Canadian Monarchist News Les Nouvelles Monarchiques du Canada Spring/Printemps 2017 — No. 40 An occasional Newsletter for members and friends of The Monarchist League of Canada The Monarchist League of Canada / La Ligue Monarchiste du Canada, PO Box 1057, Lakeshore West PO, Oakville, Ontario, Canada L6K 0B2 905-855-7262 (800) 465-6925 www.monarchist.ca THE MONARCHIST LEAGUE OF CANADA – 47th ANNIVERSARY 1970-2017 CITIZENSHIP OATH CHANGE: UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES? As with the debate in CMN some years ago as to whether The Queen could open a Provincial Legislature as she can Par - liament, or the important but less conse - quential question as to whether a new Royal Yacht should be commissioned, also covered in this issue, good mon archists can disagree over whether, as proposed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and Prime Minister Trudeau, an important addition should be made to the Oath of Canadian Citizenship. Accordingly, CMN presents views on both sides of the matter. by Fidelis “I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada , Her Heirs and Successors, and mission of Canada’s suggested a mend ment January 18th of this year – contains The Governor General, with Her that I will faithfully observe the laws of bolded .) in its list of “top priorities” that Mr Excellency, the Duke & Duchess Canada , including Treaties with Indige - The Mandate Letter issued over Hussen should “Work in collabora - of Cambridge and Citizenship nous Peoples , and fulfil my duties as a Prime Minister Trudeau’s signature tion with the Minister of Indigenous Minister Jason Kenney at the Canadian citizen .” to the Minister of Immigration, and Northern Affairs to make Canadian Museum of Civilization (Current Oath of Canadian Citizenship Refugees and Citizenship, Ahmed changes to the Oath of Canadian with new Canadians who have just taken the Oath of Canadian continued on the next page with the Truth and Reconciliation Com - Hussen – who assumed the role on Citizenship, 2011. Will the Oath be changed to incorporate a reference to Treaties with Indigenous Peoples? IN THIS EDITION OF CMN – DANS CE NUMÉRO DE NMC Britannia replacement? Background & readers’ forum pp 4-6 The Prince of Wales with William and Harry and the Governor General, explores the tunnels and trenches around Vimy, Fifty Years of the while the Prime Minister joins the young Princes at the 100th anniversary commemoration on April 9th. Exceptionally, on Order of Canada pp 8-9 this occasion Charles represented The Queen, a mark of Her Majesty’s according a signal honour to this seminal event of Regency Laws in national identity. It is believed that this was the first occasion on which three members of the Canadian Royal Family Canada – Part 2 pp 10-11 attended an event overseas at the same time. continued from page 1 Citizenship to reflect the Truth and It is, of course, a capital “A” Alle - that we should be cautious of what Reconciliation’s (sic) [Committee’ s] giance to the Queen of Canada. on its face seems the proposed harm - CROWNS TO... Calls to Action.” The current Oath essentially dates less – even commendable – addition It was good to While distinct in its form from from an Act of Parliament creating to the Oath. It is one that stems receive on the 65th other Oaths, which Canadians may a distinct Canadian citizenship. from this Prime Minister’s clear, Anniversary of The take by constitutional or legislative When the Act was proclaimed in and clearly deeply-felt statement in Queen’s Reign the mandate, the number of those sub - 1947, Prime Minister MacKenzie the Ministerial Mandate letter that following Tweet scribing to the Citizenship Oath far King was first to take it. 1977 saw a “No relationship is more important from the Prime outstrips that of public officials – slight amendment, widely supported, to me and to Canada than the one Min ister’s Princi - elected and appointed – together to make clear that it was to The Queen with Indigenous Peoples. It is time pal Secretary, with members of the Armed Forces, of Canada to whom Allegiance was for a renewed, nation-to-nation re - Gerald Butts: police and similar bodies who swear sworn, not HM in her capacity as lationship with Indigenous Peoples, Queen Elizabeth II oaths such as the Oath of Allegiance, Head of the Commonwealth, nor as based on recognition of rights, re - has been Can ada’s the Privy Council Oath or forms of Mon arch of the United Kingdom or spect, co-operation, and partnership.” Monarch for 43.3% oaths in respect of a particular re - any of her other Realms. One senses that however sweeping of our country’s sponsibility. Three previous Secretaries of State the assertion, most Canadians would history. Which is Indeed Statscan figures reveal and Ministers of Citizenship over give broad if legally-untutored sup - amazing. #canada150 that no less than 6.8 million of our past decades have seen their projects port for the PM’s intentions. #SapphireJubilee fellow countrymen have tak en or to “improve” the Oath come to noth - But, as Mr Trudeau’s new neigh - On the same day in had taken on their behalf, the Citi - ing, the list beginning, rather sur - bour to the south of our border is the House of Com - zenship Oath, or will do so. They prisingly, with the late David Crom - finding out, words matter. mons, Randy Bois - form what the National Household bie, who was gob-smacked by de - The current Citizenship Oath asks sonnault, MP (Lib: Study (NHS) of 2011 calls “the First partmental officials eager to remove that we “faithfully observe the laws Edmonton Centre) Generation” of those living in Can - The Queen from the Oath, or at of Canada.” That is a cornerstone of delivered a Tribute ada but not born here, of whom least downgrade her place there in. any constitutional democracy, monar - to The Queen, 93.9% are individuals “who are, or In good company with many oth - chy or republic. It is inherent in our as follows: have ever been, immigrants to Can - ers who have been “educated” by polity, and an entirely reasonable Madam Speaker, ada.” The number can only have “civics” courses of doubtful provenance burden for citizens: we don’t have to today Canada cele - grown in recent years. Children 14 and dubious truth, these republicans like the law, “ law” encompassing brates Her Majesty and over must take the Oath at a on the Rideau may perhaps be forgiven that made by Parliament and Leg - Queen Elizabeth II’s citizenship ceremony. Those below for not under standing the truth that islative Assemblies, by judicial deci - Sapphire Jubilee and that age may choose to do so – and The Queen is the embodiment of the sion and by delegation. We are free Her Majesty’s out - those attending these moving occa - Canadian State, and thus a separate to advocate for its amend ment or standing service to sions can see that most kids not reference to Allegiance to “Canada” – repeal. But our bounden duty is to the Canadian people. babes in arms or toddlers indeed as has been proposed and doubtless obey it – or suffer the consequences. [Translation] Today we participate fully. will again be laid on the table of It thus seems both redundant are hon our ing a sov - It is thus interesting to reflect, misidentified nationalism – is both and ill-advised to add “including ereign who inspired indeed to celebrate, that no other redundant and mischievous. Treaties with Indigenous Peoples.” hope and confidence corporate act of commitment to the Apart from any other arguments, Redundant? because the Treaties in an entire popula - Canadian identity is both prescribed when we swear Allegiance to The already form part of Canadian law, tion at a very diffi - by law and so universally shared by Queen, we know precisely to whom through their very existence, through cult time during the our inhabitants: not in some mere and to what institutions we are Constitution and legislation and post-war period. Her form of words, not in our Anthem bound – precision being a mandatory through a still-emerging body of ju - Majesty’s reign has en thusiastically sung at a hockey part of law-making and law-abiding. dicial decisions, differing in reach been exemplary for game, not in a pride as to some vague “Can ada,” on the other hand, can and detail, but largely affirming what the past 65 years, the notion of nationhood, but through mean various things to different in - has often been called Aboriginal longest reign in the a solemn and legally-binding Oath. habitants: the land is one under - Title to lands and resources. history of the British What do the different formula - standable definition in a green age; Ill-advised? Is it not the Crown Crown. [ English ] Each tions of Canadian Oaths have in or perhaps the diversity of Canada’s and the Aboriginal governments visit by Her Majesty common, pace Bob Rae (converted population, diversity and its cousin which are supposed to uphold various to Canada touched to monarchism in his seniority) and inclusiveness also being mantras of obligations under Treaties? How the hearts and minds the no less genial and highly-prin - the times. What about our natural could a private citizen breach one of millions. Along cipled republican lead er Charles resources? Our Constitution and law? of them? if What precisely are “the with my fellow Roach, who died in 2014 without Our customs? And so on, per omnia laws of Canada” when disputes over Albertans, we will having seen all courts involved reject saecula saeculorum.