Let’s get past the monarchy

This week’s visit by future king Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, offers more than an opportunity to “royal watch.”

It can be the conduit which begins a new conversation about the relevancy of the monarchy in Canada and whether changes need to be made to how our country is governed.

The patriation of Canada’s Constitution in 1982 gave us a certain separation from the Crown – the British North America Act was replaced by the Constitution Act – one that seemed more psychological than practical.

But we still observe the monarchy daily, from putting the Queen’s image on our money to requiring royal assent for federal legislation to be passed into law.

Those aspects would be costly to move away from, if only for the bureaucracy they would create.

Regardless, it might be time to rethink the relationship. The Monarchist League of Canada says we spend more than $50 million per year to support the monarchy’s presence in our country.

Can Canada stand on its own without the link to Great Britain? Would the money be better spent on an independent head of state accountable only to Canadians? Quite likely.

The majority of Canadians surveyed over the summer said Canada’s ties to the monarchy should be severed after the Queen dies.

Part of that response no doubt comes from a more culturally diverse population who don’t see the point of maintaining legal and governmental ties to our former colonial masters.

Removing that link clearly wouldn’t include severing diplomatic ties. But it’s time for Canada to grow up and leave the nest in a meaningful way.

+More Opinion Headlines
<Back to Mobile Edition