The Monarchy in Canada
Visit by Charles and Camilla Reignites Debate Over Role of the Queen
Nov 5, 2009
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall began an 11-day visit to Canada on November 2 and will visit four provinces; Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec, before returning home. A couple of polls were commissioned and conducted just prior to the royal visit to gauge how Canadians feel about the monarchy’s role in Canada and about the Royal Family.
Canada’s Head of State
The debate about the monarchy drew attention recently when Michaelle Jean and her office referred to the Governor General as Canada’s head of state or de facto head of state. The controversy about the monarchy’s role in Canada continued after the royal visit by Charles and Camilla was announced. Canadians were asked who they would prefer their head of state to be and how they feel about the monarchy in general and Prince Charles in particular.
Majority Want an End to the Monarchy in Canada
Ipsos Reid conducted a poll in late October on behalf of Canwest News Service and Global National. The results of that poll are considered accurate within plus or minus 3.1%, 19 times out of 20 and 1,005 Canadians responded to the pollster’s questions.
Over one half of the respondents (53%) feel that the Governor General should be Canada’s head of state while 47% of those asked think that the Queen should remain in her current position. The same proportion of Canadians (53%) responded that the country’s constitutional monarchy should end upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II. And almost one half of those surveyed (49%) would like to see a fundamental change in Canada’s system of government. These Canadians would like to see the country become a republic with an elected head of state.
A similar poll was conducted by Leger Marketing for the Sun Media. Like the Ipsos Reid poll, it was taken shortly before the Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived. Over 1500 Canadians replied and the margin of error in the Leger poll is plus or minus 2.5%, 19 times out of 20. This survey indicated slightly less division in Canadians’ views about the role of the British Monarchy in Canada and the replies were within the poll’s margin of error. Forty-five per cent of those polled indicated that they would like to see the monarchy done away with in Canada while 44% believe that the British monarch should remain as the country’s head of state.
Leger Marketing also found that support for the monarchy was the highest in Ontario (58%) and in Quebec, 78% of respondents indicated that they found no real purpose in retaining the British Monarchy.
Popularity of Prince Charles Increasing
The Ipsos Reid survey also asked Canadians about their opinions of Prince Charles. Over half (57%) of the respondents believe that Charles should become King upon the death of his mother and not bypass the title in favour of Prince William. The poll points out that the percentage of Canadians that approve of the succession of Charles to the throne is approaching the 61% of those who were in favour of the Prince succeeding his mother in 1993; the year that Charles married Diana. The 57% is higher than the 51% of Canadians who thought Charles should become the next British monarch in 2005; the year that he married the Duchess of Cornwall.
The Abolition of the Monarchy in Canada
A controversy like the recent one about what Michaelle Jean’s role actually is, or a visit to Canada by members of the Royal Family brings the monarchy into the spotlight. Editorialists and pundits debate the issue and Canadians are polled to ascertain their views. But after the controversy dies down or the visit ends, the issue goes away for all but the few who have really strong opinions. Most Canadians really don’t care.
Abolishing the role of the British Monarchy in Canada would be complex and time consuming. A constitutional amendment would have to be made that would require federal legislation and the consent of 7 of the provinces that have at least 50% of the country’s population. In an age of global pandemics and economic downturns, abolishing the monarchy is not a high priority for Canadians or their politicians.
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