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| '''Canadian republicanism''' is the advocacy of ]al change in ], leading to the abolition of the ] and the creation of a Canadian ]. The movement's roots precede ], and it has emerged from time to time in Canadian politics, but has not been a dominant force since the ]. | '''Canadian republicanism''' is the advocacy of ]al change in ] {{fact|date=November 2008}}, leading to the abolition of the ] and the creation of a Canadian ] {{fact|date=November 2008}}. The movement's roots precede ] {{fact|date=November 2008}}, and it has emerged from time to time {{fact|date=November 2008}} in Canadian politics, but has not been a dominant force since the ]. | ||
| ==Republican arguments== | ==Republican arguments== | ||
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| ===Political role=== | ===Political role=== | ||
| In response to ], republicans will argue that it is entirely possible to have an apolitical, elected head of state |
In response to ], republicans will argue that it is entirely possible to have an apolitical, elected head of state. One example of this type of head of state in a Westminster-style ] is the ]. | ||
| Republicans point out that in the current system, the prime minister is elected by his or her party, not by popular election. Canadians therefore, do not vote for a prime minister, they vote for members belonging to the party that the prime minister leads. Also, there are other methods for electing a president, with popular election being only one option of many. ] is a model many Canadian republicans see as a one that could be applied at least in part in Canada. Other republicans argue that an elected president could serve as an effective ] on the power of the prime minister, and help encourage a greater separation of power within the nation's ]. The current powers of the Prime Minister of Canada are often criticized as being excessive, so the creation of a revised, independent executive branch may be a solution to this. The fact that these different arguments are often contradictory highlights the fact that in many cases Canadian republicans are not yet fully united on what sort of republican form of government they believe the nation should adopt. The Westminster-style parliamentary republican model, which is advocated by other Commonwealth republican movements, has been embraced by ] as the preferred model for Canada. | Republicans point out that in the current system, the prime minister is elected by his or her party, not by popular election. Canadians therefore, do not vote for a prime minister, they vote for members belonging to the party that the prime minister leads. Also, there are other methods for electing a president, with popular election being only one option of many. ] is a model many Canadian republicans see as a one that could be applied at least in part in Canada. Other republicans argue that an elected president could serve as an effective ] on the power of the prime minister, and help encourage a greater separation of power within the nation's ]. The current powers of the Prime Minister of Canada are often criticized as being excessive, so the creation of a revised, independent executive branch may be a solution to this. The fact that these different arguments are often contradictory highlights the fact that in many cases Canadian republicans are not yet fully united on what sort of republican form of government they believe the nation should adopt. The Westminster-style parliamentary republican model, which is advocated by other Commonwealth republican movements, has been embraced by ] as the preferred model for Canada. | ||
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| ===Constitutional implications=== | ===Constitutional implications=== | ||
| One constitutional scholar, ], has |
One constitutional scholar, ], has claimed that Canada can become a republic upon the demise of the current Queen by not proclaiming a successor. However, McWhinney's proposal remains unstudied, and thus publicly unsupported, by either the Canadian government or other constitutional experts. Monarchists have also pointed out that his proposal, like that put forward by republicans, assumes no input from the provinces regarding this attempt to change the status of the Crown, and ignores certain prescriptive clauses of the '']'', such as Sections 9 and 17. | ||
| ===North American Union=== | |||
| Some Canadian republicans advocate for Canada to join the federal union of the ], such as the website run by Jonathan Wheelwright <ref></ref>, similar to other proposals for ], though excluding Mexico and Canada's northern territories. J.J. McCullough, a 24-year old member of the executive committtee of ], has advocated for Canada and the United States to become a single country, and adopt an American-style flag, as part of his attempt to run for office on the ] ticket. <ref></ref> Part of the reason behind his campaign was his belief that Canada is anti-American and that this "is the root cause of most problems with this country." <ref></ref> Ironically, the Conservative Party of Canada officially supports the system of constitutional monarchy in its party platform. | |||
| A few small pro-republican groups and parties like the also exist that promote some sort of merger with the US. The BC Annexation Party, for example, promotes the ] of the Province of ] into the United States, thus making it the ]. In the past parties like the ] ] in Quebec and the Commonwealth Republic Party of ] also promoted similar annexation. | |||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
Revision as of 03:55, 11 November 2008
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Canadian republicanism is the advocacy of constitutional change in Canada , leading to the abolition of the Canadian monarchy and the creation of a Canadian republic . The movement's roots precede Canadian Confederation , and it has emerged from time to time in Canadian politics, but has not been a dominant force since the Rebellions of 1837.
Republican arguments
Symbolism
Monarchy and inherited rights in government, symbolic or otherwise, is a concept incompatible with Canadian values of egalitarianism.
— Citizens for a Canadian Republic
Republicans have traditionally argued against the monarchy on the basis that it is a historic relic, or a colonial holdover with little relevance in modern Canada. Members of both the political left and right have also argued that it is an institution of elitism that undermines democracy. Republicans argue that the monarchy is not a Canadian institution but a foreign and specifically British one, even though the monarchy is no longer an exclusively British institution. Like monarchists, however, the majority of contemporary republican arguments tend to centre on political justifications of such a change.
Political role
In response to monarchist claims of neutrality, republicans will argue that it is entirely possible to have an apolitical, elected head of state. One example of this type of head of state in a Westminster-style parliamentary republic is the President of Ireland.
Republicans point out that in the current system, the prime minister is elected by his or her party, not by popular election. Canadians therefore, do not vote for a prime minister, they vote for members belonging to the party that the prime minister leads. Also, there are other methods for electing a president, with popular election being only one option of many. India's republican system is a model many Canadian republicans see as a one that could be applied at least in part in Canada. Other republicans argue that an elected president could serve as an effective check on the power of the prime minister, and help encourage a greater separation of power within the nation's political culture. The current powers of the Prime Minister of Canada are often criticized as being excessive, so the creation of a revised, independent executive branch may be a solution to this. The fact that these different arguments are often contradictory highlights the fact that in many cases Canadian republicans are not yet fully united on what sort of republican form of government they believe the nation should adopt. The Westminster-style parliamentary republican model, which is advocated by other Commonwealth republican movements, has been embraced by Citizens for a Canadian Republic as the preferred model for Canada.
The truth is that the monarchy stands for much that has held Canada back. It embodies the triumph of inheritance over merit, of blood over brains, of mindless ritual over innovation. The monarchy reminds us to defer to authority and remember our place. In Quebec, the Royals are regarded as an insult.
— Margaret Wente, 2001
In March, 2004, Citizens for a Canadian Republic proposed changes that would avoid a new round of constitutional negotiations by advocating a parliamentary reform of the office of the Governor General, an office generally expected to be transformed into a presidency should the monarchy end. The group claims their proposal will address divisive aspects such as the duties and selection process of the new head of state without constitutional amendment, leaving the remaining issue of who should occupy the position to be decided in a referendum. However, monarchists point out that this proposal does not address the provinces, especially concerning the importance of the Crown in their relationship with the federal government, and the positions and powers of the Lieutenant Governors; both issues which would weigh heavily in any constitutional debate on the Crown, regardless of the selection process of the Governor General.
Constitutional implications
One constitutional scholar, Ted McWhinney, has claimed that Canada can become a republic upon the demise of the current Queen by not proclaiming a successor. However, McWhinney's proposal remains unstudied, and thus publicly unsupported, by either the Canadian government or other constitutional experts. Monarchists have also pointed out that his proposal, like that put forward by republicans, assumes no input from the provinces regarding this attempt to change the status of the Crown, and ignores certain prescriptive clauses of the Constitution Act, such as Sections 9 and 17.
North American Union
Some Canadian republicans advocate for Canada to join the federal union of the United States, such as the website United North America run by Jonathan Wheelwright , similar to other proposals for North American Union, though excluding Mexico and Canada's northern territories. J.J. McCullough, a 24-year old member of the executive committtee of Citizens for a Canadian Republic, has advocated for Canada and the United States to become a single country, and adopt an American-style flag, as part of his attempt to run for office on the Conservative Party of Canada ticket. Part of the reason behind his campaign was his belief that Canada is anti-American and that this "is the root cause of most problems with this country." Ironically, the Conservative Party of Canada officially supports the system of constitutional monarchy in its party platform.
A few small pro-republican groups and parties like the Annexation Party of British Columbia also exist that promote some sort of merger with the US. The BC Annexation Party, for example, promotes the annexation of the Province of British Columbia into the United States, thus making it the 51st state. In the past parties like the francophone Parti 51 in Quebec and the Commonwealth Republic Party of Lyndon LaRouche also promoted similar annexation.
History
Main article: Debate on the monarchy in CanadaPublic opinion
- See: Public opinion polls
References
- Citizens for a Canadian Republic: Goals
- Monarchy Free Canada: Republican quotes; Wente, Margaret; Globe and Mail; February 2001
- JJ McCullough: Vote JJ McCullough for a United North America
- About JJ McCullough
See also
- Monarchy of Canada
- Debate on the monarchy in Canada
- Monarchism in Canada
- Constitutional monarchy
- Republic
- Republicanism
External links
- Citizens for a Canadian Republic Canada's republican movement
- Canadian polls on the monarchy Monarchy/Republic opinion polls in Canada 1993-2007
- Res Publica : Canada an international anti-monarchy database: Canada
| Republicanism in Commonwealth realms | |
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