THE MONARCHY AND CANADA
THE CROWN IN CANADA: ADAPTING TO THE FUTURE
Should an institution that has been an integral part of Canadian society for a century and half be replaced? Some Canadians think so. A senior Canadian Senator, however, argues that the monarchy has played an instrumental – if under-appreciated – role in building that society, a role that should be explained and promoted, especially to young people.
Sen. the Hon. Raynell Andreychuk in Ottawa Sen. Andreychuk has been a Conservative Member of the Senate of Canada for the western province of Saskatchewan since 1993. A lawyer and former judge and ambassador, she now chairs the Senate’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade.
contemplation was projected forward, with commentators anticipating future milestones in the evolving institution of the Crown. Such reflection on the future of
Sen. the Hon. Raynell Andreychuk
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year provided a rare moment for national reflection among Canadians. On one hand, it conjured expressions of genuine respect and admiration for the Queen, and recognition of her dedication and hard work on behalf of our country. On the other hand, it stimulated dialogue on our system of government and the ways it has served us these last 60 years and more. Inevitably, some of our
22 | The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue One
the Crown is not unprecedented. Indeed, concerns about declining understanding and appreciation for the Commonwealth and the Crown have been on the rise in recent years, and various measures have been taken to counter the trend. Noteworthy in this regard was the decision by Commonwealth Heads of Government in Perth, Australia, in October 2011 to end the practice of placing male children before their elder sisters in the line of succession and to remove legal provisions that make heirs marrying Roman Catholics ineligible to succeed to the Throne.
Despite these efforts, there are
those for whom the Crown remains an anomaly, ultimately destined to be replaced with some alternative
system of government. While virtually inaudible during the Diamond Jubilee year, this perspective deserves serious consideration as our attention turns to the future of the Canadian Crown.
The debate National conversations about the building blocks of the state are critical for democracy. In order to be purposeful, they should be balanced and rooted in fact and pragmatism. This has proven a challenge in discussing the Canadian Crown, which tends to conjure strong and divergent opinions. Opposition to the Crown in
Canada is premised largely on three arguments: that which posits the Canadian Crown as a foreign institution, that which views it as lacking relevance in modern Canadian democracy and that which views it as superfluous and easily supplanted.
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