
reply to my inquiry on his views about
the monarchy. The reply came through
Facebook and I am reasonably sure the
reply came directly from the candidate
and not a staffer. Mr. Stogran is the
first of the NDP Leadership Candidates
to give a reply that can be seen as
being positive about the monarchy:
"Monarchy, a nice tradition of historical and cultural significance in our
institutions."
before parliamentary committees. I did not find anything in
the Hansard. I did find an article written by Mr. Stogran in
the online magazine espritdecorps. While going over the
technical and historical aspects of declaring war he touches
upon the monarchy:
"Under the Westminster style of government, the power to formally declare war
evolved from the prerogative of the Crown to do so on the recommendation of the
duly elected Cabinet. The Royal Prerogative was vested to the Government of
Canada in the Statute of Westminster in 1931, which effectively made Canada and
other countries in the Dominion sovereign, independent nations. Canada
subsequently exercised its authority to declare war as we entered the Second World
War, although it was arguably more of a symbolic gesture that masked our
tradition of subservience to the monarchy. If we set aside the lingering redundancy
of the monarchy as it pertains to Canada for the moment, to “declare war” in our
bastardized-Westminster-come-ad-hoc-presidentialized system of government, the
prime minister needs only to decree it so. In other words, the only legal requirement
for Canada to be “at war” in Iraq or anywhere else is for Cabinet to cut an Order-in-
Council to that effect and post it in TheGazette."
statements by Mr. Stogran concerning the monarchy please
let me know.
Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour