Once again there is a federal Conservative
leadership race underway. As has become
my practice I have sent surveys out to all of
the leadership candidates to get their views
on Canada's monarchy. The first candidate
to get back to me is Leona Alleslev. Mrs.
Alleslev is the former MP for Aurora-Oak
Ridges-Richmond Hill, a position she held
from 2015-2021. This is her first candidacy
in a leadership race.
leadership race underway. As has become
my practice I have sent surveys out to all of
the leadership candidates to get their views
on Canada's monarchy. The first candidate
to get back to me is Leona Alleslev. Mrs.
Alleslev is the former MP for Aurora-Oak
Ridges-Richmond Hill, a position she held
from 2015-2021. This is her first candidacy
in a leadership race.
The questions have been somewhat expanded this year due to
a variety of reasons.
What are your views on the monarchy?
"As someone who holds a “Queen’s commission” to serve as
an air force officer - I take my oath to Queen and country
very seriously. As I am sure you know - our Queen is our
head of state - and commander in chief of our military -
which is separate from our head of government - the Prime
Minister. I think it is critically important that those two roles
remain separate and that Canadians continue to understand
why they are. I had a portrait of the Queen in both my
constituency office and my hill office the entire time I was an
MP. I was also awarded the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award
by Prince Edward in 1988 and will sing the words to God
Save the Queen as well as O Canada."
As prime minister would you make use of the
Advisory Committee on Vice-Regal Appointments
that was active between 2010 and 2015?
"I don’t know enough about the advisory committee of vice
regal appointments to answer your question - but Vice regal
appointments are critically important and should have the
advice and wisdom of representatives of the provinces and
territories and other groups prior to appointments being
made."
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, Canadians should be able to obtain a portrait of the
Queen if they want one - I can tell you that it was difficult for
me - as a Member of Parliament - to get portraits of the
Queen for my parliamentary offices and I was furious. I
would change that."
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?
"Every government dept. lobby should have a portrait of the
Queen. Wherever there is a picture of the PM (and a Minister
and a public servant Deputy Minister) there should also be a
picture of the Queen."
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 don’t know enough about the medal history and tradition
so I would need to know more before answering your
specific question - but - in principle I am a very strong
believer in history and decorum (having attended Royal
Military College and memorized the names of the first 18
cadets and carried a ceremonial sword) so I strongly believe
that the appropriate and historic commemorative action
should be taken to mark the 70th year of her reign."
A quick overview of her profile on openparliament.ca
shows frequent mention of the monarchy in passing (most
often in relation to her military career).
Overall, Leona Alleslev is a solid monarchist candidate in my
estimation.
Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour
a variety of reasons.
What are your views on the monarchy?
"As someone who holds a “Queen’s commission” to serve as
an air force officer - I take my oath to Queen and country
very seriously. As I am sure you know - our Queen is our
head of state - and commander in chief of our military -
which is separate from our head of government - the Prime
Minister. I think it is critically important that those two roles
remain separate and that Canadians continue to understand
why they are. I had a portrait of the Queen in both my
constituency office and my hill office the entire time I was an
MP. I was also awarded the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award
by Prince Edward in 1988 and will sing the words to God
Save the Queen as well as O Canada."
As prime minister would you make use of the
Advisory Committee on Vice-Regal Appointments
that was active between 2010 and 2015?
"I don’t know enough about the advisory committee of vice
regal appointments to answer your question - but Vice regal
appointments are critically important and should have the
advice and wisdom of representatives of the provinces and
territories and other groups prior to appointments being
made."
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, Canadians should be able to obtain a portrait of the
Queen if they want one - I can tell you that it was difficult for
me - as a Member of Parliament - to get portraits of the
Queen for my parliamentary offices and I was furious. I
would change that."
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?
"Every government dept. lobby should have a portrait of the
Queen. Wherever there is a picture of the PM (and a Minister
and a public servant Deputy Minister) there should also be a
picture of the Queen."
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 don’t know enough about the medal history and tradition
so I would need to know more before answering your
specific question - but - in principle I am a very strong
believer in history and decorum (having attended Royal
Military College and memorized the names of the first 18
cadets and carried a ceremonial sword) so I strongly believe
that the appropriate and historic commemorative action
should be taken to mark the 70th year of her reign."
A quick overview of her profile on openparliament.ca
shows frequent mention of the monarchy in passing (most
often in relation to her military career).
Overall, Leona Alleslev is a solid monarchist candidate in my
estimation.
Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour
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