Let's not kid ourselves the past 5-10 years have been very good for the monarchy. The current government has been at, least nominally, monarchist in leanings. It has brought the monarchy to the forefront through frequent Royal Homecomings, restoration of Royal designations to the different branches of the Canadian Armed Forces, and the creation of a Citizenship Guide that now has a greater emphasis on the monarchy and Canada's history. Further, the succession laws have been updated without the entire process becoming a reason to call for a republic. On the judicial front another baseless attack on the Queen's presence in the Citizenship Oath has been defeated just recently.
This is quite different from 2002 when Deputy Prime Minister John Manley commented that the monarchy should be abolished only days before he served as Her Majesty's minister in attendance.
It can sometimes be hard to figure out where to go as a movement when things all seem to be going your way. While educating Canadians about their system of government can and will continue it is an open question what 'big' projects should be pursued. This is my attempt to create a list of issues that have either been left unresolved or have been off the radar which monarchists may wish to advocate in favour of.
This is quite different from 2002 when Deputy Prime Minister John Manley commented that the monarchy should be abolished only days before he served as Her Majesty's minister in attendance.
It can sometimes be hard to figure out where to go as a movement when things all seem to be going your way. While educating Canadians about their system of government can and will continue it is an open question what 'big' projects should be pursued. This is my attempt to create a list of issues that have either been left unresolved or have been off the radar which monarchists may wish to advocate in favour of.
Our Future King and Queen
1. Again send the Queen a shortlist of Governor
General candidate names rather than a single name.
For many years it was customary for the Prime Minister to
send the monarch a shortlist of names for the position of
Governor General. The current process has the Prime
Minister send a single name to Her Majesty for her to
approve. The current system is flawed for a couple reasons; it
renders Her Majesty's prerogative in selecting her
representative a mere 'rubber stamp' as well as creating the
impression of the Governor General as being a mere partisan
appointment. Prime Minister Harper partially rectified this
issue by creating the Advisory Committee on Vice-Regal
Appointments which is non-partisan and in fact does create a shortlist of names for the Prime Minister. However, the
Prime Minister makes the final selection and still sends the
Queen only one name. In the future it would be nice to see the
Prime Minister take a 'hands off' approach. But since the
current Advisory Committee is still greatly preferable to the
Prime Minister selecting a candidate on his own this idea is of
lower importance.
2. Have civics as a mandatory course in Canadian
high schools. As long as ignorance pervades Canadians'
understanding of their government and constitution the
monarchy will be easy prey for republicans who are able to
use pleasant-sounding, but ultimately empty, arguments in
favour of their ideology. Education is uneven across Canada
due to it being a provincial responsibility so it is impossible to
generalize. However, if the situation across the country
resembles that of Ontario, we are in trouble. Requiring
civics education would also go a long way towards getting
young people engaged with the political system and voting.
3. Again send a brief to the sitting government with
department-by-department recommendations for
full expression of the nation’s monarchical identity.
Back in 1985 the Monarchist League of Canada submitted just
such a brief to the Mulroney government titled Canada’s
Monarchy, Authentic Evolution. With a federal election
approaching this is an ideal time for this effort. The
Conservative Party has been in power for ten years now and
that tends to be when parties in government start running out
of ideas due to the pressures of running a government and
being unable to stop and reflect. A brief with well thought out
recommendations may well be appreciated. If one of the
opposition parties form the government it will be equally
importance to remind them about the importance of the
monarchy to Canada.
4. Find the hidden monarchists in all the parties in
Canada. The monarchy will be in danger as long as its
support is perceived to be concentrated in one party. It moves
the monarchy towards being a partisan wedge issue. Once
that happens the monarchy's role in uniting Canadians begins to break down. Finding monarchists in all of the parties and
encouraging them to be vocal in supporting Canadian
institutions would go a long way towards securing the
monarchy. This may well involve monarchists with an
interest in seeking political office coming together to support
each other.
5. Have some sort of statement regarding the Queen
be recited before the start of legislature/parliament
business. A recent ruling by the Supreme Court has ended
prayers at the beginning of municipal council meetings as well
as those in legislatures that still have them. This has left
different levels of government scrambling to figure out what
to replace the traditional prayer with. Currently, the preferred
alternative is a period of silence. This unimaginative option
lacks a key feature the prayers possessed; it called the
elected officials to behave in an honorable manner. Perhaps
the prayers could be replaced with a short statement by the
Queen detailing the quality of behavior she expects her
legislators to aspire to? Not only does this conform to the
court ruling it would give the monarchy a further symbolic
presence in the legislative branch.
General candidate names rather than a single name.
For many years it was customary for the Prime Minister to
send the monarch a shortlist of names for the position of
Governor General. The current process has the Prime
Minister send a single name to Her Majesty for her to
approve. The current system is flawed for a couple reasons; it
renders Her Majesty's prerogative in selecting her
representative a mere 'rubber stamp' as well as creating the
impression of the Governor General as being a mere partisan
appointment. Prime Minister Harper partially rectified this
issue by creating the Advisory Committee on Vice-Regal
Appointments which is non-partisan and in fact does create a shortlist of names for the Prime Minister. However, the
Prime Minister makes the final selection and still sends the
Queen only one name. In the future it would be nice to see the
Prime Minister take a 'hands off' approach. But since the
current Advisory Committee is still greatly preferable to the
Prime Minister selecting a candidate on his own this idea is of
lower importance.
2. Have civics as a mandatory course in Canadian
high schools. As long as ignorance pervades Canadians'
understanding of their government and constitution the
monarchy will be easy prey for republicans who are able to
use pleasant-sounding, but ultimately empty, arguments in
favour of their ideology. Education is uneven across Canada
due to it being a provincial responsibility so it is impossible to
generalize. However, if the situation across the country
resembles that of Ontario, we are in trouble. Requiring
civics education would also go a long way towards getting
young people engaged with the political system and voting.
3. Again send a brief to the sitting government with
department-by-department recommendations for
full expression of the nation’s monarchical identity.
Back in 1985 the Monarchist League of Canada submitted just
such a brief to the Mulroney government titled Canada’s
Monarchy, Authentic Evolution. With a federal election
approaching this is an ideal time for this effort. The
Conservative Party has been in power for ten years now and
that tends to be when parties in government start running out
of ideas due to the pressures of running a government and
being unable to stop and reflect. A brief with well thought out
recommendations may well be appreciated. If one of the
opposition parties form the government it will be equally
importance to remind them about the importance of the
monarchy to Canada.
4. Find the hidden monarchists in all the parties in
Canada. The monarchy will be in danger as long as its
support is perceived to be concentrated in one party. It moves
the monarchy towards being a partisan wedge issue. Once
that happens the monarchy's role in uniting Canadians begins to break down. Finding monarchists in all of the parties and
encouraging them to be vocal in supporting Canadian
institutions would go a long way towards securing the
monarchy. This may well involve monarchists with an
interest in seeking political office coming together to support
each other.
5. Have some sort of statement regarding the Queen
be recited before the start of legislature/parliament
business. A recent ruling by the Supreme Court has ended
prayers at the beginning of municipal council meetings as well
as those in legislatures that still have them. This has left
different levels of government scrambling to figure out what
to replace the traditional prayer with. Currently, the preferred
alternative is a period of silence. This unimaginative option
lacks a key feature the prayers possessed; it called the
elected officials to behave in an honorable manner. Perhaps
the prayers could be replaced with a short statement by the
Queen detailing the quality of behavior she expects her
legislators to aspire to? Not only does this conform to the
court ruling it would give the monarchy a further symbolic
presence in the legislative branch.
Let's not rest on our laurels and always be considering the
future of the Maple Crown.
Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour
future of the Maple Crown.
Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour
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