Posted by Ian McKechnie on October 26, 2009, 8:35 pm
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The most recent edition of the Canadian Monarchist News is full of information about the Canadian Crown and touches upon two important issues:
1. Prominence is given to the notion of Harper's consultive process for the selection of Lieutenant Governors. Harper (if he is still PM) will be selecting a new Governor General in 2010. It would be expected that Her Majesty would then give "rubber-stamp" approval. Still, questions arise not only concerning the method of selection, but also the method of appointment. Must the Queen always give this stamp of approval?
Fantasy scenerio: the PM nominates a highly political figure, known for controversy, and would no doubt be divisive. Would the Queen automatically sign his or her appointment simply because constitutional monarchs "must always abide by the descisions of their Canadian governments?" There have been recent situations in Australia where poor Governors General have had to resign before the end of their time in office.
2. It is noted in CMN that the issue of succession to the throne will be discussed at the CHOG Meeting next month. I think many Canadians, particulary those with little knowledge of the Crown, assume the Queen is Queen of Canada simply because she is also the Head of the Commonwealth. If the Commonwealth decided that someone either than than the reigning sovereign should be the head, then the Queen's position in Canada might fall by the wayside.
Considering that the Commonwealth consists largely of (sometimes undemocratic) republics, would it be too radical to suggest that the Commonwealth should be open only to those states who accept and understand the notion of a divisible Crown? For example, I don't think South Africa became a republic simply because its citizens insisted on one. Fiji is a republic but that was a result of a major national crisis involving the military, not a democratic referendum over the issue of becoming a republic for symbolic purposes.
The visit by the Prince of Wales over the next two weeks is bound to either enlighten monarchist sentiments or fuel the republican wish. I am thankful that Canadian monarchists can provide the general public with accurate, academic, and thoughtful information about the Crown. Indeed, monarchists are a "fireside chat" type of citizen; republicans are a "jump on the bandwagon" type of citizen. 
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