Why is Canada still a constitutional monarchy?

[Asher]

People wonder why Alberta complains about the Federal Government all the time.

No wonder Chretien doesn't campaign here, backwards logic doesn't work here.

[- Groucho -]

Ahh, the Senate. Many a day I've dreamt of being a senator. A useless functionary with no purpose who can't be got rid of because everyone is afraid you might replaced with something worse. Heaven.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Echinda
because everyone is afraid you might replaced with something worse

Now that's Canadian.

[Asher]

No wonder you guys keep electing Chretien.

[KrazyHorse]

Albertans don't seem to have the capability to see our system as the beautiful piece of artwork it is. If MC Escher had designed a government he'd have ended up with Canada.

[notyoueither]

Flip, flip, flip...

It was Lord Byng. 1926.

Byng refused to dissolve a recently elected parliament when King was caught in a scandle and lost a non-confidence motion. Byng invited Meighen to form a government. Meighen did. Meighen's government failed shortly thereafter.

King wiped the floor with Byng and Meighen in the ensuing election.

[KrazyHorse]

See, Asher? The GG did exercise his due authority on behalf of the King. It's simply that minority governments are inherently unstable, especially those formed without the aid of the largest party.

[Asher]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
See, Asher? The GG did exercise his due authority on behalf of the King. It's simply that minority governments are inherently unstable, especially those formed without the aid of the largest party.

King, not THE King.

[KrazyHorse]

Eh? He defied King and exercised the power granted him in the King's stead.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Echinda
Ahh, the Senate. Many a day I've dreamt of being a senator. A useless functionary with no purpose who can't be got rid of because everyone is afraid you might replaced with something worse. Heaven.

And you get to play those great kazoos (sp?).

[Asher]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Eh? He defied King and exercised the power granted him in the King's stead.

You don't understand. He was executing a formality that should have simply been done automatically, and he didn't want to do it at first, only after the public roared loud enough did he do it.

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse


Now that's Canadian.

Ok. So that's what it comes down to. Canada isn't a Republic because you guys are afraid that you will come up with something worse? How disappointing



For my 2 cents worth.


I think most Canadians are afraid that if you start a new government you will find that some of the Provinces will opt out of the new Canada. Maybe try it on their own. From what I see in this thread and others, Canada isn't exactly marching to a unified vision. Some want to go one way while others are wanting to go another. And that can be scary for those who can't see Canada without all the current provinces

[Asher]

In today's democratic world, the royal prerogative is rarely used. In fact, the last time the royal prerogative was used, was the King-Byng dispute of 1926. In this instance, Governor General Lord Byng refused to dissolve Mackenzie King's Parliament in 1926 and call an election. Lord Byng's decision was influenced by the fact that King, with a minority government, had tried to curtail debate and avoid a defeat in the Commons after a scandal in the Customs Department. This event caused so much controversy that scholars have come to the conclusion that "the controversy over the rightness of the action [of the Crown] is so great as to imperil future use of the discretionary powers". It is therefore, essential that the Crown use its royal prerogative only in certain cases, or loose the support of the public.

As you can see, having this is only a liability. Not only does it cost us money, but it can cost us our sovereignty when and if the Queen is feeling rather *****y on a certain day.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Sprayber


Ok. So that's what it comes down to. Canada isn't a Republic because you guys are afraid that you will come up with something worse? How disappointing

That's who we are.

For my 2 cents worth.


I think most Canadians are afraid that if you start a new government you will find that some of the Provinces will opt out of the new Canada. Maybe try it on their own

On the contrary, our Constitution was altered last in 1982 and nothing happened. Formally going from monarchy to republic would have very little impact on the political landscape, and most provinces are overwhelmingly willing to stay where they are. Even Quebec's given up for at least the next long while.

From what I see in this thread and others, Canada isn't exactly marching to a unified vision. Some want to go one way while others are wanting to go another. And that can be scary for those who can't see Canada without all the current provinces

I like things the way they are. Much more interesting than the blahfest of US politics. You really do overestimate the centrifugal tendencies of the provinces. Quebec came close to the brink 7 years ago, but it's stepped back since then.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Flip, flip, flip...

It was Lord Byng. 1926.

Byng refused to dissolve a recently elected parliament when King was caught in a scandle and lost a non-confidence motion. Byng invited Meighen to form a government. Meighen did. Meighen's government failed shortly thereafter.

King wiped the floor with Byng and Meighen in the ensuing election.

Thanks for the info, notyoueither.

So Byng had the two choices: call an election or ask another party to form the government. Where does public pressure come into play?