Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
FYI: In a nutshill: You needn't love Charles to treasure the Crown
ON Monday Prince Charles, heir to the British and Canadian thrones -- why does that last bit sound so odd? -- and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will arrive in Canada for a state visit.
If a recent poll can be believed, this will matter to almost no one except for the few members of the Monarchist League, always gung ho for king and country, and the even fewer anti-parliamentarians who would replace Canada's constitutional monarchy -- yes, surprise, this is still a constitutional monarchy -- with a watered-down version of American republicanism.
The poll indicated that more than 64 per cent of Canadians don't think about -- or even of -- Prince Charles, and that while a majority believes the monarchy has played an important part in Canada's past -- who knew that we are such historians? -- 60 per cent today think that the concept of a constitutional monarchy is outdated.
That may explain why Governor General Michaëlle Jean's repeated claims to be Canada's head of state never seemed to bother many Canadians much. Most of us probably didn't know she wasn't.
Ms. Jean has since recanted, in the best monarchical tradition. Her official website was recently revised to give the Queen her proper place and put Ms. Jean back in her role as Queen Elizabeth's vice-regal representative in Canada.
More people should care about this than seem actually to do. Republicanism is a kind of poison pill for democracy in that it eases the consolidation of power in the executive. Some democracies swallow it -- pick almost any African nation -- and others like the United States and most European nations just leave the pill sitting on the plate to be used if necessary. Parliamentary democracies, like Canada's, however, are protected from it by a genuine majesty and historical tradition. We don't have to like Prince Charles to appreciate and treasure the institution that he and Governor General Jean represent, which is the glory of Canadian democracy.
... by Tom Oleson
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 31, 2009 H2
-
WFP Hockey
Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
-
Editor's Bulletin
Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
-
Winnipeg Jets
All things NHL on our Jets landing page
-
Twitter
Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
-
News Cafe
Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
-
Facebook Fanpage
Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events
Ads by Google
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
Poll
Most Popular
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife was dead
- Juror dismissed in second-degree murder trial of Mark Stobbe
- Steinbach booms to No. 3 city in province
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife dead
- Should infants be allowed in the House of Commons?
- No comfort in trade talk: Veteran Thorburn says closely knit club well worth keeping together
- US teen gets life in prison for killing 9-year-old; called the murder "pretty enjoyable"
- Search is on for man seen leaving the scene where two Alberta Mounties were shot
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Three winning tickets sold for Friday's $50 million Lotto Max jackpot
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- Eleven people killed after truck hits van in southwestern Ontario
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- Tactical squad storms St. Vital house
- Woman sexually assaulted during noon-hour in Exchange District
- Restaurant Dubrovnik may be closed for good
- Do you smoke marijuana?
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- George Clooney's prank could end Pitt's career
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Tina Maze strips down to her sports bra to send out underwear message: 'Not your business'
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Two children, two women die in fire
- Kate Beckinsale's weight fears over Underworld catsuit
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- Fighting fire with knowledge
- Spain mourns death of Catalan painter, sculptor Antoni Tapies, top contemporary art figure
- Steinbach booms to No. 3 city in province
- Pardon application fee to quadruple later this month despite complaints
- Our 'true champion'
- Juror dismissed in second-degree murder trial of Mark Stobbe
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Original Joe's, Elephant & Castle expanding
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Northern fishing lodge destroyed by fire
- Police target drivers talking on cellphones, texting
- Obama torn by conflicting allies
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Fighting fire with knowledge
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Paddler Starkell was modern-day voyageur
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Canadian woman 'badly injured' in Mexico, local media report apparent beating
- Winnipeg mother watches as car stolen with child inside
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.