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
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.
Sheikh Qassem: The government’s latest decision [on the disarmament of the Resistance] is non-charter-based, and if the government continues down this path, it is not faithful to Lebanon’s sovereignty.

Political risks blocking change in 'outdated' monarchy: Poll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

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

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