Posted by Ian McKechnie on September 19, 2009, 8:32 am, in reply to "Re: November Homecoming"
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I am worried that this visit (and, by extension, the Queen's visit next year) are going to be send off of the monarchy in Canada.
It is surprising that the Prince of Wales is coming here when Parliament seems to be so unstable all the time. Is there some significant anniversary taking place in November, or is he "just coming?" Is this visit a mere economic or political gimmick used by the government to gain votes? Was this organised on the government's own initiative, or after much begging on the part of the Canadian people?
The same questions apply for the 2010 Royal Visit. We know the Queen won't be opening the Olympics, but is there another reason she is coming? Or was this just designed to gain political support from monarchists (and even the indifferent)? I do hate to be a cynic, but we must ask these kinds of questions.
I have noticed, and I'm sure many have as well, a trend here. Liberals almost always invite the Sovereign over, but (hypocritically?) question and play with the Crown and not always for the better. (Trudeau and Bill C-60; Martin and the Letters of Credence affair come to mind). So far, Harper's Conservatives seem to be either genuinely concerned about the Crown's image in Canada, or are merely trying to attract monarchist followers.
The offices of Queen, Governor General, and Lieutneant Governors cannot be reduced to museum artifacts. Even the Rideau Hall website is passive- there is hardly information about the royal reserve powers.
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