Canada and links to British monarchy....

[doomhammer]

Hello all,

I know the views on this subject are divided but being a relative new comer to this country from the U.S. I find it strange that Canada has links to the British monarchy still in this day and age.

Question is what do you guys feel about this and secondly should the country severe all ties with the British monarchy? I hear Charles is visiting sometime before the year end.

Comments?

[Oni-kun]

It doesn't really matter. The Queen is just a representation. They have no real political power in Canada.

[Tharyn]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_Monarchy

As mentioned above, the Queen is just a ceremonial representation, personified as the the Governor General.

[BornRuff]

It serves as an interesting throwback to our heritage. As pointed out, they have no real power

[ADIL86]

it would be a major pain to the butt to sever all ties constitutionally speaking. it's not an important enough issue for any govt to make a push for it, especially now.

[resu]

Waste of money and a sore reminder of the inequality that was much more prevalent a while back.

[CSK'sMom]

Just to clarify, Prince Charles and Camilla are visiting this week through Remembrance Day. I think my kid is cooking for them when they visit and officially open the teaching winery and wine center at Niagara College on Thursday. They will also be in Niagara On The Lake on Thursday and Hamilton IIRC.

[sxz]

Looks like the OP was watching CTV News tonight when they interviewed the old guy. Personally, it's always good to be reminded of and humbled by your roots. It's not like the Queen or her representative in Canada has any say in how the country is run.

[whampoa]

The Brit monarch are the only thing holding this country together.

Don't believe me, just ask the separatist from Quebec to Alberta, what happened if the Queen leaves the boat.

[Yankees 1903]

Is Prince Charles going to be on our currency when he becomes King? Oh, and the Yankees won again (Of course no one in here cares beside me) .

[Nikita]

The Brit monarch are the only thing holding this country together.

Don't believe me, just ask the separatist from Quebec to Alberta, what happened if the Queen leaves the boat.

[D582]

I like the monarchy. It provides a link to our history as well as to other nations (UK, Australia, NZ etc). It does not really affect us and I just don't see the point of changing anything.

Is Prince Charles going to be on our currency when he becomes King? Oh, and the Yankees won again (Of course no one in here cares beside me) .

Yes, if he becomes King. If QEII chooses to abdicate before she dies, she can name her successor. Prince William (Charles' son) is the favourite.

[ZenOps]

What you learn in school is that the Queen is representational. You also learn that man landed on the moon sometime in 1969, but IMO - Neither are true.

As you grow older - the truth usually shines through. You need only look at the back of your coins to know whos got the power.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/...rper-jean.html

Truth be known, yes - Michelle Jean does really have more power than Stephen Harper in many ways. Harper still has to go to the Queen or Queens Governor General to do something as drastic as dissolving the government in a non-confidence vote.

Once the government is dissolved (and amazingly it happened last Christmas 2008 during non-wartime) guess whos in charge? You got it - the Queen.

In the Queens absence, technically Michelle is Canadas "head of state" or at least that is the way I infer her role. When the Queen is on Canadian soil - its business as usual - The Queen is head of state. At no time ever is the Prime minister head of state. Prime ministers are always subordinate to a King or Queen. Presidents are different.

http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=2125245

As a new immigrant to the country - you don't have to sing the national anthem. You do however have to recite "God save the Queen".

[ronin893]

The Brit monarch are the only thing holding this country together.

Nah. The Empire is protecting us from an invasion by the Rebel Alliance to the south.

[45ED]

If this thread is about Canadian relations to the British monarchy, why is this thread being represented by a American flag icon beside the thread title?