Countries were also moving to communism en masse in the first half of last century... didn't mean it was the right answer in the end either.

This is possibly a result of history as well as how some presidential republics have shifted toward authoritarianism when one person is given too much power. Having one person with so much power in their hands can be a dangerous thing. Not saying we would head there if one day we became a republic, but on the other hand, I'm comfortable with our current set-up.

Spain re-established theirs.

There is always some flux in the world for what political systems are prevalent, so if ours is working for us, why change it? Just seems like an unnecessary change for the sake of change; it won't change who we are as a nation.

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[QUOTE=Nathan;5335930]China and Russia. No other country voluntarily moved to communism.

Only, we're not talking about placing all the power in one person's hands. We're talking about replacing the queen with a democratically elected/appointed Canadian.

Spain was responding to a very special circumstance: they were under a dictatorship for 40 years and they needed a unifying force. They chose a Spaniard, not a foreigner, and they turned him into a figurehead.

I imagine these same words were spoken during the flag debate in the early 60's "Too costly" "Why change it" "Lose our heritage" "Old one works fine"

I wonder why we went ahead and changed it? I wonder how many people regret that we did change it?

I don't see any gain to be had by re-opening the constitution for this. The amendments battle would take years to resolve.

Removing the Crown from Canada would require modifications to several parts of the Canadian Constitution; pretty significant. Since modifications require approval of the provinces, you can be certain that all parts of Canada would want additional modifications. Quebec and Alberta both have lists ready and I would assume others (Ontario/BC) do as well.

Now, if we decide to spend half a decade re-debating the constitution again for another matter then by all means slip in removal of the crown at the same time.

The thing that sort of bewilders me is reading some of the comment sections (I know I know) in the globe and comments on this forum, how many people are making comments like:

- British is what makes Canada great
- If we didn't have the monarchy we'd be no different than the states
- we should have our own born in Canada monarchy!

Really? REALLY?
We must be the only country in the world where a portion (and I bet sizable) of the population wishes we could create a monarchy in our own country.
And what's with the big inferiority complex? The monarchy is the only thing that makes us interesting/valuable? It's the only thing that makes us different than the big bad USA? It's like we're a country that's a child.

This also somewhat relates to the comments about a Globe poll regarding flying the flag.

The vast majority of commenters were against flying the flag even on Canada Day, because:
- TOO AMERICAN (flying a maple leaf on Canada Day would make us americans...)
- Fascist
- being that we're in places like Afghanistan we shouldn't be proud
- being proud in of itself is too American

and my favorite: "there shouldn't even be countries"
(of course anyone who proclaims there shouldn't even be countries, just assumes that if all borders were erased we'd all have the same freedoms we enjoy in Canada.

There's absolutely nothing to base that on and my position on a Canadian monarchy is only if Republicanism never takes hold and gets a lot of support. In other words, "settling" for a truly Canadian monarchy, but I'd ideally prefer a Republic.

I was just surprised because the RRQ protests which were supposed to make things "as unpleasant as possible", turned out to be nothing more than a minor nuisance in Montreal, and off the radar entirely in Quebec City.

A year and a half ago, when Charles and Camilla visited, they threw eggs at the soldiers standing guard at the Black Watch Armoury and forced the royals to enter through a back entrance. With that kind of precedent (as well as the kinds of protests that happened in the past), I was expecting much worse.

Trust Quebec to protest against William and Kate :rolleyes:

^the RRQ is not Quebec. The RRQ is not even one-thousandth of one percent of Quebec. The RRQ are a militant fringe group who represent only themselves.

Yes, because three dozen protesters represent all 7.9 million Quebecers. :rolleyes:

But why her more than me? Or you? Or Vid?

In French, this is known as an "argument-massue" (sledgehammer argument).

Though it has been talked about many times, Quebec doesn't really have its "own" Constitution. But it does have its own Charter of Rights (which does not supercede the Canadian one, though.)

I do have a bit of a dog in this hunt because I have taken an oath to the QUEEN of Canada as an officer in Her Majesty's Navy.
This is the oath I gave so many years ago;
, _________, do swear (solemnly declare) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, her heirs and successors according to law. SO HELP ME GOD (delete if declaration)
(If you are one of them damn heretics ;) you can insert this (solemnly declare) and not say So Help Me God if you so wish)

United States Armed Forces oat:
I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.[1]

Anyway all this aside, we are a constitutional monarchy but we can become a republic if we want to. But do you really think that a nation who can barely get 50% of its population to even vote would want to attempt the massive turmoil that this would involve? Unless the Queen herself orders me to become Stasi-like to my fellow Canadians I highly doubt that most Canadians could be bothered.

Have a great Navy day!

I like how the US has the oath towards the law, and not some random person (or their heirs). I'd never swear unwavering allegiance to any one person. What if they go nuts and turn into Hitler?

Of course, I find the concept of a formal oath pretty silly anyway. My actions, not my words indicate my character.

Did you not see the part in the Canadian oath "according to law".

As for the oath, it re-enforces the seriousnes of the position that you are assuming and that you are entering into a contract with the people of Canada of "unlimited liability". In other words, you maybe asked to give your life in the service of your country. I think that a person's word in concert with their actions indicate their strength of character.

what you're actually swearing an oath to is the Crown. The Queen is simply a personification.

Because, as I've tried to state SEVERAL times now, if the movement for being a republic never truly goes anywhere, then I would SETTLE for a Canadian Monarchy. She has dual-citizenship and is twelfth in line to the throne, making her the most likely candidate for an independent Canadian Throne. I know of no others in the Royal Family who share dual citizenship between Canada and the United Kingdom.

If we had to settle for a monarchical institution, she would receive my support. However, I'd rather us become an independent republic than continue to rely on an increasingly outdated institution.

Rick Mercer makes an unfortunately true mockery of our Parliamentary System.

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