgary-Bow riding.

Matthew Morrisey (Airdrie-Cochrane)

I contacted this candidate before I had decided to write this
article and is the only one contacted via phone. I believe his
views can be summed up as liking the 'tradition of the
monarchy'. Matthew noted that he swore an oath to defend
Queen and country while in the Canadian Armed Forces. He
was also kind enough to check with the party to see if they had
any official or unofficial stances. He relayed these to me via
Facebook:

"Yes, they want an autonomous Alberta in a united Canada.
So, we are not Republicans. Monarchy is safe."

How happy I would be if most of the other candidates reached
even this baseline of support.

Full disclosure: Matthew is my cousin and we have helped
out each other's political campaigns in the past. So while I
have serious reservations about this party having any political
success, my personal view is that he should win his riding.

Jeff Rout (Leduc - Beaumont)

What are your views on the monarchy?
"I tend to feel that we should respect traditions unless those
traditions are harmful. Therefore I tend to respect the
tradition of the monarchy. That being said, I dislike how it
has the ultimate power over law, even if that is symbolic. As
to my own preference, something of a republic while
honouring the monarchy without granting it final power
over law would be my choice. But that's a pretty specific
idea."

If the worst case scenario of Alberta leaving Canada
happened do you see it leaving as a monarchy or as a
republic?
"I am not sure what the people of Alberta would prefer. We ought to be what they prefer."

Steve Goodman (Drayton Valley - Devon)

What are your views on the monarchy?
"My personal views as I explained to our party leader was
that I personally believe that the Monarchy is out dated and
has nothing to do with our daily lives. Under the Monarchy,
Canada has to pay the Royal family millions of dollars a
year for the figure head. I believe that times have changed
and the true meaning of the Monarchy has been lost in
today’s society. These are my beliefs and not necessarily that
of the parties."

If the worst case scenario of Alberta leaving Canada
happened do you see it leaving as a monarchy or as a
republic?
"In a hypothetical independent Alberta or west, that would
be a question TBD in a referendum."

To Mr. Goodman's credit he also asked what my views were
on this issue (he was the only one to do so). This I did...along
with my reasons why. Which resulted in this follow up reply:

"Wow! I want to thank you for the enlightenment. Honestly
you have given me food for thought. My ignorance has
narrowed my views on the Monarchy and what role it plays
in Canada besides a figurehead. Thank you again for being
passionate and believing in a huge part of our history. You
make some valid points to consider when it comes to
Alberta’s future."

It is refreshing to see a politician who is both curious about
other views and willing to question their own beliefs. This was
a rare high point of working on this article.

Malcolm Stinson (Fort Sask - Vegreville)

What are your views on the monarchy?
"I have sentimental attachments to the British monarchy..
Sue me. We are fortunate in that the present monarchy is
benign."

If the worst case scenario of Alberta leaving Canada
happened do you see it leaving as a monarchy or as a
republic?
"I think a republic is the way to go."

Rick Northey (Airdrie - East)

What are your views on the monarchy?
"The FCP has no official position on the monarchy. Canada is
actually a constitutional monarchy, even though most
Canadians don't realize it and the Crown had delegated most
of its powers to our elected leaders. This means we don't
have a system of proper checks and balances like our
American neighbours. My personal feeling is that the
monarchy is obsolete and should be abolished for a more
Republican system of accountability to the people. Canada is
a very weird country in the sense that we have a hybrid
system of a written constitution and a lot of unwritten
inherited British rules. Personally, I'm a big fan of actually
writing down the rules. In my experience people in power
don't always choose to act honorably."

If the worst case scenario of Alberta leaving Canada happened do you see it leaving as a monarchy or as a
republic?
"In the specific case of Alberta leaving, there would have to
be a discussion about what form it's government would take
on. Keeping the monarchy in the short term would allow for
the continuity of laws and governance. But once traditions
are broken by an act of succession, I think it's highly unlikely
that the people of Alberta would choose to continue as things
are."

Sheyne Espey (Calgary - Peigan)

What are your views on the monarchy?
"For the first one I am of Irish heritage(The republic not
Northern) and grew up among a family that was not a fan of
the monarchy or British Government for that matter, where
Michael Collins was considered a hero. So me personally I
would cut all ties with the monarchy."

If the worst case scenario of Alberta leaving Canada
happened do you see it leaving as a monarchy or as a
republic?
"For your second question I have always believed in the
power of the grassroots so i would support whatever form
that the people of Alberta wanted. But there is a growing
feeling that it if we did separate it would be as a republic."

Cam Khan (Calgary - Northwest)

What are your views on the monarchy?
"Republic, we love Canada but on equality ..."

Ok, then.

Derek Fildebrandt (Party Leader)

What are your views on the monarchy?
"I’m honestly divided on the issue, but I believe it should be
up to a constitutional convention to decide if we went down
that road."

If the worst case scenario of Alberta leaving Canada
happened do you see it leaving as a monarchy or as a
republic?
"I view this as an academic question at this point. In the
event that Alberta moved to become independent,
constitutional questions such as this should be decided by a
constitutional convention."

"In any case, I hope you’ll join our party."

No, no, no.

Concluding Remarks

Overall, I was disappointed in the responses from the FCP
candidates. With the exception of a couple bright spots most
respondents were negative towards the monarchy.

Despite the preference expressed for either a constitutional
convention or a referendum on the monarchy I don't think
they have the numbers on their side to actually get a republic.
Recent polling has continued the trend of Alberta having
some of the highest levels of support for the monarchy in
Canada. Given how support divides pretty equally along the
ideological spectrum there is a good chance that the same
people whose support they need to separate are the same ones
who support the monarchy.

Their responses are also useful for pointing out a possible
deficiency in the Monarchist League of Canada's out-reach
efforts. We still have Canadians who incorrectly believe that
we send the Queen millions of dollars. We have Canadians
that are not aware of, or look down on, the constitutional
protections of having a monarch. The League should consider
this a strong indication that it is not reaching all the people it
needs to. After all, many of these candidates would have come
to age after the League's founding.

Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour

The Monarchist League on Facebook

5/31/2017

Ironically, for all the talk of the internet isolating people it
also has great usefulness in bringing people together. The
Monarchist League of Canada has various social media
accounts, of course, but some may not know that the
League's many branches maintain at least a Facebook
presence. I have taken the time to list them below:

New Brunswick
Facebook
Twitter

Halifax - SW Nova Scotia
Facebook

Northumberland and NE Nova Scotia

Quebec
Facebook

Ottawa - Ontario
Facebook

Barrie-Huronia - Ontario
Facebook

University of Toronto - Ontario
Facebook

Waterloo-Wellington - Ontario
Facebook

South Saskatchewan
Facebook
Twitter

Lethbridge and Medicine Hat - Alberta
Facebook

Victoria - British Columbia
Facebook

I find it encouraging that most of these pages have a healthy
number of members and are active. Even better, each page
has avoided that common pitfall of redundancy. They all have
a little bit of individuality to what is posted rather than being carbon copies of the League's main page.

Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour

Princess Alberta

12/31/2014

By: Mr. Windsor

I remember I was taking the Alberta Legislature guided tour for the third time when I first got interested in the Monarchy and its effects and influences on Canadian politics. I stood beside the fountain of the rotunda looking at all the old flags mounted on the marble walls. Our tour guide talked about the massive paintings of our current and past monarchs through the centuries and how they helped carve the identity and image of the culture and traditions of Canadians today. I then realized there was a missing jewel in Canadian politics that I’d completely overlooked. Today, I would like to boast about how my province was named after a member of the Canadian Royal Family.

Princess Louise was the Duchess of Argyll and the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. She was born on March 18th 1848 at Buckingham palace as Princess Louise Caroline Alberta. She would later marry John Campbell the Marquess of Lorne on March 21st 1871. The Marquess of Lorne would later become Canada’s fourth Governor General and the couple would both take a great interest in Canada. They hosted countless balls, dinners, ice skating parties and even tobogganing parties while helping encourage the arts and sciences in Canada. Louise became a patroness for various organizations including the Ladies Educational Association, Women’s Protective Immigration Society, and the Society of Decorative Arts showing how she was a strong supporter of the feminist movement. In the winter of 1880 Louise and Lorne were victims of a sleigh accident. The carriage they were riding in was overturned and both coachmen fell off. The horses then panicked and dragged the overturned cart 370 meters until they calmed down from another carriage ahead. Princess Louise was knocked unconscious and her earring got caught on the carriage walls cutting her ear lobe in half. However, the accident didn't stop the couple from being active in Canadian politics and activities. In 1881 the couple visited the North-West Territories and two years later the territory was split into four districts Assiniboia, Athabasca, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The district of Alberta was named by the Marquess of Lorne in a famous poem he wrote which compared the beauty of the district to the beauty of his wife. In 1905, Alberta would become a province. Princess Louise died on December 3rd 1939 in Kensington Palace, London. Today, countless locations and organizations have been named after the couple. Alberta’s famous Lake Louise, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Also known as Princess Louise's), 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's), The Princess Louise Fusiliers, and Mount Alberta all have been named honouring Princess Louise.