Why Canada should abolish the monarchy as its head of state.

Justin Ha 1009651510

POL214 TUT0101

December 13th, 2023

 The Westminster system of government is renowned for its effectiveness in promoting

responsible governance and political stability. The role of the head of state in this system,

regardless of whether they operate as a monarch or a president, is primarily to perform

ceremonial duties and is separate from that of the head of government who performs daily tasks.

Canada, as a Commonwealth member, retains the British monarch as its head of state, an issue

which has remained a highly controversial topic in view of the decades-long debate that calls for

abolishment of the Crown. Canada should retain the Westminster system while replacing the

monarch with an appointed Canadian head of state by maintaining the role of the governor

general and employ a constitutional council of eminent Canadians to appoint the head of state.

This constitutional amendment aims to enhance effective representation of Canadian citizens ,

strengthen national unity by eliminating the monarchy's historical divide between English and

French speakers, and ensure that a symbolic, apolitical figure will promote Canadian values and

interests both at home and abroad .

The proposed constitutional change of abolishing the monarchy will not entail dispensing

with the existing characteristics of Westminster parliamentary governance including having a

responsible government and parliamentary sovereignty in place as well as maintaining a clear

separation of the duties between the head of state from the head of government. This change will

ensure that the figures who represent the executive branch, including the prime minister and

cabinet, are accountable to the legislature, and that the parliament retains the ultimate

constitutional authority to enact and approve legislation (Myers, et al., 2016). Retaining these

characteristics of the Westminster system is critical as it ensures governmental stability and

effective governance since the success and adaptability of these characteristics has proven to be

instrumental in navigating challenges and preserving democratic values. This is important as

abolishing the monarchy as Canada's head of state, as well as maintaining the principles integral

to the Westminster system of government will ensure stability and state structure while

safeguarding principles that have contributed to a robust and resilient government while

upholding the interests of Canadians.

Symbolism plays an important role in the formation of a national identity, it can illustrate

a country's history and social and political traditions, the values it stands for and what its citizens

may rally around during times of celebration but also in times of hardship. In the Canadian

context, the Canadian monarchy is an integral symbol of the country's history as a former British

colony, its ties to the Commonwealth and strong adherence to the Westminster system of

government, as well as the embodiment of sovereignty and cohesion of the Canadian state.

Moreover, the role of the Canadian monarchy as being the symbolic authority of the Canadian

state is illustrated through the promulgation and administration of laws as the name of monarch

is present in all federal and provincal legal documents, with court cases being presented as R (the

Crown) vs. Defendant. (Myers, et al., 2016). The monarch holds significant ceremonial

responsibility in Canadian politics, as all government actions passed, including laws and

executive orders through their representatives, the governor general who is formally appointed

by the Monarch, and al provincal and federal government legislation is passed in their name

through royal assent, symbolizing their legitimacy as the guarantor of the Canadian

governmental system, demonstrating to political leaders the authority to govern rests elsewhere

and is only provided to them for a temporary duration. Despite being a symbol deeply rooted in

Canadian history and traditions, the monarchy does not align with the values and aspirations of

the modern, multicultural, and democratic society that Canada has evolved into today, therefore

it should be replaced with a Canadian head of state to allow for a more authentic representation
of the nation's values and aspirations. Langesse argues that “a hereditary monarchy is a shameful

symbol of aristocratic privilege, discrimination, and undemocratic pretenses'' [...] “In

civilizations that long ago accepted equality as a social cornerstone, what possible justification

could there be for even the notion of monarchy. For the idea of elevating fellow humans to the

very top of the heap for no reason other than birth?” (2013, 273). As a result of the hereditary

nature of appointment of its rulers, the monarchy does not align with the ideals and objectives of

a modern democratic and multicultural Canadian society, as it symbolizes privilege, colonialism

and aristocracy, values that are contradictory to the fundamental national ideals of egalitarianism

and democracy that Canadians adhere to since the presence of a hereditary head of state deprives

Canadian citizens the opportunity to ascend to top positions of leadership and represent their

country and its interests and uphold its values (Johnson 2018, 89). This is important as despite

the monarchy only playing a symbolic and ceremonial role in Canada’s system of government,

symbols play an important role when it comes to reinforcing a country's reputation as the

presence of the monarchy. The presence of the monarchy as being the head of state-in a liberal

democratic society where individuals' equal rights are treasured and human rights and political

liberties are protected gives the impression that the country's governmental systems run counter

to democratic values (Johnson 2018, 170). .

Furthermore, abolishing the monarchy as a symbol of the Canadian state could better

foster national unity and encourage greater social cohesion, particularly with the divide between

French and English speaking Canadians, two historically distinct socio-cultural and linguistic

groups. Estep argues that “the severing of Canada’s ties to the monarchy itself may actually

provide a greater chance of unifying all Canadians as it would bring the English and French

speaking Canadians together and possibly convince Quebec to accept and ratify the Canadian
Constitution” (1993, 242). The monarchy played a critical role in the historical oppression of

French-Canadians and the emergence of a separate identity to English speaking Candians, so it

is no surprize that the majority of Quebecers (78%) are in favor of Canada to sever its ties with

the monarchy (Yousif, 2022). These statistics are important due to the historical nature of

assimilation and the perceived injustices faced by the French in Quebec by the English

Canadians, as they sought separate rights in the realms of education, culture, and legal systems (

Mann 2019). The historical treatment and neglect of their rights under the Crown during the

colonial era prior to Canada’s confederation reinforced the sentiments of Quebecers that they

were independent from the rest of the country. Therefore, many Quebecers see the abolishment

of the monarchy as a starting point when it comes to implementing constitutional reform to

address the needs of French Canadians as the monarchy has been the symbol of the historical

dominance of English culture over French culture as well as the disenfranchisement of the rights

promised to them by the British (Smith 2010). Abolishing the monarchy would not only lead to

more national unity in Canada as this remains a major point of tension between the English and

French Canadians but it would also pave the way for a more inclusive and harmonious collective

identity which in turn could potentially foster reconciliation between the two groups, as it

addresses Quebec separatists long standing demands of removing what they view as an symbol

of historical oppression (Estep 1993, 242).

A Canadian head of state would better unite citizens, represent the country's diverse

demographics and multiculturalism, and promote the nation's interests and values, which would

allow them to understand the unique challenges and aspirations of the nation, empathizing with

citizens' needs, as the monarchy has not effectively represented Canada's social and cultural

interests. According to Smith, “the monarchy never offered Canadians the cultural cues that a
head of state is supposed to provide” (1999, 9). Indeed, as the symbolic head of state of 15

commonwealth countries, it is no surprise that the monarchy does not adequately represent

Canadian citizens and promote Canadian values and interests, as they also have to represent 14

other independent countries. (Smith 1999, 9). This is important as regardless of the system of

government, the role of a head of state is to be fully dedicated to representing the country and its

citizens, as well as promote the nation’s socio-political and cultural interests as illustated by the

fact the commonwealth countries that the monarch as head of state seldom benefit from the

presence of the monarch (Smith 1997). Another aspect of the monarch’s roles and

responsibilities is to reliably represent the country’s values and interests abroad, however, when

the monarch visits another country outside of the commonwealth, the monarch represents the

United Kingdom, as opposed to Canada (Boyce 2008, 6). This is problematic as one of the most

important aspects of a head of state's role is to reliably represent their country's interests abroad

by meeting foreign dignitaries and attending events. However, when the monarch travels abroad

to meet foreign dignitaries and attend events, they represent Britain and not Canada, making

them ineffective in representing Canadian interests, this is turn makes it difficult to ensure that

Canadian interests and concerns are represented apolitically as, the prime minister is inherently

tied to partisan politics and domestic policy when engaging with foreign leaders and

participating in international forums(Berthelsen and Langasse 2023). The Prime Minister is

encumbered by the necessity to navigate political affiliations and considerations, limiting their

ability to present an apolitical and symbolic representation of Canada's interests on the global

stage, ultimately diminishing the impact of the country's representation and diplomacy abroad.

For this reason, the necessity for an appointed Canadian head of state capable of transcending

partisan politics can help promote a more cohesive image abroad which is important in ensuring
a more effective and multifaceted representation of Canada's interests in the international

arena(Berthelsen and Langasse 2023). Having a neutral and symbolic representative, separate

from the Prime Minister's political responsibilities, can foster international collaborations and

address global challenges by providing a consistent voice that represents Canada's interests in the

global community (Berthelsen and Langasse 2023).

Since the monarch’s duties in Canada are fulfilled by the Governor General, who

effectively functions as Canada’s head of state, their role is to represent the Crown and conduct

federal constitutional duties on behalf of the monarch which includes dissolving Parliament,

swearing in a new government, and granting royal assent to bills passed by Parliament to law as

well as being obligated to exercise executive power based on the advice of the Prime Minister

and cabinet (Myers, et al, 2016). Moreover, according to (Boyce 2008, 174), recent federal

governments have elevated the status of the governor general as the de facto Canadian head of

state, despite the fact that the monarch is the legal and symbolic head of state. The fact that

federal governments have highlighted the role of the Governor General as the head of state is

important as it illustrates the Canadianization of the office as well as the diminishing role that the

monarch plays as the head of the executive branch of the Canadian system of government. In

addition to possessing the same executive powers as the monarch, according to the Canadian

Constitution, the governor general also has the ability to make decisions independent of the

monarch’s approval as their role is to make decisions on the advice of the government (Estep

1993: 225). Understanding the precise roles and responsibilities of Canada's governor-general,

who can make decisions independently without the monarch's approval and represents the

country and its interests, is crucial as it demonstrates the feasibility of replacing the monarch

with an appointed Canadian head of state by maintaining the role of governor general but
severing its ties to the monarchy, as the governor- general already carries out the same duties as

an appointed Canadian head of state. However, there are some functions of an appointed

Canadian head of state that would be different from the functions of the governor general

including the fact that they would represent the highest symbolic authority for the Canadian

state, as opposed to the monarch and the appointed head of state will now fulfill all of their roles

and responsibillities they have performed to date as the Governor General, not in the name of the

monarch, but in the name of the elected Canadian government (Smith 1997, 8). Furthermore, an

appointed Canadian head of state would have greater discretion in refusing to promulgate

legislation, since they have the absolute power to veto bills, they can postpone their signature

indefinitely, this is exemplified in the case of Barbados, which recently abolished the monarchy

for an appointed head of state (Constitution of Barbados 2021). This differs from the

governor-general's existing powers, which can veto or reserve a bill for the monarch. However,

due to constitutional conventions, no governor-general has ever vetoed a bill, as the prospect of

disallowing a bill could cause a constitutional crisis (Harland 2011).

The most efficient and apolitical way to appoint the head of state is through a

constitutional council of eminent Canadians, to ensure the head of state is politically neutral, all

prospective candidates for the head of state must renounce their party affiliations and potential

conflicts of interests in order to be eligible for nomination (Library of Parliament 2021). The use

of an advisory body is currently used to select judges for the Supreme Court and has been used in

the recent selections of governor-generals and was also a method proposed for a prospective

Australian republic (Smith 1997 7-9). The use of a constitutional council would reduce the

politicization of selecting the head of state, a notable element featured in many Westminster

parliamentary governments, as an advisory committee of members across different political

spectrum, including scholars, senators, and political leaders from all parties, would conduct the

selection of prospective candidates (Smith 1997 8-9). After consultation, including interviews

with the candidate, the committee would select potential candidates based on their qualifications

and nominate them, which would then be presented to Parliament, requiring a two-thirds

supermajority vote to be formally appointed as the head of state (Smith 1997, 7-9).

In conclusion, the monarchy is seen as incompatible with modern, multicultural, and

democratic values, as it symbolizes privilege, colonialism, and aristocracy. A Canadian head of

state would better represent the nation's values and aspirations, particularly between French and

English-speaking Canadians. This constitutional amendment aims to strengthen national unity,

improve citizen representation, and ensure a symbolic, apolitical figure advances Canadian

values and interests both domestically and internationally.

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