Monarchy in Canada
The Canadian Monarchy is a system of parliamentary monarchy in which the British monarchs of hereditary succession are the sovereigns of Canada, which is why they currently have King Charles III of the United Kingdom as its monarch and head of state. The country is a former Dominion of the United Kingdom, and since its founding in 1867 following Queen Victoria's passage of the British North America Act, the nation has retained the British monarch as its own sovereign. The office was confirmed in the 1982 constitution. Although the King is also the monarch of the United Kingdom, in Canada he is officially known as King of Canada.
Canadians generally refer to King Charles III simply as The King or The King of Canada when he is in the country. In addition to Canada and the United Kingdom, the King is also the monarch of fourteen other Commonwealth nations. But this does not mean that the governments of these nations are united. Although the king is shared, the countries and their governments are totally separate and independent. The heir to the Crown is William, Prince of Wales, although the king is the only member of the Canadian royal family to have a constitutional role in the country.
The king is represented by a governor-general, who is nominated by the prime minister, although the monarch has powers that are exclusive to him. The current Canadian Governor General is diplomat Mary Simon. The king also has a representative in each of the Canadian provinces called a lieutenant governor, and a commissioner in each of the Canadian territories.
Although the monarch is the head of state, administrative political power for the country rests with the prime minister and his cabinet, instead the king and the governor-general act as bastions of the leadership of the Canadian Armed Forces, guarantors of democracy in the country through the power of dissolution and as ceremonial leaders of the nation and promote Canadian culture and identity.
Constitutional role
Canada's constitution consists of a variety of statutes and conventions that are both British and Canadian in origin, giving Canada a parliamentary system of government similar to other Commonwealth monarchies. All state power belongs, constitutionally, to the sovereign who is represented at the federal level by the governor general —appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister— and at the provincial level by the lieutenant-governors —appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister. federal minister who customarily consults the provincial prime minister; the monarch is customarily informed of this appointment prior to taking office.
Canadian government institutions operate under the authority of the monarch. Consequently, the government of Canada is formally designated as Her Majesty's Government in Canada. However, since the early 1970s, although constitutional amendments have not been made, the government is called simply Government of Canada. Any constitutional change in the position of the monarch, or of the monarch's representatives in Canada, requires the consent of the Senate, the House of Commons, as well as all the Houses of the different provinces.
Constitutional functions
The role of the King as well as the Governor-General is both practical and legal. Indeed, The King is the central person in the constitutional construction.
The extensive powers belonging to the Crown, collectively known under the name of royal prerogative, are very extensive. These range from the ability to carry out treaties, to send ambassadors, to the defense of the kingdom and the preservation of the Peace King's peace. Parliamentary approval is not required for the exercise of royal prerogative; on the other hand, the consent of the Crown must be obtained before one or the other of the Houses of Parliament can even discuss a law that is not favorable to the prerogatives or interests of the sovereign. The royal prerogative belongs to the Crown alone. Although the royal prerogative is wide, it is not unlimited. For example, the monarch does not have the prerogative to impose and collect new taxes; such action requires the authorization of a law.
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It is the power of the Crown through the intervention of the Governor General, who is responsible for the appointment of a new Prime Minister. By constitutional (unwritten) convention, he must choose the person who is most likely to retain the support of a majority in the House of Commons: usually the leader of the majority party in the House. If no party has a majority, two or more groups can form a coalition, whereby the coalition's designated leader is appointed prime minister.
The Crown also appoints other personalities, often on the recommendation of the prime minister. This is the case of lieutenant-governors, members of the King's Privy Council for Canada, senators, the president of the Senate, judges of the Supreme Court, judges of the superior courts, etc. All these nominations are exercised after the Constitutional Law of 1867, by the Governor General.
The sovereign also has other rights, particularly when it comes to international treaties, foreign policy, war or peace (the sovereign is the head of the country's armies).
The Governor General, on behalf of the King, also accredits Canadian high commissioners and ambassadors, and receives diplomats from foreign states.
All Canadian passports are issued in the name of His Majesty The King. We can read on the back cover of the Canadian passport: « The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada, on behalf of His Majesty The King, requests the Authorities concerned to grant free passage to the holder of this passport, as well as the help and assistance protection you may need.»
In Canada, the main public inquiries are called "Royal Commissions", and are created by the Cabinet, on behalf of the monarch, by royal mandate.
The sovereign is one of the three components of the Parliament of Canada; the others are the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Only he or his representative have the right to dissolve Parliament, which will lead to general elections and the creation of a new legislature. The new parliamentary session is marked by the opening of Parliament, during which the monarch or governor-general reads the Speech from the Throne in the House of Lords, outlining what the government intends to do, on behalf of the monarch, during the parliamentary session.
All laws must receive royal assent, the act by which the monarch or his representative approves legislation adopted by Parliament. Theoretically, the sovereign has a reserve right over each of the laws. However, constitutional uses ensure that the set of laws voted by parliament is automatically sanctioned by the sovereign.
Sovereigns, nowadays, respect the decisions made by the parliament, which is democratically elected, and use only in very rare cases its right of prerogative as well as its exceptional powers.
Legislative role
All Canadian laws have been ratified by the sovereign or his representative and bear his signature. Thus, all federal laws begin with the expression "Her Majesty, in the opinion and with the consent of the Senate and the House of Commons of Canada, decree [...]" The signature of the sovereign or his representative of a law, whether federal or provincial, is called Royal Assent ("Royal Assent"). This sanction is needed for a law to be effective, and it is usually the governor-general who signs federal laws and the lieutenant governor the provincial laws. All laws must also bear The Great Seal of Canada or the Seal of the respective provinces. The governor-general may reserve for the monarch the right to ratify a law, according to the will of this to allow him to make a personal decision regarding the law. Lieutenant Governors can also use this power to allow the Governor General to make a decision, or, if he wishes, to pass it on to the Monarch. The monarch has the power to reject a law, within the period prescribed by the Canadian constitution. Recently, certain activists demanded that the then Queen Elizabeth II reject the C-38 law that had been approved by Parliament. However, Beverley McLachlin, C.P., in her capacity as Deputy Governor General, signed the Act on behalf of the Queen of Canada.
The sovereign is recognized as the "source of justice" and is responsible for bringing justice to all his subjects, however, the monarch does not personally interfere in a court case. Thus, judicial functions are executed in his name. Common law holds that the sovereign "can do no wrong"; the monarch cannot be prosecuted in his own Courts for criminal offences, it is what is called Sovereign Immunity or Crown Immunity. Civil lawsuits against the government are authorized, however lawsuits against the monarch as a person are not allowed. In cases of international proceedings, as sovereign and by certain principles established by international law the King of Canada cannot sit in foreign courts without his own consent.
The most exceptional power possessed by the monarch is surely the royal prerogative of clemency. This power consists of pardoning an individual who has committed a violation of the criminal code or the Canadian civil code. This prerogative is used in exceptional cases on behalf of the King of Canada by the Governor General or the Governor-in-Council on the recommendation of the Minister of Public Safety or another Minister. This power is comparable to a presidential pardon. Forgiveness can be granted before, during, or after an offense. There are three types of clemency:
- Absolute forgiveness
- Conditional pardon
- Payment of a fine in exchange for acquittal
In addition, the monarch also serves as a symbol for the legitimacy of the Courts of Justice, and for legal authorities. An image of the King or the Coat of Arms of Canada always dominates Canadian courts. In Canada, the legal personality of the state is referred to as "His Majesty the King in Right of Canada" (in English: His Majesty the King in Right of Canada) the same than for provinces and territories.
Symbols
Most of the royal symbols of Canada are identical to those used in the United Kingdom, and were imported during the colonization of Canada by the British. When Canada gained its independence, various symbols that are its own have been added to certain symbols of the Crown.
The monarchy is currently symbolized by images of the sovereign on each of the coins as well as on the $20 bills. We often find the king's portrait on public buildings. Canadian decorations, for the most part, have an emblem of the crown, be it the medal of the Order of Canada, the Order of Military Merit, etc. We also find symbols of the monarchy on the Canadian coat of arms as well as on that of each of the provinces.
Certain special days in the year are also set aside to honor the sovereign, most notably the Queen's Feast in honor of Queen Victoria's reign. The Canadian Parliament proclaimed May 24 as a public holiday in 1901. In our days, the Monday preceding May 25 is the sovereign's feast day.
A very important symbol is the King's message on the occasion of the new year. This message is heard each year by millions of Canadians across the country. In 2007, the Queen, thanks to the Royal Channel, broadcast her wishes for the new year through YouTube, a first for the monarchy. She was also the first sovereign to be able to convey her allegiance oath on the occasion of 81. er anniversary of her thanks to television broadcasting.
There are also hundreds of places named for Canadian monarchs and members of the royal family throughout Canada. No individual has been honored more than Queen Victoria in the names of Canada's public buildings, streets, and public places.
Book of honor and official portrait of Queen Victoria in a federal building in Ottawa
Canadian Royal Standard
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Titles
In Canada, the official titles of the king are:
Charles the Third, by the grace of God, King of the United Kingdom, of Canada and of its other kingdoms and territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith (in French: Charles trois, par la grâce de Dieu, Roi du Royaume-Uni, du Canada et de ses autres royaumes et territoires, Chef du Commonwealth, Défenseur de la Foi, in English: Charles III, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and His other Realms and Territories King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith).
These titles denote the sovereign's role as King of Canada specifically, and the shared aspect of the Crown across all realms, and mention Canada separately from other countries.
Although the king's Canadian titles include the phrase 'Defender of the Faith', neither the king nor any of his governors-general or lieutenant-governors have a religious role in Canada.
Succession
The succession of the Canadian Crown is in accordance with the British succession, that is, it is the same that governs the United Kingdom and Canada at the same time.
The Canadian Royal Family
The Royal Family is a group of people closely tied to the monarch of Canada; is a non-resident Royal Family, its members habitually living in the United Kingdom. Some members lived in Canada for extended periods in their capacity as viceroy, such as Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone. Members of the Royal Family perform ceremonial and social functions but, except for the monarch, none have a role in government affairs.. They all bear the title of "Royal Highness", and the title of "His Majesty of him" is attributed only to the monarch.
The concept of the Canadian Royal Family appeared from the Westminster Charter of 1931. The first to use this term was Queen Elizabeth II during the opening speech of the first legislature of the territory of Nunavut: «I am proud to be the first member of the Canadian Royal Family to be greeted in Canada's newest territory.” "). Instead, Canadian media consistently use the term "British Royal Family".
Members of the Royal Family have the right in the status of subjects of the Canadian monarch, they are entitled to Canadian consular assistance and the protection of the armed forces of the Queen of Canada when they are away of the commonwealth. However, its members are not entitled to the title of Canadian citizen. This created quite a mess in certain situations. For example: when in a matter of honors and decorations, the queen-mother was entitled to the title of honorary member of the Order of Canada but was not entitled to the decorations of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Unlike the UK, in Canada the sovereign is the only member of the Royal Family who has a statutory title. All other members of the family hold courtesy titles, granted by royal patent in the United Kingdom.
Finances
Contrary to popular belief, Canadians do not pay any taxes or royalties to their monarch, either for the sovereign's personal income or for the upkeep of royal residences outside of Canada. The only time the King uses Canadian money is when he is on Canadian soil—on an official visit—or when he is acting as King of Canada abroad. This also applies to all members of the British royal family.
Canadians bear the costs attached to institutions such as the Governor General and Lieutenant Governors who act on behalf of the Canadian Crown during ceremonies, trips, etc.
Provincial and federal records of spending attached to the Crown are preserved, but no official statement is recorded by the government on the cost of the monarchy to Canadians. However, every three years, the "Royal League of Canada" issues a study, based on various federal and provincial budgets, expenditures, and assessments, which traces the main lines of the annual cost of operating the Crown. The 2005 study showed that the institution cost Canadians $49 million in 2004, or $1.54 per taxpayer. Some anti-monarchists issue reports of the same kind with a much higher end result.
Residences
The official residence of the Canadian monarch is Rideau Hall, located at 1 Sussex Promenade in the city of Ottawa since 1867. It is also the working residence of the Governor General. Rideau Hall is the venue for most inauguration ceremonies, inaugurations, banquets, and other official events. It is where foreign dignitaries are received and can also reside there during state visits. There is also another official residence which is The Citadel in Quebec City which is also the vacation residence of the Governor General. This place, in addition to housing the second official residence of the Canadian monarch, is an active military base.
The provinces of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island also have official residences, and are currently used by their respective lieutenant governors.
The Crown and the Armed Forces
The Crown retains a prominent place among the Canadian Armed Forces. The Queen holds the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Forces under section 15 of the Constitution Act 1867. However, the Governor-General of Canada, on behalf of the Sovereign, may exercise this role pursuant to the 1947 royal patent of the King George VI. The sovereign also holds the position of "Honorary Commissioner" of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The unfailing symbol that the sovereign occupies an important position and role within the Armed Forces is reflected in the fact that all military vessels in Canada carry the prefix "Canadian ship of Her Majesty" or "His Majesty's Canadian Ship"(HMCS) and all members of the Canadian Forces take an oath to the King as well as to his successor. Various members of the Royal Family hold the title of "Colonel-in-Chief" of some Canadian regiments. Thus, many of them presided over military ceremonies, including the troop review. Every time a member of the Royal Family is passing through the city of Ottawa, they go to lay a wreath at the national war memorial, where it is The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Queen Elizabeth II always took an active part in commemoration ceremonies for ex-combatants, in particular inaugurating the Vimy Memorial in 2007 and wanted to pay tribute to the six Canadians who died a few days before the ceremony during the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. He also participates every year in the "Memory Day".
- List of Canadian Military Organizations with Royal Sponsorship