The Monarchist League of Canada
announced this week the completion
of its 6th Survey on the cost of the
Canadian Monarchy. The survey is
done every three years and serves to
give accurate information on how
​much the monarchy costs Canadians.

The survey found that the monarchy costs Canadians approx.
$54,995,107 (or $1.53 per Canadian) during the fiscal year
2014-2015. This represents a drop of 7% since the last survey.
The survey includes comparisons with other government
institutions such as the Senate ($2.38 per Canadian), House
of Commons ($11.76 per Canadian), and CBC ($28.95 per
Canadian).

The survey is quite detailed and helps counter disinformation
spread by republicans as to what the monarchy actually costs.
Often such disinformation is spread in order to argue that a
president would be cheaper for Canada. The section looking at
the costs of several different republican heads of state is
included for this reason.

In other League news three new Branch
Chairmen have started:
-Angela Barrett has become Chairman of
the new Prince Edward Island Branch.
-Dave Willer has become Chairman of the
Niagara Region Branch which has split from
the Greater Hamilton Region.
-Bobby Paolini has taken over the Greater
​Hamilton Region Branch.
​
As well, Paul Partington has taken on the task of forming a
Young Monarchist group in the Halifax area. The League does
good work and its initiatives are always appreciated. 

Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour

There is no more contentious aspect of politics as to what the
government spends money on. While this is by-and-large a
good thing as it prevents excess and encourages defensible
spending it does present a challenge for monarchists. The
public is largely uninformed about how the Canadian Crown is funded. That many still believe Canadian tax dollars are
sent over to Britain is proof enough of that.

The Monarchist League of Canada, in its role of educating the
public about the monarchy, releases triennial surveys on the
costs of the Canadian Crown. I got in contact with the League
to ask them about the Cost of the Crown Surveys.

A Kisaragi Colour: Why did the League decide to start
doing triennial surveys on the costs of the Canadian Crown?

Dominion Chairman Robert Finch: The League began
its triennial survey on the costs associated with the Canadian
Crown in 1999, in response to the many questions it received
and continues to receive on the subject, a curiosity aroused
by the prevailing media ignorance of the subject, especially
a) in confusing The Queen's personal assets with those that
are no more hers (Buckingham Palace, Royal Art Collection
and so on) than Rideau Hall is the GG's; and b) the fact that
the reportage focused nearly exclusively on the role and
expenses of the UK Crown, which had no bearing on the cost
of the Canadian Crown. These reasons continue to underlie
misunderstanding of monarchical and vice-regal finances in
the mainstream media, to which the survey can service as a
corrective.

AKC: Where do you get the data needed to do the survey?

DCRF: The data is compiled by our researcher from both
public accounts and the discussions leading to voluntary
disclosure of information from the offices of the 11 vice-regal
representatives, as well of those of government organs which
bear some responsibility for costs associated with the
Canadian Crown. Some of these latter include the
Department of Canadian Heritage (official Royal
Homecomings), the RCMP (Royal protection) and the
Department of National Defence (Royal transportation).
Occasionally it has been necessary to make a Freedom of
Information or similar request.  

AKC: How long does it take to put it together?

DCRF: It usually takes at least three months to assemble the
data, then a further number of months to clarify some points
and write the editorial material that accompanies the raw
figures.

AKC: What's the greatest difficulty in completing the survey?

DCRF: The greatest difficulty in completing the survey is the
multiplicity of provincial government bodies which are
responsible for portions of the expense of the Lieutenant
Governors, and the occasional suspicion of some private
secretaries that the League's reportage will only focus a
spotlight on the question of costs without benefit to the vice-
regal office. The League always points out that journalists
are always seeking to sensationalize their own reporting,
and that the careful and non-adversarial attitude with which
the League approaches this work generally serves to assist
the vice-regal offices in referring questioners to the study but
also that it is written with a background knowledge of the
institution which few journalists possess. The League is
careful to consult with the offices so that the peculiarities of
each situation are explained, as each Government House
operation functions in a distinct way due to a variety of
factors.

AKC: When is the next survey set to be released?

DCRF: We expect that work on the next Survey will begin in
2016, with release ideally in the second half of that year.
There is some discussion that the next Survey might well
underscore the cost-benefits equation of the Canadian
Crown's financials, whereby a great deal of good work is
accomplished for a very small sum; and how any modern
state, republic or monarchy, would incur similar expenses
providing historic houses for government leaders; operating
an honours system & touring the country.

I would like to thank Robert Finch for taking the time to answer my questions. The previous surveys can be found here.

It is important to remember that a Canadian republic would
still have a president and that the costs would still be the same. And for what? The monarchy provides a non-partisan core to government activity. It is worth every penny. 

The Monarchist League of Canada
 is at the forefront of the
promotion, education, and non-
partisan defence of the Canadian
Crown. It was founded in February
of 1970 by supporters of the
monarchy who were concerned about "creeping
republicanism" by successive governments at the federal &
provincial level.

The first League meeting in Ottawa attracted over 600 people
to discuss ways to counter Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's
moves to weaken the monarchy. Since then the League has gone from strength to strength in its defence of the Canadian Crown. The Monarchist League of Canada maintains its own
chronology of activities but here are some highlights:

1971 Campaigned successfully for Royal Arms of Canada to
remain on Canadian passports. Campaigned successfully to
retain the Crown on Ontario licence plates.

1973 Pressure from the League resulted in Canada Post
issuing two large stamps of the Queen for a Commonwealth
Conference held in Ottawa.

1975 After campaigning, received assurance from Ontario
Premier Bill Davis of his government’s opposition to an
Ontario Advisory Committee report suggesting Queen be
dropped from Canadian Citizenship Oath. Branches
encouraged as six lieutenant governors become League 
patrons.

1976 Lobbied and ran advertising to make sure that the
Queen opened 21st Olympics in Montréal as Canada’s head of state.

1977 Newfoundland Branch obtained signatures of over
three-quarters of the province’s population on a Declaration
of Loyalty for the Silver Jubilee.

1978 Testified before Joint Committee of Commons and
Senate against the republican provisions of Bill C-60 (a new
Constitution for Canada), waged a large public opinion
campaign helping to secure unanimous provincial opposition
to the bill and its eventual withdrawal.

1982 Sponsored a national speaking tour by British MP and
Monarchist Sir John Biggs-Davison.

1984 Assisted the CBC in production of video history of
Canada’s monarchy, The Maple & The Crown. Co-hosted
study conference on monarchy held at the University of
Toronto. Toronto Branch participates in Royal Tattoo in
presence of The Queen.

1985 Submitted to the new Mulroney government a brief,
Canada’s Monarchy, Authentic Evolution, containing
department-by-department recommendations for full
expression of the nation’s monarchical identity.

1987 Defeated attempt by Secretary of State David Crombie
to remove Queen from Canadian Citizenship Oath.

1988 Began research and lobbying activities to encourage
MPs to request, and Government to erect, the Equestrian
Statue of The Queen on Parliament Hill (unveiled in 1992).

1989 Assisted Alberta Provincial Museum in mounting
exhibit on the 1939 Royal Tour.

1990 Issued first bilingual pamphlet about the value of the
monarchy and the work of the League.

1991 Blocked announcement of government’s new Gallantry
Decorations which would have eliminated the Victoria Cross
as a Canadian decoration. Subsequently waged successful campaign resulting in Queen’s creation of a Canadian Victoria Cross in 1993.

1993 Contacted every member of new House of Commons to solicit responses of loyalty to Crown and offer material on the
monarchy for MPs’ offices and constituents.

1996 Becomes first loyal society site on the internet at
www.monarchist.ca; free trial memberships attract many
new supporters.

1997 Established nationwide Red Box program to furnish
monarchical materials and teaching aids at no charge to
school and youth groups. Supplied first annual summer
student intern to Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Assisted in
presentation of the Five Hundred Years of Royal Canada
mural to The Queen at Rideau Hall.

1998 Campaigned successfully for Oath of Citizenship to
remain Oath to Queen. Testifies before Senate Legal and
Constitutional Affairs Committee on proposed Royal Assent
changes.

1999 Released first comprehensive Survey on Cost of the
Canadian Crown (74 cents per citizen yearly). Exposed
Premiers’ near-unanimous opposition to leaked prime
ministerial millennium project to make Canada a republic.

2000 Received Armorial Bearings containing two Royal
Crowns by the Queen’s permission, presented by the
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario acting on behalf of The
Governor General and proclaimed at Accession Day service.
Testified before the House of Commons Committee and
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on
Citizenship Oath.

2001 Joined commentators and his Cabinet colleagues in
rebuking Foreign Affairs Minister Manley’s call for a republic.
Testified before Senate Rules, Procedures and Rights of
Parliament Committee on Royal Assent procedures. Ottawa
branch successfully campaigned to prevent designer logo from replacing Armorials in amalgamated city.

2002 Revised and updates survey on Cost of Canadian
Crown: $1.10 per Canadian yearly. Bilingualized main League
website. Teen and Young Adult Monarchist interest groups
formed in response to surging youth membership.

2003 Campaigned against Bill C-25 to remove allegiance to
Queen from Public Service Oath.

2004 Defended Governor General in media over spending
and travel controversy. Ontario members participated in
Lieutenant Governor’s book drive for First Nations
communities. Exposed federal government's confusion as to
the roles of The Queen and the Governor General, as
demonstrated at Canadian 60th anniversary of D-Day
commemoration in Normandy.

2005 Mounted national campaign in opposition to deletion
of Queen’s name from Canadian diplomatic Letters of
Credence and to demonstrate dangers of creeping
republicanism vested in a Governor General nominated,
advised and budgeted by the Prime Minister. Released third
comprehensive study of the Cost of the Canadian Crown: $1.54 per Canadian annually.

2006 Produced The Canadian Monarchy, full-colour
educational booklet about the Maple Crown, and began distribution to parliamentarians, schools and youth groups.
Revised website to incorporate contemporary education
section.

2007 After decades of lobbying, Canada Post issued the first
permanent (non-denominated) definitive stamp of The Queen for first class letters.

2008 Lead successful public and media campaign to reverse
BC Ferries’ decision to remove pictures of Queen from its
vessels. Protested downgrading of Royal portrait at Rideau
Hall.

2009 Becomes first organization to Tweet a Royal Visit.
Issues fourth triennial study, The Cost of the Canadian
Crown: $1.53 per Canadian yearly.

2010 Celebrated 40th anniversary of founding with complete revamping of website. Campaigned for restoration of “Royal
Canadian Navy” title.

The League has had a proud history. Whether in victory or
defeat it will continue to loyally support our Canadian
sovereign and fight against those who would undermine it.
Congratulations on 45 years!

Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour

By: Mr. Windsor

It has become so cold in Edmonton that I’m debating whether it is worthwhile to go skating or not. Staying inside with a good cup of tea and a great book suddenly seems like the better option. As a matter of fact, I recently read quite an educational book that changed my perception of our Queen. I’d like to briefly talk about Her Majesty: Sixty Regal Years (Published in 2012) by Brian Hoey. Maybe after this you may decide to read this wonderful book. 

The biography starts off by introducing a typical day of Queen Elizabeth II and later on describes her early life as a Princess, making sure to acknowledge her war effort during the Second World War. It describes how people had doubts about Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark who later became the Queen's husband in 1947. Afterwards, Brain Hoey comments on how the tragic events involving Diana but later writes about the engagement to Camilla and how both events greatly affected our Queen. 

It mentions Her Majesty’s role in politics and remarks upon the constant relationship between her Prime Ministers and Ministers of her parliaments. However, my favorite section of the book is the chapters dedicated to talking about her duty to the Commonwealth of Nations. The chapters mentions her great admiration for the many countries involved in the Commonwealth. 

Another noteworthy section in the book debunks many common myths of the “Cases against Monarchy” and talks about the cost of the monarchy in Britain including the many bonuses and benefits of having their Head of State. 

So just in case the Canadian winter weather has hit your humble abode, I recommend reading a good book on our Queen.

Cross-posted from monarchistnb

Every three years, the Monarchist League of Canada commissions a survey on the cost of Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy. The survey provides a wealth of information about exactly where the money goes, and how much bang taxpayers are getting for their buck.

The most recent issue of this triennial survey came out last week, and the results are encouraging. The overall cost, per Canadian, of Canada’s monarchy in 2011-2012 was $1.63! That figure does not include the special one-time expenses incurred for the celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, which, if factored in, bring the per capita total to $1.85.

These figures include everything from Royal Tours and security costs to salaries and vice-regal household expenses. Naturally, this includes no amount of money to cover the Queen’s expenses in the UK. It’s simply an old myth that Canadians cover part of the Queen’s bill anywhere outside of Canada.

Our hardworking Lieutenant Governor, Graydon Nicholas, shines in the section of Lieutenant Governors. He attends and hosts more events that most other provincial vice-regals, and does so for less than any of his colleagues (even his PEI counterpart!). His total all-inclusive expenses for 2011-2012 were $507,687.80  This includes a Provincial contribution of $318,500. The rest of the costs (including His Honour’s salary) were covered by the Federal Treasury.

New Brunswickers reading this know that His Honour seems to turn up at everything, and his house is often a flurry of activity. His total engagements for 2011-2012 numbered 550. That’s more than twice the number accounted for by his colleague’s in Quebec, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan!

In 2012, monarchists received a fair amount of flack about the costs associated with the Royal Tour by TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. The overall costs for that Tour came out to $649,538, or just 2 cents per Canadian! The 2011 Tour by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge cost Canadians just 4 cents each, and the 2010 Tour by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, 6 cents each.

Overall, the cost of Canada’s constitutional monarchy compares favourably with expenses incurred by the House of Commons ($12.25 per Cdn), the Senate ($2.57), and the CBC ($32.52). It costs just a few cents more per Canadian than the Library of Parliament and the National Gallery. Our neighbours to the south paid an estimated $5.24 each for the running of the White House and the Office of the President in 2008! And they have 10 times our population.

All members will be receiving a copy of this survey in the mail very soon. Others are welcome to check out a digital copy on the Monarchist League's website.

Loyally Yours,
Barry R. MacKenzie