Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
UKMTO says vessel reported a small craft colliding with it, attempting to collide with other vessels in the area
UKMTO says it received a report of an incident 80NM northwest of jebel Ali, UAE
Israeli Foreign Minister says 'Israel' fully endorses Trump plan for Gaza aid: Reuters
Iranian state media: The fourth round of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington has kicked off in Oman
Senior Israeli intelligence official: Contacts are underway between Syria and "Israel" to retrieve the body of the spy Eli Cohen
Reuters: US and Chinese officials met again in Geneva to resume trade talks
Al Mayadeen's envoy: The process of uranium enrichment is the main obstacle in the talks
Al Mayadeen's envoy to Muscat, quoting a source in the delegation engaging in the nuclear talks: If we see that the other party deviates from the agreed-upon frameworks, we will not continue the talks
Al Mayadeen's envoy to Muscat, quoting a source in the delegation engaging in the nuclear talks: Iran is ready to reassure all parties that its nuclear program will remain peaceful
Araghchi: Iran's position on its right to a nuclear program is firm, but we are ready for greater transparency and hope that the other side's approach will be clear

Political risks blocking change in 'outdated' monarchy: Poll

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Sep 2022 19:09
4 Min Read

According to a survey, 77% of Canadians say they have no loyalty to the British monarchy.

  • x
  • The Canadian flag flies at half mast on the Detroit River in Ontario to honour the late Queen Elizabeth, on Sept 13, 2022. PHOTO: AFP
    The Canadian flag flies at half mast on the Detroit River in Ontario to honour the late Queen Elizabeth, on Sept 13, 2022. PHOTO: AFP

More Canadians are speaking against a foreign monarch representing them, despite the historical ties to Britain, but any constitutional reform would introduce risks of political change. 

Beginning in the late 1500s, Britain began to occupy Canada, and the nation was part of the British empire until 1982. It now belongs to the Commonwealth, a group of former imperial states where the British monarch serves as head of state.

Canadian cities like London and Windsor reflect enduring ties. However, according to an Angus Reid Institute poll from April, 51% of Canadians revealed that they do not want the monarchy to continue as their ceremonial figurehead, up from 45% in January 2020. Only 26% of respondents said it should and 24% were unsure.

According to a Leger poll published on Tuesday, some 77% of Canadians said they feel no attachment to the British monarchy.

"Canada is the only G7 country whose head of state is another country's citizen," said Flavio Volpe, president of Canada's Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association.

"I prefer someone from Windsor than from the House of Windsor" to be head of state, said Volpe, referring to the Canadian city across the river from Detroit.

"We should have serious conversations as a country about whether we can find a Canadian to fill a ceremonial post."

Read next: Majority of Canadians back abolishing monarchy

Although there was a tremendous outpouring of love in Canada after Queen Elizabeth passed away last week, most people find dealing with a foreign monarch uncomfortable. The British King Charles' coronation was announced at a ceremony on Saturday in Ottawa.

Related News

US adds 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum imports

Mark Carney wins race to replace Trudeau as Canada's prime minister

"The monarchy is outdated and has no relevance in our government. I think it's time we just stood on our own," said John Nielsen, 61, a contractor in Ottawa.

Residents in Quebec, a majority-French-speaking province, have even less affinity for Britain; 71% of them said monarchy is no longer necessary in an Angus Reid poll and 87% said they have no feelings of loyalty to the royal family in a Leger poll.

The Indigenous community typically has little affection for the former colonial power, and one-fifth of Canada's population are recent immigrants with little connection to Britain. Indigenous activists demolished a statue of the queen in 2021 on the grounds of the Manitoba legislature as an illustration of their feelings.

"Besides a whole lot of photo opportunities alongside chiefs in headdresses, the reign of Queen Elizabeth will forever be marked by inaction," Niigaan Sinclair, a professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba, said in a column for the Winnipeg Free Press published after her death.

'As long as the rivers flow' 

When questioned about his views on the monarchy on Tuesday, Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that while he is always willing to "strengthen" Canada's democracy, "Canadians are almost fully engaged with the enormous issues we're confronting" like climate change and the economy.

Trudeau declared that his administration would concentrate on the issues crucial to Canadians without backing the monarchy or closing the door to a discussion.

Malloy said he is personally "uncomfortable" with the constitutional monarchy and "its feudal, colonial, and wildly elitist underpinnings," adding, however, that "it does basically work" and so changing it is "a low political priority."

Read next: World reacts to Queen Elizabeth II death, King Charles mourns mother

RoseAnne Archibald, the national chief of the First Nations, did not support a constitutional reform but dismissed worries about how a change to the constitution would affect existing treaties.

"First Nations will always have a relationship with the Crown no matter what Canada does as a corporation," Archibald told Reuters. "As long as the sun shines, the rivers flow and the grass grows, these covenants remain in effect."

Read next: Charles III may be the last king of Britain: Expert

  • Justin Trudeau
  • Canada
  • United Kingdom
  • Queen Elizabeth II

Most Read

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025
Pakistan downs an Indian jet and hits a military base in Kashmir escalation.

Pakistan downs 3 Indian jets, hits military base in Kashmir escalation

  • Politics
  • 7 May 2025
A Yemeni gunman walks past paintings depicting rockets and scenes in solidarity with Gaza, displayed on a roadside fence in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, May 5, 2025 (AP)

Oman brokers US-Yemen ceasefire, Israelis in dark regarding deal

  • Politics
  • 6 May 2025
Saree

Yemeni Armed Forces target key Israeli sites, USS Truman

  • MENA
  • 7 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Lindsay Hoyle kept nearly 300 gifts as Commons Speaker
Politics

300 gifts later, Speaker Hoyle sparks questions on MPs gifts rules

Echoes of nuclear safety in the age of artificial super intelligence
Technology

AI firms urged to calculate catastrophe odds like Oppenheimer

UK Lawyers for Israel under fire over Gaza obesity remarks
Europe

Advocacy group slammed for calling Gaza starvation a fix for obesity

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., speaks with an officer demanding she be let into the ICE Detention office after the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Friday, May 9, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP)
Politics

Tensions escalate: DHS may arrest Congress members over ICE incident

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS