[The Lumberjack]

Sorry if this has already been debated - please remove this thread if I'm repeating a topic

As a Brit who is now an adopted Canadian, what is the general feeling about having the Queen as "our" constitutional monarch?

Would you prefer to be a republic like your 'cousins" across the border or are you happy to keep ties with the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth?

Just curious

[WLDB]

Im sure most are happy the way it is.

I on the other hand want a Republic. I hate the fact that we technically have a foreign head of state. She wasnt even elected! I also want to get rid of the Governer General, all she does is waste money travel and talk about Canada. She technically controls the military...also not elected. The GG position should merge with the Prime Minister or at least make it so the GG is an elected representative.
The Senate can go too. They just waste time and money doing what parliament has already done. Oh and also they arent elected!

[Lord-Beaverbrook]

I say let the Brits pay for the GG and Queen's travels! Same goes for the LG's. Kill the senate with long knives. But I don't mind being a Constitutional monarchy it's not like we have Wilhelm II screwing everything over like way back when in Germany right? I like it because it's one more difference and disticntion between us and the yankees!

[WLDB]

Lord-Beaverbrook wrote:

I say let the Brits pay for the GG and Queen's travels! Same goes for the LG's. Kill the senate with long knives. But I don't mind being a Constitutional monarchy it's not like we have Wilhelm II screwing everything over like way back when in Germany right? I like it because it's one more difference and disticntion between us and the yankees!

A little paranoid you are. There are many things to make ourselves distinct from the yankees. We dont have much of a military, we arent run by crazy religious Conservatives.

Why did you mention Wilhelm II? Germany was not a constitutional monarchy! Your point is irrelevant.

It is time to make our own traditions and 'distinctions'.

[Bigboy]

I'd like it to stay the same till Charles is king then go Republic

[BartSimpson]

The Queen provides an Executive stability that is lacking in the USA. We have our 'checks and balances' but what if, as in the case of Spain some years ago, this fails?

King Juan Carlos took power as Soveriegn during an attempted coup and loyal military units recognized him as the legitimate authority. After the coup was resolved Juan Carlos returned power to the proper civilian authorities.

Canada and the UK derive stability from the Sovereign and, hopefully, will never have to put it to the test as has Spain.

[Bigboy]

Dont forget every province has Lieutenant governors too.Good point Bart, But to get Canada to be a Republic they would have to do good enough Reforms to pass Refrendums in every Province.

[Snap]

Dump them. We don't need to have a King that enjoys having affairs and a junky for a prince. In my opinion, the entire family of royals are good examples of how dysfunctional a family can be. Do I need them as an example for my children to follow...Not on your life. I won't even comment on Camilla the horse faced ****.

The GG is another example of how the government wastes money. That useless cow and her un-employed lazy assed husband reminds me of people who need some lessons on how to be part of the working class. Instead they spend our money like crazy and walk around with their heads up their asses because they enjoy the smell of their own shit...which seems to not stink! I can honestly say we could get better value by fencing off some pigs and placing them on show as the royal family. At least after they've fattened up we could slaughter them and sell the meat at a profit!

Canada should dump the current form of government and bring along a republic style of government. Imagine having a president that must answer to the people instead of a Prime Minister who answers to no one. I would also most enjoy the chance to vote in the winners of the Senator lottery system...you know, earn $117,000 a year and only work a few weeks a year.....

The government in Canada is as corrupt as any central american government. It makes me sad that the people of Canada don't have the balls to stand up against these thieves and do something about it. Instead they wait like cows off to slughter for the government to do something. Seems counter productive doesn't it.

[BartSimpson]

Snap wrote:

Dump them. We don't need to have a King that enjoys having affairs and a junky for a prince. In my opinion, the entire family of royals are good examples of how dysfunctional a family can be. Do I need them as an example for my children to follow...Not on your life. I won't even comment on Camilla the horse faced ****.

The GG is another example of how the government wastes money. That useless cow and her un-employed lazy assed husband reminds me of people who need some lessons on how to be part of the working class. Instead they spend our money like crazy and walk around with their heads up their asses because they enjoy the smell of their own shit...which seems to not stink! I can honestly say we could get better value by fencing off some pigs and placing them on show as the royal family. At least after they've fattened up we could slaughter them and sell the meat at a profit!

Canada should dump the current form of government and bring along a republic style of government. Imagine having a president that must answer to the people instead of a Prime Minister who answers to no one. I would also most enjoy the chance to vote in the winners of the Senator lottery system...you know, earn $117,000 a year and only work a few weeks a year.....

The government in Canada is as corrupt as any central american government. It makes me sad that the people of Canada don't have the balls to stand up against these thieves and do something about it. Instead they wait like cows off to slughter for the government to do something. Seems counter productive doesn't it.

Canada has problems because it is more or less a one-party system led by the liberals and the not-quite-as liberal opposition. While I am pleased that the Republicans pretty much run the USA right now I also believe it would not be good for them to retain power for so long that they become as entrenched as the Democrats did in the 1930's to 1960's - a period during which America did not do too well and then paid the piper in the 1970's.

[Hester]

The Queen, Governor-General and Lieutenant-Governors are all mere figure heads. Laws don't become law until they're signed by the GG or appropriate LG, but it's not like they have a choice. They can't say "No, I'm not going to sign that." They have to sign it after it's been passed by parliament and the senate.

[Bigboy]

BartSimpson wrote:

Snap wrote:

Dump them. We don't need to have a King that enjoys having affairs and a junky for a prince. In my opinion, the entire family of royals are good examples of how dysfunctional a family can be. Do I need them as an example for my children to follow...Not on your life. I won't even comment on Camilla the horse faced ****.

The GG is another example of how the government wastes money. That useless cow and her un-employed lazy assed husband reminds me of people who need some lessons on how to be part of the working class. Instead they spend our money like crazy and walk around with their heads up their asses because they enjoy the smell of their own shit...which seems to not stink! I can honestly say we could get better value by fencing off some pigs and placing them on show as the royal family. At least after they've fattened up we could slaughter them and sell the meat at a profit!

Canada should dump the current form of government and bring along a republic style of government. Imagine having a president that must answer to the people instead of a Prime Minister who answers to no one. I would also most enjoy the chance to vote in the winners of the Senator lottery system...you know, earn $117,000 a year and only work a few weeks a year.....

The government in Canada is as corrupt as any central american government. It makes me sad that the people of Canada don't have the balls to stand up against these thieves and do something about it. Instead they wait like cows off to slughter for the government to do something. Seems counter productive doesn't it.

Canada has problems because it is more or less a one-party system led by the liberals and the not-quite-as liberal opposition. While I am pleased that the Republicans pretty much run the USA right now I also believe it would not be good for them to retain power for so long that they become as entrenched as the Democrats did in the 1930's to 1960's - a period during which America did not do too well and then paid the piper in the 1970's.

Hope enough people from Ontario figure that out. But funny thing is were finding out almost right away (early 90's) the liberals started sponsorship scandal

[BartSimpson]

Hester wrote:

The Queen, Governor-General and Lieutenant-Governors are all mere figure heads. Laws don't become law until they're signed by the GG or appropriate LG, but it's not like they have a choice. They can't say "No, I'm not going to sign that." They have to sign it after it's been passed by parliament and the senate.

The Queen has the power to veto Acts of Parliament and has the power to fire the PM and call elections. The last time such a thing was hinted at was when Thatcher was PM in the UK and the Queen made policy comments that were quite earthshaking in the fact that she had said anything at all.

Make no mistake, the Queen is a figurehead only so long as she chooses to be.

[Lord-Beaverbrook]

The Monarchy has no power what so ever. I'd like to your sources that suggest that the monarchy has any power anymore because they don't. They don't have any true power in Britain so I hardly think they have any here. All they have is alot of money from tyranny of the their ancestors.

[BartSimpson]

Lord-Beaverbrook wrote:

The Monarchy has no power what so ever. I'd like to your sources that suggest that the monarchy has any power anymore because they don't. They don't have any true power in Britain so I hardly think they have any here. All they have is alot of money from tyranny of the their ancestors.

I'm an American and you're asking me to school you on the powers of the Sovereign?

The Queen's powers are not just enumerated in the Royal Prerogative but in her role as Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. The military does not swear allegiance to the Parliament or the PM but to the Queen and, when push has come to shove in the past 100 years the military makes clear where their allegiances lay. Her power truly lies in the people and their love and respect of her.

Were the Queen to invoke her powers and dismiss Parliament it would likely be for an extraordinary reason and, chances are, the problem would be so great that Parliament would be on the verge of failing anyways. Her actions would more or less have to reflect the will of the people for them to have an effect and to be backed by the military.

In summary, her power is indeed real even though it is the very modicum of restraint.

[Tman1]

BartSimpson wrote:

The Queen provides an Executive stability that is lacking in the USA. We have our 'checks and balances' but what if, as in the case of Spain some years ago, this fails?

King Juan Carlos took power as Soveriegn during an attempted coup and loyal military units recognized him as the legitimate authority. After the coup was resolved Juan Carlos returned power to the proper civilian authorities.

Canada and the UK derive stability from the Sovereign and, hopefully, will never have to put it to the test as has Spain.

Quote:

The Queen provides an Executive stability that is lacking in the USA.

Errr no she doesn't. She has no real power in Canada and doesn't do anything. She visits for a week and we pay millions of dollars when that money can be pumped into more "important" things. Even in Britian, the Monarchy has no real power so to say they provide stability is a little bit misleading.