Monarchy of Canada

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The Arms of Her Majesty in Right of Canada, proclaimed by King George V, November 21, 1921.

The Canadian Monarchy is a shared monarchy. This article describes the Monarchy from the perspective of Canada. In the other Commonwealth Realms, the constitutional role of the Monarchy is similar, but the historical and cultural significance may differ. For information on the Monarchy in the other Realms, see Other Realms.

Canada is a constitutional monarchy and a Commonwealth Realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as its reigning monarch, since February 6, 1952. As such she is Canada's head of state and officially called Queen of Canada.

Most of the Queen's political powers in Canada are exercised by the Governor General, though she does hold several powers that are hers alone. The Governor General is sometimes referred to as Canada's de facto head of state.

There are several other members of the Canadian Royal Family besides those aforementioned, including the Queen's other children and cousins.

Constitutional monarchy in Canada

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, wearing the Sovereign's insignia of the Order of Canada and the Order of Military Merit

International and domestic role

One of the most complicated features of the Canadian Monarchy is that it is a shared monarchy.

Fifty-three states are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Sixteen of these countries are specifically Commonwealth Realms who recognize, individually, the same person as their Monarch and Head of State; Canada is one of these. Despite sharing the same person as their respective national monarch, each of the Commonwealth Realms — including Canada — is sovereign and independent of the others.

See also: Personal union

Development of shared monarchy

The Balfour Declaration of 1926 provided the dominions the right to be considered equal to Britain, rather than subordinate; an agreement that had the result of, in theory, a shared Crown that operates independently in each Realm rather than a unitary British Crown under which all the dominions were secondary. The Monarchy thus ceased to be an exclusively British institution, although it has often been called "British" since this time (in both legal and common language) for reasons historical, legal, and of convenience.

The Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act, 1927 was the first indication of this shift in law, further elaborated in the Statute of Westminster, 1931.

Under the Statute of Westminster, Canada has a common monarchy with Britain and the other Commonwealth Realms, and though laws governing the line of succession to the Canadian throne lie within the control of the Canadian Parliament, Canada cannot change the rules of succession without the unanimous consent of the other realms, unless explicitly leaving the shared monarchy relationship by means of a constitutional amendment. This situation applies symmetrically in all the other Realms, including the UK. These concepts were reasserted by Justice Rouleau in a 2003 court ruling in which he wrote that "Union under the British Crown together with other Commonwealth countries [is a] constitutional principle." (Note: here "British Crown" is the traditional reference to the Crown shared amongst the Realms, not the Crown in Right of the UK.)

On all matters of the Canadian State, the Monarch is advised solely by Canadian federal and provincial ministers. Effective with the Constitution Act, 1982, no British or other Realm government can advise the Monarch on any matters pertinent to Canada.

Further information: Queen's Privy Council for Canada

"Queen Elizabeth II" is the current monarch's conventional title for all her Commonwealth Realms, but is generally addressed as "Queen of Canada" when she is actually present in Canada or when she otherwise performs duties relevant to Canada abroad, on the advice of her Canadian ministers. Some examples are conferring Canadian honours while in the United Kingdom or participating in the Canadian World War II Memorial Ceremonies in France.

In addition to the Queen's role in each of her Realms, the Canadian Monarch is also the nominal Head of the Commonwealth. Though this title does not imply any political power over member nations, and does not automatically belong to the monarch, only the shared monarch of the Commonwealth Realms has ever held this title.

Finance

Contrary to common misconception, Canadians do not pay any monies to the Queen, either for personal income or to support the Royal residences outside of Canada. Only when the Queen is in Canada, or acting abroad as Queen of Canada, does any Canadian government support her in the performance of her duties. This rule applies equally to other members of the Royal Family..

Provincial and federal records of expenditures associated with the Crown are kept, but no official report on the cost of the monarchy to Canadians is compiled. However, every three years the Monarchist League of Canada issues a survey, based on various federal and provincial government budgets, expenditures and estimates, that outlines a yearly cost for the functioning of the Crown. The 2005 survey found that the institution cost Canadians roughly $49 million in 2004. Previous surveys found that the overall cost of the Canadian Crown was $22 million in 1999 and $34 million in 2002. (This does not take into account the inflation of the Canadian Dollar over these years).

Usually the Queen's Canadian governments pay only for the costs associated with the Governor General and Lieutenant Governors in their exercising of the powers of the Crown on behalf of the Queen, including travel, security, residences, offices, ceremonial occasions, etc.

Constitutional role

Canada's constitution is made up of a variety of statutes and conventions that are either British or Canadian in origin, which gives Canada a similar parliamentary system of government as the other Commonwealth Realms.

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Elizabeth II reads the Throne Speech in a joint session of the Canadian Parliament, 1977, accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

All powers of State are constitutionally reposed in the Monarch, who is represented at the federal level by the Governor General of Canada and at the provincial level by Lieutenant-Governors. The Governor General is appointed by the Monarch upon the advice of the Prime Minister of Canada. The ten Lieutenant-Governors are appointed by the Governor General, in the name of the Monarch, upon the advice of the Prime Minister of Canada, in consultation with the relevant provincial premier, though the Monarch is informed of the Prime Minister's decision before the Governor General gives Assent.

Further information: Governor General of Canada: Governmental role

Duties

Most of the Queen's domestic duties are performed by the Governor General at the national level and the Lieutenant-Governors at the provincial level.

As in the UK, the Monarch's role, and thereby the vice-regal's role, is almost entirely symbolic and cultural, acting as a symbol of the legal authority under which all governments operate, and the powers that are constitutionally hers are exercised wholly upon the advice of the elected government. Since the death of Queen Anne in 1714, the last monarch to head the British cabinet (when almost all of Canada was still French colonial territory), that the monarch "reigns" but does not "rule". In Canada, this has been true since the Treaty of Paris (1763) ended the reign of Canada's last absolute monarch, King Louis XV of France.

In exceptional circumstances, however, the Monarch or vice-regal has acted against such advice based upon his or her reserve powers — as when Governor General Julian Byng refused a request by Prime Minister William Mackenzie King for a dissolution of Parliament and call for new elections. Also, Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta, John C. Bowen, in 1937 refused to grant Royal Assent to three bills passed by William Aberhart's Social Credit government on the grounds that they were unconstitutional, and Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan Frank Lindsay Bastedo refused Royal Assent to a bill in 1961.

Further information: King-Byng Affair

There are also a few duties which must be specifically performed by, or bills that require assent by the Queen. These include: signing the appointment papers of Governors General, the confirmation of awards of Canadian honours by the Governor General, and approving any change in the title of the Queen as Queen of Canada. On occasion the Monarch must personally act directly in partisan affairs. For example, this occurred when Prime Minister Brian Mulroney advised Queen Elizabeth II to expand the number of Senate seats to assure passage of the GST. The Queen followed his advice, and as such, Mulroney became accountable for that advice.

It is also possible that if the Governor General decided to go against the Prime Minister's or the government's advice, the Prime Minister could appeal directly to the Monarch, or even recommend that the Monarch dismiss the Governor General.

Provinces

Main article: Monarchy in the Canadian provinces

Across the country the Canadian Crown is unitary. Under this system the headship of state is not a part of either the federal or provincial jurisdictions. The Queen reigns impartially over the country as a whole; meaning the sovereignty of the provinces is passed on not by the Governor General or the Canadian Parliament, but through the Crown itself. This means that the Crown is "divided" into eleven legal jurisdictions; into eleven "crowns" - one federal and ten provincial.

A Lieutenant Governor serves as the Queen's representative in each province, carrying out all the Monarch's constitutional and ceremonial duties of state on her behalf.

The Commissioners of Canada's territories of Nunavut, Yukon, and Northwest Territories are appointed by the Governor-in-Council, at the recommendation of the federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. But as the territories are not sovereign entities, the commissioners are not representatives of the Sovereign. They receive instruction from the said Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

Further information: Lieutenant-Governor (Canada)

Further information: Monarchy in British Columbia, Monarchy in Alberta, Monarchy in Saskatchewan, Monarchy in Manitoba, Monarchy in Ontario, Monarchy in Quebec, Monarchy in New Brunswick, Monarchy in Nova Scotia, Monarchy in Prince Edward Island, Monarchy in Newfoundland and Labrador

Title

Main article: Style of the Canadian Sovereign

In Canada, the Queen's official title in English is: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.

In French, the Queen's title is: Elizabeth Deux, par la grâce de Dieu, Reine du Royaume-Uni, du Canada et de ses autres royaumes et territoires, Chef du Commonwealth, Défenseur de la Foi.

This style reflects Canada's status as an independent monarchy as it mentions Canada separately from the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth Realms, to highlight the Monarch's role specifically as Queen of Canada, as well as the shared aspect of the Crown throughout the Realms.

Although the Queen's Canadian titles include "Defender of the Faith / Défenseur de la Foi," neither the Queen, not any of the Governors has any religious role in Canada; there have been no established churches in Canada since before confederation. This is one of the key differences from the Queen's role in the United Kingdom where she is Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

Further information: List of titles and honours of Queen Elizabeth II

Succession

Succession to the throne is by male-preference primogeniture, and governed by the provisions of the Act of Settlement, as well as the English Bill of Rights. These documents, though originally passed by the Parliament of England, are now part of Canadian constitutional law, under control of the Canadian parliament only.

This legislation lays out the rules that the Monarch cannot be a Roman Catholic, nor married to one, and must be in communion with the Church of England upon ascending the throne. This has led to a legal challenge (see O'Donohue v. Her Majesty the Queen). As Canada's laws governing succession are currently identical to those of the United Kingdom (by the Statute of Westminster) see Succession to the British Throne for more information.

The heir apparent is Elizabeth II's eldest son, Charles, who has no official title in Canada, but is accorded his UK title, Prince of Wales, as a courtesy title. The Queen's Privy Council for Canada is expected to proclaim him King of Canada upon his accession to the Throne upon the demise of the Crown.

Legal role

All laws in Canada are enacted with the sovereign's, or the vice-regal's signature, though there is some debate over whether the monarch is constitutionally allowed to personally grant Royal Assent to provincial bills. Thus, all bills begin with the phrase "Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows." The granting of a signature to a bill is known as Royal Assent; it and proclamation are required for all acts of Parliament and of the provincial legislatures, usually granted or withheld by the Governor General or Lieutenant-Governor, with the Great Seal of Canada, or the appropriate provincial seal. The Vice-Regals may reserve a bill for the Monarch's pleasure, that is to say, allow the Monarch to make a personal decision on the bill. A Lieutenant-Governor of a province may similarly defer to the Governor General (who may in turn defer to the Monarch). The Monarch has the power to disallow a bill (within a time limit specified by the constitution). Recently activists opposed to Bill C-38 lobbied Queen Elizabeth II to disallow the legislation after it was passed by parliament. However it received Royal Assent from The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, Deputy of the Governor General on July 20, 2005. Territorial legislatures, unlike their provincial counterparts, are subject to the oversight of the Government of Canada..

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In the Supreme Court of Canada is displayed the Royal Arms of Canada

The Sovereign is deemed the "fount of justice," and is responsible for rendering justice for all subjects. The Sovereign does not personally rule in judicial cases; instead, judicial functions are performed in his or her name. The common law holds that the Sovereign "can do no wrong"; the monarch cannot be prosecuted in his or her own courts for criminal offences. Civil lawsuits against the Crown in its public capacity (that is, lawsuits against the government) are permitted; however, lawsuits against the Monarch personally are not cognizable. The Sovereign, and by extension the Governor General, also exercises the "prerogative of mercy," and may pardon offences against the Crown. Pardons may be awarded before, during, or after a trial.

In Canada the legal personality of the State is referred to as "Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada", and likewise for the provinces and territories (i.e., "in Right of Ontario," etc.). For example, if a lawsuit is filed against the federal government, the respondent is formally described as Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. The monarch as an individual takes no more role in such an affair than in any other business of government. For example, a case in which a party sues both a province and the federal government, the respondents would formally be called Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Saskatchewan and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. In this capacity, all Crown copyright is held by the Queen, either in Right of Canada or a relevant province.

In addition, the Monarch also serves as a symbol of the legitimacy of Courts of Justice, and of their judicial authority. An image of the Queen or the Arms of Her Majesty in Right of Canada is always displayed in Canadian courtrooms, except in the province of British Columbia where the Arms of Her Majesty in Right of the United Kingdom are displayed as a symbol of its judiciary. Itinerant judges will display an image of the Queen and the Canadian flag when holding a session away from established courtrooms. Such situations occur in parts of Canada where the stakeholders in a given court case are too isolated geographically to be able to travel for regular proceedings.

Further information: The Crown

Cultural role

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The Victoria Cross is the highest decoration in the Canadian honours system. Its motto "For Valour" was adopted on the recommendation of Queen Victoria

Representation of the State

At one time the Monarchy was considered a purely British institution, when most Canadians still continued to be both legally, and by personal view, British subjects. However, paralleling the changes in constitutional law, and the evolution of Canadian nationalism, the cultural role of the Monarchy in Canada altered.

The federal and provincial governments now recognize and promote the Queen's role as Monarch of Canada as separate to her position as Queen of the United Kingdom. Today the Sovereign is regarded as the personification of the State, and is the "personal symbol of allegiance, unity and authority for all Canadians."

The dedication of the National War Memorial in Ottawa by King George VI, as the personification of the state, and Queen Elizabeth, 1939.

Elizabeth II stated in 1973:

"But it is as Queen of Canada that I am here, Queen of Canada and of all Canadians, not just of one or two ancestral strains. I want the Crown to be seen as a symbol of national sovereignty belonging to all. It is not only a link between Commonwealth nations, but between Canadian citizens of every national origin and ancestry."

The oath of allegiance to Canada, sworn by new citizens, the Canadian Forces, police officers, and parliamentarians, is an oath of allegiance to the monarch as sovereign of Canada, and to his/her heirs and successors according to law. The relationship between the Oath taker and the Monarch is a complex one with roots reaching back to historical periods when a monarch ruled and accepted an Oath of fealty. Modern Oaths are still reciprocal, but now the Oath taker places their allegiance to the continuing State, its laws, etc., as embodied by the Monarch. As the legal personality of the State, the Monarch has obligations to the Oath taker. The Monarch's acceptance of her responsibilities to her subjects is symbolized by the Coronation Oath, where he or she promises "to govern the Peoples of... Canada... according to their respective laws and customs."

From time to time members of the Royal Family will also represent Canada abroad. The first occasion of this was when Edward VIII dedicated the Vimy Memorial in July, 1936, one of his few duties performed during his short reign. In 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the United States as King and Queen of Canada, accompanied by Prime Minister Mackenzie King, as opposed to a British minister. As well, in 1959 the Queen undertook a state visit to the United States as Queen of Canada, hosting the return dinner for then-US President Dwight D. Eisenhower at the Canadian embassy in Washington.

The Queen, Prince Charles, and the Princess Royal have also participated in Canadian ceremonies for the anniversary of D-Day in France, most recently in 2004, as well as Canadian events in the UK, such as when The Queen dedicated the Canadian War Memorial in Green Park, London, in 1996; opened Canada House; or when a reception is held for Canadians at Buckingham Palace.

The Canadian Crown continues as a key element of our parliamentary democracy and an enduring symbol that represents all generations of Canadians and the best that is our country.

— Department of Canadian Heritage, 2005

In Canada major public inquiries are called Royal Commissions, and are created by the Cabinet on behalf of the Monarch through a Royal Warrant.

Symbols

The Queen's Personal Canadian Flag

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A 2006 Canadian silver dollar displaying the Victoria Cross and Queen of Canada, Elizabeth II.

Main article: Canadian royal symbols

Despite the removal or replacement of certain monarchical symbols as national symbols through the 1970s and 1980s, the Crown remains a visible part of the everyday lives of Canadians. What were formerly purely British symbols became symbols of the Monarch, or loyalty thereto.

The Monarchy is presently symbolised through images of the Sovereign on currency and in portraits in public buildings; in songs, toasts and salutes; on Canadian decorations and honours; on provincial and national Coats of Arms. Certain key days are also reserved to celebrate the monarchy, notably Victoria Day, the holiday for celebrating the Sovereign's birthday, and the day of the Royal Christmas Message, broadcast to the Commonwealth of Nations since 1932.

There are also hundreds of places named for Canadian monarchs and members of the Royal Family all across Canada. No individual has been more honoured than Queen Victoria in the names of Canada's public buildings, streets, populated places and physical features.

Further information: National symbols of Canada

Royal presence

For over 200 years members of the Royal Family have visited or lived in Canada. Though all of the Royal Family currently lives outside of the country, members are still regular visitors, enough so that on occasion royal visits to Canada are also referred to by monarchists as "Royal Homecomings." These events are often marked with a variety of ceremonies, the granting of honours and general celebrations, even though these events are not always official holidays.

The Queen regularly undertakes tours of Canada to celebrate Canadian culture, milestone anniversaries, military remembrances, and the like. Other Royals will perform the same tasks in the Queen's place, from time to time, usually on a less grand scale or for events of a lesser importance. These tours are at the invitation of, organized, and paid for by the Canadian government, provincial government, or a combination of both; hence, they are called "official tours" or "official visits."

Further information: Air transport of the Royal Family and executive of Canada

History

Main article: History of monarchy in Canada

Francis I of France; established colonies in Acadia and Canada, 1534

The first French and British colonizers of Canada interpreted the hereditary nature of some indigenous North American chieftainships as a form of monarchy, often referring to these leaders as kings and their lands as kingdoms. There is also evidence that the aboriginals had an understanding of monarchy, most notably in the legend of the Kingdom of Saguenay, and tales of "wealthy kingdoms in the north" told by Iroquoians to Jacques Cartier in 1534.

Canada has been the territory of a monarchy, or a monarchy in its own right, since the establishment of New France. Territory of the French Crown was merged with the North American colonies under the British Crown with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. In 1867, Canada became a self-governing Dominion under the British Crown (originally intended to be named the Kingdom of Canada), and, from that date to the patriation of the Canadian constitution in 1982, Canada developed into a kingdom in its own right. Thus, kings and queens reigning over Canada have included the monarchs of France (from Francis I in 1534 to Louis XV in 1763), those of the UK (from Anne of Great Britain in 1713 to King George VI in 1952), to Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Canada today.

Canada's emergence as a sovereign constitutional monarchy, with a Crown separate to that of the United Kingdom, was demonstrated in the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936; when Canada had to pass its own Succession to the Throne Act, that effected changes to the rules of succession in Canada so that they matched those within the other Realms of the British Empire. A few years later Canada's new status was again demonstrated when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth traveled from Canada into the United States as King and Queen of Canada. The Constitution Act of 1982 entrenched the monarchy in Canada. Any change to the position of the monarch or the monarch's representatives in Canada now requires the consent of the Senate, the House of Commons, and the legislative assemblies of all the provinces.

Members of the Royal Family have been present in Canada since the late 1700s, either on military manoeuvres, for official tours, or as governors; various members of the Royal Family have served as the vice-regal representative of the British, and later Canadian monarch. The present Queen has been in Canada more than any other monarch before her, having toured the country more than 22 times, being present for events such as the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway, the commemoration of the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences, Canada's centennial, the Montreal Expo, her Proclamation of the Constitution Act 1982, her Silver and Golden Jubilees, and to mark the anniversaries of the entry of many provinces and territories into confederation.

Further information: Royal visits to Canada

Through the 1960s and 1970s, the rise of Quebec nationalism and changes in Canadian identity created an atmosphere where the purpose and role of the Canadian Monarchy came into question. Some references to the Monarch and the Monarchy were slowly removed from the public eye, and moves were made by the government to constitutionally alter the Monarchy's place and role in Canada. The premiers of the provinces reacted strongly against these proposals.

In 1999, it was revealed that the federal government was again toying with the idea of changing Canada to a republic. When this information was leaked to the media and public, there was strong negative reaction, and even denial by the Prime Minister. A survey of the provincial premiers at the time showed only one in favour of such a move.

The Crown and the First Nations

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Her Majesty the Queen of Canada presents a tablet of Balmoral granite with the ciphers of both herself and her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, at the First Nations University of Canada, May 17, 2005.

Main article: The Canadian Crown and First Nations, Inuit and Métis

The Canadian Crown has a long relationship with the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples of Canada.

As with the Māori and the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand, Canada's First Nations view their treaties as being agreements directly between them and the Crown, not with the ever-changing government of Canada. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 remains an important document, mentioned in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, outlining the Canadian Crown's responsibility to protect First Nations' territories.

Over the centuries there have been literal and symbolic gestures to demonstrate the "nation-to-nation" relationship, from the commemoration by Queen Anne of the "Four Mohawk Kings" in 1710, to Queen Elizabeth II donating a piece of Balmoral granite engraved with the ciphers of Queen Victoria and herself to the First Nations University of Canada in 2005.

The Crown and the Canadian Forces

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HRH Sophie, The Countess of Wessex, speaks with soldiers of The Lincoln and Welland Regiment as their Colonel-in-Chief, June, 2005

Main article: The Canadian Crown and the Canadian Forces

The Crown holds a prominent place within the Canadian Forces. The Queen is the Commander-in-Chief of the entire Forces, though the Governor General holds this title and exercises the duties on behalf of the Sovereign. The Queen is also the Honorary Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The Sovereign's position and role in the military is reflected by Canadian naval vessels bearing the prefix Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) (subsequently His Majesty's Canadian Ship during the reign of a king), and all members of the armed forces must swear allegiance to the Queen and her heirs and successors. Members of the Royal Family are also Colonel-in-Chief of many Canadian regiments.

Further information: List of Canadian Organizations with royal patronage — Military

Members of the Canadian Royal Family have presided over many military ceremonies both abroad and at home, including Trooping the Colours, inspections of the troops, and anniversaries of key battles; whenever the Sovereign or a member of her family is in Ottawa, they lay a wreath at the National War Memorial.

Canadian Royal Family

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The Canadian Royal Family gathers in Lac-Brome, Quebec, 1976 (left to right: the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Anne (now Princess Royal), Mark Phillips, Prince Edward (now Earl of Wessex), the Queen, Prince Andrew (now Duke of York) and the Prince of Wales)

Main article: Canadian Royal Family

The Canadian Royal Family is a group of people closely related to the Canadian Monarch; it is a non-resident royal family, as those who comprise the group live in the United Kingdom. Members of the Royal Family in the direct line of succession owe allegiance to the Sovereign in right of Canada. As such, they are subjects of the Canadian Sovereign, although not strictly Canadian citizens, and thus, though they do not have an automatic right of abode in Canada, they are entitled to Canadian consular assistance and to the protection of the Queen's Armed Forces of Canada when they are outside of the Commonwealth Realms.

Apart from Canada, the Queen and other members of the Royal Family regularly perform public duties in the other fifteen nations of the Commonwealth in which the Queen is Head of State. As the Crown within these countries is a legally separate entity from the Canadian Crown, it is funded in these countries individually, through the ordinary legislative budgeting process.

Organizations with royal association

Organizations under Royal Charter

Main article: Royal Charter

A Royal Charter is granted by the Monarch on the advice of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada thich creates or gives special status to an incorporated body. This is an exercise of the Royal Prerogative, and, in Canada, there are hundreds of organizations under Royal Charters. Such organisations include charities, businesses, colleges, universities, and cities. Today, it is mostly charities and professional institutions who receive Royal Charters.

Examples of organizations under Royal Charter are Hudson's Bay Company, founded by Royal Charter issued by King Charles II in 1670; Saint John, New Brunswick, receiving its charter in 1786 from King George III; and McGill University, which received a Royal Charter from King George IV in 1821.

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The Queen's consort Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh speaks with UCC First Football team members at the Upper Canada College's 150th anniversary celebrations, 1979

Canadian Organizations with Royal Patronage

Until modern industrial times, all development of the Sciences and the Arts were under the direct control of the Monarch, exercised by the foundation of colleges that today form the basis of modern Universities. The endowments to provide for these colleges were provided by the Crown to further education in both ecclesiastical and secular matters.

As time progressed, the educated members of these organisations formed into groups to lecture, demonstrate and debate their various subjects. These groups either sought Royal Patronage or were created as memorials for the predecessors of the reigning monarch. Other colleges and foundations have been endowed by the owners of the great landed estates and, in later times, by industrialists and finally modern corporate bodies. However, even in present times, relatively new organisations still seek Royal Patronage, though it is a ceremonial function wherein the royal will either volunteer their time for service or make a charitable donation. To receive Royal Patronage, an organisation must prove to be long lasting.

Further information: List of Canadian organizations with royal patronage

Awards and charities

A number of awards in Canada are issued in the name of previous or present members of the Royal Family. These include:

• The NHL's Prince of Wales Trophy, donated by and named for Edward, Prince of Wales
• The Queen's Fellowship, named for the sovereign and awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada to an outstanding Doctoral Fellow entering a programme in Canadian Studies.
• The Queen's Plate, named for Queen Victoria
• The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, in commemoration of the Queen's fifty years on the throne
• The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, in commemoration of the Queen's twenty-five years on the throne
• The Prince of Wales Stakes, named for Edward, Prince of Wales
• The Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
• The Queen Elizabeth II Cup for horse show jumping
• The Prince Andrew Cup for cross-country running
• The Duke and Duchess of York's Prize in Photography
• The Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship offered at Saint John’s-Ravenscourt School in Winnipeg
• The Prince of Wales Prize for Built Heritage, for the conservation and preservation of buildings of historic importance
• The Connaught Cup, for pistol marksmanship in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• The Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship for Ontario high school graduates
• The Prince of Wales Prize, awarded by Heritage Canada to a municipality that has shown exemplary commitment to heritage preservation

Charities and volunteer organizations have also been founded as gifts to, or in honour of some of Canada's monarchs, or members of the Royal Family. These include:

• The Victorian Order of Nurses was a gift to Queen Victoria for her Diamond Jubilee in 1897
• The Canadian Cancer Fund was set up in honour of King George V's Silver Jubilee in 1935
• The Queen Elizabeth II Fund to Aid in Research on the Diseases of Children
• The Queen Elizabeth II Trust Fund to assist young Canadians in better understanding each other's language and culture was established during Queen Elizabeth's Silber Jubilee in 1977

Debate

Main article: Debate on the monarchy in Canada

To date, there has been little national debate about ending the Monarchy in Canada, in contrast to some other Commonwealth Realms where the issue has gained a relatively higher profile. Many Canadians continue to be unaware that the Queen serves as their Head of State; a 2002 EKOS poll found that only five percent of Canadians could correctly identify Elizabeth II as Canada's Head of State (the majority believing it to be the Prime Minister).

Where debate does exist, it tends to be a largely academic one, and several books have been authored that explore the subject from a political science perspective. Neither of Canada's two main political parties, the Liberal Party of Canada or the Conservative Party of Canada, are officially in favour of abolishing the Monarchy; though the latter makes support for constitutional monarchy a founding principle in its Policy Declaration. The New Democratic Party has officially stated it is willing to "explore" the issue, but in practice the party is not actively pro-republic and largely supports the status quo. Unlike other Commonwealth Realms, Canada has never had a head of government who has been openly republican. Some politicians, having pledged allegiance to the Queen, have occasionally publicly voiced their opinion on the matter, following former-Deputy Prime Minister John Manley's 2002 statement that he was in favour of abolishing the monarchy - later stating that it was his personal opinion.

Canada has two special-interest groups representing both sides of the debate, who frequently argue the issue in the media: Monarchist League of Canada and the Citizens for a Canadian Republic.

See also

Other Realms

• Monarchy in the United Kingdom
• Monarchy in Australia
• Monarchy in New Zealand

Canada

• List of Canadian monarchs
• Governor General of Canada
• Lieutenant-Governor (Canada)
• Oath of citizenship (Canada)
• Monarchist League of Canada
• Commander-in-Chief of Canadian Forces
• Canadian honours system
• National symbols of Canada
• Canadian royal symbols

Other

• Prime Ministers of Queen Elizabeth II
• List of Commonwealth visits made by Queen Elizabeth II
• Dominion
• Commonwealth Realm
• List of monarchies
• Monarchy in the Cook Islands

External links

Official sites from the Canadian government

• Canadian government website for the Canadian Monarchy
• Canada: A Constitutional Monarchy from the Government of Canada
• 2005 Royal Tour official website
• Golden Jubilee Celebrations in Canada
• Template:PDFlink
• Writing to the Canadian Royal Family

Other external links

• Buckingham Palace website for the Canadian Monarchy
• Centrerion: Canadian Political system explained Centrerion: Canadian Politics' guide to the Canadian political system
• Maple Leaf Web: The Monarchy in Canada
• The Canadian Crown
• Learning About the Canadian Crown Website
• Film footage of Queen Elizabeth II in Canada
• Film footage of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Canada, 1939

Footnotes

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