Posted by Barry R MacKenzie
on May 19, 2009, 11:02 am
156.34.216.221
Victoria Day offers chance to reflect on role of the monarchy in modern Canadian society
Published Tuesday May 19th, 2009
By KYLE MULLIN
mullin.kyle@dailygleaner.com
Daniel Taylor says paying tribute to the Queen will further Canada's future, not hinder it.
The chairman of the Monarchist League of Canada's Fredericton branch helped host its first annual Victoria Day celebration at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Monday afternoon, in the hopes of raising local awareness about the Crown's current role in Canada.
He said anyone who doubts the Crown's relevance need look no further than last year's parliamentary dispute, when the push for a coalition came to a halt after the Governor General's order of prorogation.
"Our head of state utilized powers that were there to make sure we have good government," he said. "We saw exactly what our Governor General, representing our Queen, is supposed to do. And those failsafe rules that are there came into play."
Barry MacKenzie, secretary of the Fredericton branch, said that could serve as a reminder to many Canadians of the importance of their roots to the Crown.
"A lot of people are fence-sitters because they're not informed about the issue at hand and the importance of the Crown," he said.
"By offering people the chance to learn more, they can decide for themselves and help understand why we believe it's an important part of our constitutional system."
Robert Pichette, a dauphin of the Canadian Heraldic Authority and a deputy minister under former premier Louis Robichaud, was the guest speaker at the celebration.
He said the Crown's role may be significant during a stage of parliamentary strife, but it has otherwise shrunk considerably.
"One way or another, the monarchy is a reality in Canada," he said. "It's certainly written in the Constitution. The day where Canada becomes a republic is not tomorrow.
"It's written in the Constitution in such a way that all the provinces would have to agree (to get rid of it). And we're not there yet. Canada is a work in progress, just as Great Britain is a work in progress.
He said Canada's conviction for the Crown peaked with George VI in the early years of the Second World War. That all changed before the final ceasefire, as Canada came into its own on the front lines.
"Those were the last days of the British Empire. There is no British Empire anymore; that has morphed into the Commonwealth," he said. "And that's a different kettle of fish altogether."
MacKenzie said the Commonwealth helps boost Canada's ties with European neighbours during turbulent times, and sharing those roots can help ground the nation's identity.
"We're not pushing for colonialism," he said. "But showing loyalty to the Crown is important, especially in a time when governments change so regularly. We're in a state of flux in so many ways, and the monarchy is that unchanging stable presence in our system of government. That's what we celebrate today."
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