Category: Canadian Monarchy

The Monarchist Angle to the Lisa LaFlamme Story

8/27/2022

By now most people have heard the
news about CTV News National
anchor Lisa LaFlamme being fired
without cause. I'm not going to re-
hash the opposing claims as I
wanted to highlight one aspect of
the story that sometimes gets
overlooked.

Dispute Over Jubilee Coverage.

At this time I would like to introduce the second player in this
story; Michael Melling. Michael is a vice-president of Bell
Media which owns CTV News. He is currently on leave to
'spend more time with his family'.

Apparently, one of the issues that caused bad blood between
LaFlamme and Melling was the vice-president's initial refusal
to send a news crew to London to cover the Platinum Jubilee
celebrations. A staff member has quoted Melling as saying at
the time, "We’re not going. Cancel. It’s not worth it. Let’s
cover it from Toronto" and that it 'wasn't worth the expense'.
Lisa LaFlamme is reported to have replied, "We have to cover
the Queen! She’s Canada’s Queen too."

After more back and forth a reduced team was allowed to go
but they had to give up a shooting location near the event for
one much further away.

Lloyd Robertson, Lisa LaFlamme's predecessor, was also a
strong supporter of covering the monarchy and became an
honorary member of the Monarchist League of Canada in
1995. With both long-time news anchors out of a job it does
raise questions about future coverage of royal news.

Michael Melling; Republican or Ass?

Upon learning about the events described above I began to
wonder whether Michael Melling's actions were driven by
ideological, cost-benefit, or personal considerations. This is
somewhat hard to gauge as Michael has kept a fairly low
public profile and his coverage of news events in his former
career as a journalist don't touch on the monarchy.

Obviously, journalists with an awareness of the monarchy's
importance are ones I would like to see succeed. Bell Media
has not said that they will rehire Lisa LaFlamme, nor have
they said they will fire Michael Melling. Most likely they are
hoping their turn as 'newsmakers' will be brief.

Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour

Royal Residences: Fredericton Government House

7/31/2022

In late June I had the pleasure to visit New Brunswick's
Government House in Fredericton to attend a garden party
hosted by the Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick,
Brenda Murphy. For those unfamiliar, a 'government house' is
the term for an official residence of the monarch in Canada
and around the Commonwealth. In Canada the government
houses also serve as the residence of Her Majesty's vice-regal
representatives.

Exterior

Note the masonry work on the right where windows/doors have been removed.

Government House was built in 1828 in the Georgian style.
However, in 1890 then Lieutenant-Governor Samuel Tilley
relocated as he felt the maintenance budget for the building
was too small (given the current ramshackle nature of the
prime minister's official residence this is believable). For the
next 109 years the building served a number of purposes
including a military barracks and headquarters of the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police. In 1958 it was designated a
National Historic Site of Canada followed by a similar
provincial designation in 1996. This kicked off an effort to
refurbish the building which finished in 1999 and the building
returned to its original purpose as a government house.

Efforts were taken to find plants native to New Brunswick

The building has extensive
gardens. Indeed, the event I was
attending was in honour of Her
Majesty's Platinum Jubilee and
an addition to the ground's gardens to mark the event. There
are a number of large trees on the
property and its distance from
the downtown core gives it the feel of a private residence. The
building overlooks the Saint John River and a cycling path runs along the back between the building and the river.

The grounds are commonly used for Canada Day and New
Brunswick Day celebrations.

Tree planted in honour of former Lieutenant-Governor Jocelyne Roy-Vienneau 1956-2019

Interior

Excluding the basement (the 'dungeon') the building has three
floors with the first and second storey open to the public and
the third storey serving as the residence.

There is an extensive collection of
artwork housed on the first and
second floors. Spiral stairways at
both ends of the building provide
access to the upper floors.

One wing of the main floor is set
aside for First Nations artwork owing
to their close relationship with the
Crown.

Robes worn by Lady Dunn to the Queen's coronation

Due to the building's long history of non-use as a residence it
is one of several government houses in Canada that has never
had a monarch spend the night.

Gallery

'The Heart of the Empire' 1935. Presented to the Lieutenant-Governor in 2013 by the Monarchist League of Canada

Second Floor Gallery

First Floor Sitting Room

Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour

Albert County Museum Jubilee Event: Speeches and a Surprise Announcement

6/4/2022

The Albert County Museum held a tree planting and reception
to mark Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee. The event was well
attended and, besides a tipsy flag, went off without a hitch.

Speeches by the Dignitaries

There were several invited guests including a representative
from the provincial government (MLA Mike Holland), Village
of Hillsborough (Mayor Robert Rochon), Town of Riverview
(Deputy Mayor Jeremy Thorn), Royal Canadian Legion,
IODE (National President Jane Cushing), and myself as the
Chairman of the New Brunswick Branch of the Monarchist
League of Canada. While each gave a short speech I only have
the text for mine. Sufficed to say they were all lovely tributes.

Seeing you all here I am reminded of the promise offered by the Queen in the year
2020 during the first days of the pandemic; "We should take comfort that while we
may have more still to endure, better days will return: We will be with our friends
again; We will be with our families again; We will meet again.

It is good to see everyone out today as we celebrate a women who has spent 70
years in public service. In the R.B. Bennett display there is a video recounting
another Canadian monarch's feelings about their jubilee and their many years on
the throne. In it they state "I don't know why they are making such a fuss about me
now, I have only done my best." I think the Queen would say something similar. It
is this willingness to do one's best that lies at the heart of citizenship.

During the 1995 Referendum there was an incident that was embarrassing to the
government of the day but that demonstrated the Queen's willingness to serve. A
Quebec radio DJ impersonating then Prime Minister Jean Chretien managed to get
through the palace switchboard and talk to Her Majesty. During their conversation
the fake Chretien asked the Queen if she would give an address urging Quebec to
stay in Canada. She stated she would be willing to help. It should be appreciated
how difficult such an address would be to write but she was willing to do it
anyways. She was willing to do her best for Canada.

A lot has changed in 70 years but in the words of Philip Larkin speaking during the
Silver Jubilee; "In times when nothing stood, But worsened or grew strange, There
was one constant good: She did not change."

Surprise Announcement by MLA Mike
Holland on a Jubilee Medal

During Mike Holland's speech he announced that the New
Brunswick Government has decided to issue its own Platinum
Jubilee Medal. Details on eligibility will be announced in the
near future but it is likely to focus on frontline personnel.

On another front there was a bit of a good news-bad news
story. I had submitted a proposal to the Treasury Department,
with Mike Holland's assistance, for the forgiveness of all, or
most, student debt in the province as part of jubilee
celebrations. Admittedly this was a long shot shot but it never
hurts to ask. As it turns out full debt forgiveness was not on
the table but the Treasury Department did decide that they
could afford foregoing interest payments. This was announced
as a government policy, rather than a tribute to Her Majesty,
which is fine with me. I had noted in my submission that if
debt forgiveness was considered it should be more than a
token amount. Did my efforts contribute to this policy?
Impossible to say, the inner workings of government can be
opaque at times but it should be noted that even advocates for
debt forgiveness were surprised when interest payments were
ended so take that for what you will.

Anyways, that is all the news and gossip from this small
corner of Her Majesty's Canadian realm.

Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour

Platinum Jubilee Calendar of Events for June in New Brunswick

6/1/2022

Jubilee celebrations are finally starting to heat up along with
the weather. Note that this is a partial list that may be
updated as I learn about other events taking place.
Unfortunately, trying to keep track of events across the
country is a bit too much for me so I will only be keeping track
of upcoming New Brunswick events.

Thursday, June 2

Flag Raising
[Fredericton] - The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee flag will be
raised in front of City Hall on June 2, 2022 at 10 am. Her
Honour, Brenda Murphy, Lieutenant Governor of New
Brunswick and Fredericton Deputy Mayor Greg Ericson will
be in attendance. The public is invited to attend. In addition
to the flag raising, details about the planting of a grove of
trees to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will be
announced. City Hall will be lit in purple from June 2-5.

Fascinator Making Workshops
[Saint Andrews] - The Wee Fabric Shop in Market Square is
hosting two fascinator making workshops (1pm - 3pm & 6pm
- 8pm) to help you get all decked out for the Royal weekend.
Suitable for all ages. There will be a “best fascinator” contest
on Saturday at the Algonquin if you choose to participate. $10
per person, per class.

Friday, June 3

British Pub Crawl
[Saint Andrews] - Kick off the Platinum Jubilee weekend with
a British pub crawl in historic St. Andrews by-the-Sea.
Participating pubs will be featuring their best British-inspired
dishes and drafts on special. List of participating pubs
available locally. 5pm to 10pm.

Saturday, June 4

Tree planting and Reception
[Hopewell Cape] - The Albert County Museum will be
holding a tree planting and reception starting at 1 pm to
honour the 70th year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. There
will be special guests, music, and a display of royal
memorabilia.

Afternoon Tea & Fascinators at the Algonquin Resort
[Saint Andrews] - Enjoy a selection of fine teas, homemade
finger sandwiches, scones and pastries by the Algonquin’s
pastry chef. $35+ per person. Seating is limited, so kindly
please reserve: james.may@algonquinresort.com. Wear a
fascinator if you are feeling fancy!

NB Youth Orchestra at KIRA Amphitheatre
[Saint Andrews] - Experience the internationally-acclaimed
New Brunswick Youth Orchestra on a stage like no other at
KIRA Amphitheatre. The Lieutenant Governor of New
Brunswick, Brenda Murphy, will be in attendance. Starts at
2pm.

Platinum Jubilee Gala Dinner at DrewHaven Town &
Country
[Saint Andrews] - To commemorate the Queen's seven
decades of service, DrewHaven (255 Water St) is hosting a
gala fundraiser dinner at 6:30pm with special guest
Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, Brenda Murphy,
with all proceeds going to relief for Ukraine. Enjoy a five-
course dinner with wine and cocktails, a live 3-piece band
featuring bagpipes and a silent auction featuring artwork
inspired by Queen Elizabeth II. $125 per ticket. Space is
limited to 80 guests, so kindly make reservations with
DrewHaven by calling or texting: 506-467-5508.

Sunday, June 5

Tree Planting Ceremony at Centennial Park, 9am
[Saint Andrews] - In honour of the Queen’s 70 years on the
throne, the Town of Saint Andrews is planting 70 trees
throughout the community. Mayor Brad Henderson and
members of council will be on site at Centennial Park across
from the historic Blockhouse to plant the final 70th tree, a
Royal Oak, to commemorate her Majesty at 9am.

Community Church Service
[Saint Andrews] - Archdeacon John Matheson is leading a
special Platinum Jubilee Church Service honouring Queen
Elizabeth II’s seven decades of service at the All Saints Church
located at 77 King Street. Service begins at 11am

Complimentary Community Garden Party
[Saint Andrews] - The community is invited to share
friendship, food and fun with neighbours as part of the
Platinum Jubilee celebrations directly following the church
service in the front lawn of the Anglican Parish Hall at 75 King
Street. The event is generously sponsored by DrewHaven and
begins at 12:30am.

Televised Coronation Service on CHCO-TV, 1pm and 6pm
[Saint Andrews] - The coronation of Elizabeth II took place on
June 2, 1953 at Westminster Abbey in London when she was
just 25 years old. Watch the entire ceremony on local
television station CHCO-TV (Bell Fibe 26, Bell Satellite 539,
Cable 126 and Ignite 133 or live-streamed on chco.tv) at 1pm
and 6pm.

Afternoon Tea at the Algonquin Resort
Enjoy a selection of fine teas, homemade finger sandwiches,
scones and pastries by the Algonquin’s pastry chef. $35+ per
person. Seating is limited, so kindly please reserve:
james.may@algonquinresort.com.

Thursday, June 9

Platinum Jubilee Concert
[Fredericton] - A Platinum Jubilee Concert in front of City
Hall will be held from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m, the same night as the
return of the Garrison Night Market. More details will be
released closer to the event.

Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour

Her Majesty Anne II, Queen of Canada?

5/23/2022

Anne, The Princess Royal

There are sometimes calls for the
royal succession to skip the Prince of
Wales and for the throne to go directly
to Prince William. This has a great
deal to do with the continuing, and
arguably unfair, low popularity of
Prince Charles. While the succession
should not be based on popularity
contests which do nothing but debase
the position of head of state, perhaps
it would be informative to look at an
alternate succession plan that has
sometimes come up: the succession of the Princess Royal to
the Throne of Canada.

Anne Who?

Princess Anne is a member of the Royal Family who tends to
fly a bit under the radar. She has visited Canada thirteen
times since 1990 (five more than Prince Charles) but most of
these have been working visits which don't draw the same
level of attention. She is often noted as being the hardest-
working royal. In this regard she shares a similar attitude
towards her royal duty as the Queen. And, unlike another son
of Her Majesty, Princess Anne has never been even remotely
involved in controversy.

Why Change?

Don't get me wrong, I think the idea of a shared head of state
is a beautiful thing in the modern world which increasingly
seems bent on embracing division and the worse sort of base
emotions. But alas, even among monarchists this view isn't
universal and amongst the general population the desire for a
'uniquely Canadian' head of state isn't a fringe opinion. So
what arguments can be made for the 'Anne Succession'?

#1 A Canadian Would Become Queen

The monarch, by virtue of their position, is Canadian. That is
not what I'm getting at. The Princess Royal has a son, Peter
Phillips, who married Autumn Kelly of Montreal. Their two
daughters, Savannah and Isla, are both Canadian citizens.
This is noteworthy because it would finally put a nail in the
tiresome republican argument that the Royal Family 'isn't
Canadian'.

#2 Abolishing The Monarchy Is Harder
To Do Than Altering The Succession

I am well aware that a major factor protecting the monarchy
in Canada is the requirement for unanimous agreement from
the federal government and every province to abolish the
monarchy (informally, you would also need a referendum).
While, still difficult changing the succession to the throne is
marginally easier. This is the outcome of the 2013 Succession
to the Throne Act and the related court challenges. Simply
put; Canada doesn't have a succession law. We have a simple
principle of 'symmetry' where the monarch of the UK is also
the monarch of Canada. Changing this principle requires the
use of the general amending formula (seven provinces that
contain 50% of the population of Canada). Why wasn't this
required for the Succession to the Throne Act in 2013? Well,
that act didn't go against the principle of symmetry, it merely
confirmed it. The constitutional issues are still a little
unsettled (this, by the way, is 100% Prime Minister Mackenzie
King's fault) but as it stands now it would be easier to change
the line of succession than to abolish the monarchy.

I'm sure this would still leave die-hard republicans unhappy
but then again I'm not looking to make them happy and if a
change to the line of succession peels off nationalist support
for their cause I'll consider that an absolute win.

#3 The Royal Family Would Live Here

This seems like an obvious point but it bears repeating. Due
to the distances involved and the need to be invited the Royal
Family does not perform as many duties here as in the UK.
That is a simple fact. Likewise, the position of governor
general has never really been able to live up to its potential
due to its occupants having a very short term that neither lets
them pursue long term projects nor allows them to acquire
the respect to be an effective counter (and source of advice) to
the prime minister weakening the position greatly. With the
new Canadian royal family living in Canada both of these
problems are alleviated. The status of lieutenant governors
under such a plan is hard to foresee. Strictly speaking they
would be unnecessary but the provinces/Royal Family may
wish to keep them to share the workload.

Would Princess Anne and Her Family
Even Go For This Idea?

This is not an easy question to answer. As I noted the Princess
Royal takes her role seriously and has displayed dedication to
her obligations. Yet, when the Queen offered to grant her
grandchildren titles Princess Anne refused since she felt it
would hinder their future career. This would seem to indicate
that Anne wanted her children to have the option to pursue
their own path. Her son Peter Phillips went on to be involved
in the private sector with little involvement in what would be
termed 'royal duties'. Still, he has made appearances with
other members of the Royal Family and when he married
some care was taken so that he wouldn't remove himself from
the line of succession.

Conclusion

It is an entertaining 'what if' to ponder but as I stated before it
is not an idea I support. In time Charles shall become king
and I suspect he will surprise more than a few people by not
making a mess of it.

Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour

Conservative Leadership Candidates and the Monarchy: Jean Charest

5/17/2022

Just yesterday I received a reply from
Jean Charest to my survey of the tory
leadership candidates regarding their
views on the monarchy. Before getting
into the survey answers I will briefly go
over any statements Jean Charest has
made in Parliament or in the media. In
this case very briefly as I could not find
much. The only instance appears to be
a comment made during a previous
royal homecoming on how any protests
would not effect Quebec's image on the
world stage.

Jean Charest's replies to the survey are below:

1. What are your views on the monarchy?

"My position is consistent with the Party in maintaining our
ties with the Monarchy and retaining the Queen as a Head of
State. Constitutional questions involving the Monarchy are
not high priorities for Canadians with our current state of
the federation divided over issues like equalization and
resources."

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

"Yes."

3. In 2019 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?

"Yes."

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?

"I would leave such a determination, as I would in any
individual department to the appropriate Minister. Should
each elect to post a portrait within their department such
issues would not pre-occupy me as Prime Minister nor
should they become national news."

5. The current government has not committed to
supporting the creation of a Platinum Jubilee Medal
to mark Her Majesty's 70th year on the throne. What
are your views on this?

"I believe Canada’s position should be consistent with the
Commonwealth in having one available. I received the
Golden Jubilee medal in 2002."

Jean Charest's positions would help fix damage done to the
institution over the last number of years but I am slightly
concerned over question #1. Being asked about what your
views on a topic and replying with party policy is a deflection.
Question #4 concerns me less as leaving ministers to handle
their own departments is a fair position to take.

Overall, I get the sense that Mr. Charest has an intellectual
appreciation for the monarchy but not a deep-seated love for
the institution.

Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour

Prince Charles, His Detractors, and the Future of the Monarchy

5/17/2022

Prince Charles

Prince Charles has been sometimes
criticised for the way he expresses his views
on matters of personal interest to him such
as environmental affairs. However, a
monarch being involved in political affairs
is hardly something that would doom a
constitutional monarchy. Charles’s image is
really bound-up with the drama of his two
marriages rather than his personality.

The politician from across the Commonwealth who has really
trash talked Charles the most, is perhaps Maxime Bernier, at
least in recent times. Bernier in his days as a cabinet minister
never revealed any republican sentiment but as the
momentum of his right-wing populist movement has grown,
he has become more vocal over the issue. At this point,
Maxime is unlikely to return to Ottawa anyway even if the
PPC vote does increase by a large margin, but, this still could
put pressure on the Tories.

The monarchy in Canada has actually proven to be a pretty
resilient thing however controversial it may be. This might be
attributed to the Monarchist League of Canada having been
able to stay focused on presenting the argument for monarchy
in a non-partisan way and working to maintain a degree of
influence, to the extent of perhaps having the chairman sit
next to the leader of the opposition at a state dinner, or having
the deputy prime minister attend one of their events.

But the biggest threat to the monarchy in Canada is the
perception of Prince Charles being political. However, the
monarchy’s European counterparts show that this does not
need to be so. The other monarchies in Europe appear to
generally be suffering less controversy than that of the House
of Windsor despite being perceived as being more political. It
is also important to remember that whilst the financing of the
monarchy in the UK is part of the debate, Canada does not
send a single penny to Buckingham Palace. It would be
difficult for any politician like Bernier to use “taxpayers
money” as ammunition against it.

It feels pretty unrealistic that there will be any real appetite to
skip Charles, even if we had the option. It is important to
remember that constitutional monarchy can be refereed by
the public fairly easily. The royal houses have proved to be
highly sensitive to public opinion. In the UK this was
famously the case with Edward VIII’s controversial choice of
wife but more recently in Spain when their king was
humiliated into abdication by his own scandals. Spain appears
to be the only other European monarchy to be suffering the
same level of crisis in public image as the UK has. Despite
what tabloids like to shake up in the English speaking world,
such a “royal crisis” appears to be bigger in Spain than it is in
the UK, to the extent that quite a few mainstream Spanish
politicians have actually advocated a republic in contrast to
the very small number of British republicans in Westminster
and even smaller number of them who actually have tried to
campaign for a republic. Charles doesn’t face the same
pressure as Juan Carlos did.

People have at times raised an eyebrow over Prince Charles
(and his sons) acting ‘woke’. But Dutch royalty has been able
to work pretty well with ‘wokeness’, advocating LGBT,
immigration, environmental affairs, and other such things
related to social justice. This does frustrate some
conservatives but not to the extent of fanning republican
sentiment. The widespread support for the royalty continues
to be preserved.

Prince Charles speaking at COP21

With the more recent generation of royals, marrying
commoners has become increasingly natural. The Nordic
royals have been doing this for some time now but even in the
very conservative Japan it’s now been accepted. Charles’ wife
Camilla has not used the title “Princess of Wales” but this
reflects the sensitivity related to Diana. There shouldn’t be
any similar reason why Camila won’t be Queen consort.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s behaviour is hardly doing
the monarchy any favours but their antics do not appear to be
damaging Charles specifically.

Many heirs to the thrones have faced skepticism during their
early royal careers both before and after ascending to the
throne. But the best news for Prince Charles is that his public
image has improved no doubt as a result of his own efforts to
downplay his more controversial interests . People are already
forgetting about the bizarre portrayals of him of the past and
are starting to view him as a benign figurehead. A few in the
UK have proposed becoming a copycat Republic of Ireland
but Charles alone does more public engagements than the
Irish President despite Charles not being the Head of State.
He is just that committed.

With Prince Charles filling in for the Queen more than ever
due to concerns over her health, for example stepping in for
the Queen at the recent state opening of Parliament, some
people have felt the need to stir up debate over his position
but, it seems this has been received very favourably by the
British public. The British public likes what they are seeing
and respect for Charles is growing at the right time.

Loyally Yours,
Lord Ludichris

Failure to issue a medal marking the Platinum Jubilee just the most recent act in a troubling pattern of behavior by this government

2/20/2022

On February 17th the Monarchist League of Canada finally
received confirmation by the government that no medal
would be produced to mark Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee.
Now, given the number of people who have went above and
beyond during the pandemic (and ought to be honoured in
some way) this is not a great decision. But as the article title
might suggest this isn't the first time Justin Trudeau has
failed to take his role as prime minister of Her Majesty's
Government seriously.

2015

The Queen's portrait is removed from the lobby of the Foreign
Affairs building. Back then I was willing to give the newly
elected Liberal government the benefit of the doubt.

2016

During a royal tour by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
the government approved a new natural gas terminal. This
was done while the royals were visiting the very people the
terminal would effect. The optics were not great and a more
cynical person might suggest the prime minister was trying to
hide behind the royal couple.

2017

Justin Trudeau opted to ignore the vetting committee for vice-
regal appointments when recommending the appointment of
Julie Payette to the position of governor general. Now, the act
of a prime minister keeping their own counsel regarding
appointments is not new. However, they do have a serious
responsibility to make sure the candidate is properly vetted.
Reporters quickly dug up some pretty easily found reports
that should have raised red flags. As governor general
Julie Payette would end up being the worst holder of the
office in at least my lifetime, if not longer.

2019

The government opted to end a successful program that
supplied free portraits of the Queen to any Canadian who
requested one. A similar program for the Charter was not
affected.

Occam's Razor & Chrystal Balls

How are these events to be interpreted? There are simply too
many slip-ups on a single issue for it to be random chance.
This leaves open a couple possibilities:

1. Justin Trudeau's government is incompetent. Justin
Trudeau has gotten into a lot of trouble over its time in office.
We are not talking about Machiavellian dirty tricks but rather
a string of unforced errors, back-peddling, and seemingly a
lack of clear leadership. Up until this year I would have
placed myself in this column.

2. Justin Trudeau's government is actively working to
undermine the monarchy. The last couple of acts by this
government that I listed don't fall into the category of a
government bumbling. To end the portrait program and not
the Charter program is intentional and the Jubilee Medal
decision even more so. Despite what Justin Trudeau has
said in the past I can't see him as a friend of the monarchy any
longer.

If it really is the second option we may be seeing the return
of republicanism by stealth. No grand declaration of war
against our institutions but instead a slow chipping away at
the foundation of Canadian governance.

Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour

Platinum Jubilee News

1/18/2022

We are officially in the 70th year of Her Majesty's reign.
While events won't likely get started till the summer I wanted
to go over what we know so far.

Event Funding

The Department of Canadian Heritage opened applications
for funding in November. I know that the manager of the
Albert County Museum applied for funding. Interestingly,
she stated that the window for applying for a grant was very
short. Whether it was abnormally short is not a question I
can answer.

Monarchist League of Canada Seal

The Monarchist League of Canada
has released its own seal to mark Her
Majesty's Platinum Jubilee. Mitch
Ramsay-Mader's design was chosen
from a number of submissions. Several
submissions had to be rejected as they
used elements such as the royal cypher
which are for the Queen's use alone.
Mitch explaining his design:

"The profile of Her Majesty with seven maple leaves - six in free fall and
one integrated into the 70 emblem - each representing a decade of Her
Majesty's reign. The maple leaf integrated into the 70 represents 70
years of service to Canada by Her Majesty. The emblem is designed in
Canada's national colours (granted by the Queen's grandfather, George
V) - red and white."

Mitch is originally from Nova Scotia but now resides in Her
Majesty's other realm of Australia.

The Platinum Jubilee Medal Saga

Since I last wrote on the efforts to have an official Platinum
Jubilee Medal program there has been some media attention:

It is probably worth noting that the original Platinum Jubilee
Medal article has been this blog's most commented on post
ever.

Efforts in Parliament continue with two tory MPs having
released a statement on January 13th:

Ottawa. January 13 – John Nater, Conservative Shadow Minister for Canadian
Heritage, and Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative Shadow Minister for Public Services
and Procurement, are calling on the Liberal government to commission Queen
Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medals to celebrate the monarch’s 70th year as
Canada’s Head of State.

2022 marks a historic anniversary for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Seventy
years as Head of the Commonwealth and Canada’s Head of State is a remarkable
milestone that should be properly recognized and celebrated by the Government of
Canada. It is unacceptable that 2022 has already begun and the Department of
Canadian Heritage has not made any announcement regarding a Platinum Jubilee
Medal.

Should the Liberal government not proceed with the creation of a Queen Elizabeth
II Platinum Jubilee Medal, it would be the first time Canada failed to issue medals
for a jubilee. In 1977 and 2002, the Liberal governments of the day issued medals
for the sliver and golden jubilees. In 2012, the Conservative government issued the
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

To commemorate each jubilee, the Government of Canada awarded medals to
Canadians who made outstanding and exemplary contributions to their
communities or to Canada as a whole. During these unprecedented times, there is no shortage of Canadians deserving of recognition for their contributions to their communities and our country.

The Platinum Jubilee is not only a historic anniversary, but it is also an opportunity for the Liberal government to recognize Canadians. We believe that our front-line health care workers have shown remarkable courage and resilience throughout the last two years of the pandemic and deserve recognition for their service, courage, and sacrifice.

Canada’s Conservatives are calling on the Liberal government to take immediate action to commission Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medals and award medals to our front-line health workers who have stepped forward and answered the call. We believe their service should be formally acknowledged and the distribution of Platinum Jubilee Medals must go ahead without delay.

While great to see (especially from two MPs that hold critic
roles in their party) it is a bit of an opportunity missed. There
are MPs from many parties that agree with this statement and
such a bi-partisan statement would have had more impact.
Alas, perhaps partisanship in the House of Commons has
made such reasonable ideas impossible.

While efforts continue the usual timeline for these things is
becoming so compressed that I don't hold out much hope.

Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour

How historical happenstance resulted in the Québécois being ruled by the same monarch they would have had anyways if they had never left France

12/5/2021

The Québécois are, as a rule, not fond of the monarchy. Poll
after poll bear this out. Its not so much that Québécois dislike
the Queen or, arguably, even the institution of monarchy.
Instead, the monarchy is a convenient symbol of the conquest
of the colony of New France by the British and the subsequent
second class citizenship Québécois feel they have had since
that point.

That is a lot of historical resentment to unpack and I'm not
going to be the one to do it. Instead I wanted to offer an
alternative narrative. One that emphasizes the shared roots of
the Royal Family and the Québécois.

Once Upon a Time in Normandy

First, lets establish who exactly the Québécois people are that
we will be talking about. It would seem obvious to state that
they are from France and you'd be right. But immigration to
the colony of New France was not even across the whole
nation. Instead, regions in the north and north-west supplied
most of the early immigrants to the colony.

This influx of people who
spoke Norman French has
resulted in Québécois
French being very different
to Parisian French. This
difference was partially
caused by the settlement
and assimilation of Viking
settlers (Northmen) into the
local French population of
Normandy. This began in
911. Rollo, leader of these
Viking settlers, would create
a long-lived dynasty. A dynasty that would, in 1066, gain a
foothold across the English Channel.

A People Separated from Their Rulers

The Battle of Hastings would mark a turning point for the
descendants of Rollo. They added a large island kingdom to
their ducal possessions on the mainland. However, the tense
situation that resulted would eventually see Normandy lost to
the King of France in 1202. The King of France did not trust
the local Norman population and made the former duchy a
part of his demesne with his own French governors in charge.
This situation was not always accepted by the proud Norman
population and at times they were able to get concessions
from their new overlord. Still, the desire to have their duke
back was to persist as late as the 1400s:

"A tousjours bien semblé aux Normands et faict encores que si grand duchié comme
la leur requiert bien un duc."

"It has always seemed good to the Normans and still does that their great duchy
really should require a duke"

Rollo's Descendants in England

In England Rollo's descendants would hold the throne right
up to the present day. For many years Norman administrators
and Norman French would predominate in the halls of power
before they too slowly assimilated into the local Anglo-Saxon
population. Just as with the Vikings in Normandy this would
greatly effect the local language but to a much greater extant.

Conquest or Reunion?

The Conquest of New France is interesting as it marked the
end of high stakes Anglo-French rivalry on the continent. The
victors likewise treated the colony with a great deal of care
and enshrined certain religious, legal, and political rights in
the Quebec Act of 1774.

Due to the above history it is interesting to consider whether
playing up this connection at the time would have gone a long
way towards smoothing the soon-to-be troubled relationship
between the Québécois and the English. But it is unclear if the
king or his governors were even aware of such a connection.

A Delightfully Canadian Result

Had William the Conquer been content to stay just William,
Duke of Normandy, and had Québécois decided to stay put
(which if they had their own native dynasty they might have),
and had a small little thing called the French Revolution not
happened Rollo would mean more to people than the name of
a chocolate treat. But, I'm pushing things by pushing for
three separate changes to the timeline. What happened is, I
think, more poetic.

In Canada, up to the present day, the descendants of the Rollo
reigns over the descendants of the men and women he led to
settle in France. So I would argue that the Conquest of New
France marked the reuniting of a ruler and his people. And
that is what the symbolism of the Canadian Monarchy
should be for the Québécois in my view.

Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour

<<Previous

Forward>>

The Monarchist Angle to the Lisa LaFlamme Story

Dispute Over Jubilee Coverage.

Michael Melling; Republican or Ass?

Royal Residences: Fredericton Government House

Exterior

Interior

Gallery

Albert County Museum Jubilee Event: Speeches and a Surprise Announcement

Speeches by the Dignitaries

Surprise Announcement by MLA Mike
Holland on a Jubilee Medal

Platinum Jubilee Calendar of Events for June in New Brunswick

Her Majesty Anne II, Queen of Canada?

Anne Who?

Why Change?

#1 A Canadian Would Become Queen

#2 Abolishing The Monarchy Is Harder
To Do Than Altering The Succession

#3 The Royal Family Would Live Here

Would Princess Anne and Her Family
Even Go For This Idea?

Conclusion

Conservative Leadership Candidates and the Monarchy: Jean Charest

Prince Charles, His Detractors, and the Future of the Monarchy

Failure to issue a medal marking the Platinum Jubilee just the most recent act in a troubling pattern of behavior by this government

2015

2016

2017

2019

Occam's Razor & Chrystal Balls

Platinum Jubilee News

Event Funding

Monarchist League of Canada Seal

The Platinum Jubilee Medal Saga

How historical happenstance resulted in the Québécois being ruled by the same monarch they would have had anyways if they had never left France

Once Upon a Time in Normandy

A People Separated from Their Rulers

Rollo's Descendants in England

Conquest or Reunion?

A Delightfully Canadian Result

About

Archives

Categories

Dispute Over Jubilee Coverage.

Michael Melling; Republican or Ass?

Exterior

Interior

Gallery

Speeches by the Dignitaries

Surprise Announcement by MLA Mike Holland on a Jubilee Medal

Anne Who?

Why Change?

#1 A Canadian Would Become Queen

#2 Abolishing The Monarchy Is Harder​To Do Than Altering The Succession

#3 The Royal Family Would Live Here

Would Princess Anne and Her Family Even Go For This Idea?

Conclusion

2015

2016

2017

​2019

Occam's Razor & Chrystal Balls

Event Funding

Monarchist League of Canada Seal

The Platinum Jubilee Medal Saga

Once Upon a Time in Normandy

A People Separated from Their Rulers

Rollo's Descendants in England

Conquest or Reunion?

A Delightfully Canadian Result

About

Archives

Categories

Surprise Announcement by MLA Mike
Holland on a Jubilee Medal

#2 Abolishing The Monarchy Is Harder
To Do Than Altering The Succession

Would Princess Anne and Her Family
Even Go For This Idea?

2019