The Queen and Canada, Residences, Governor General, etc...

[NGalitzine]

Originally Posted by Osipi

As an American, I have to admit that the name changes in Canada reflects a very big sense of history. I don't think it deflects from Canada being its own unique republic but a country that has far reaching roots into history and is proud to show it.

FYI, Canada is not a republic. Canada is a constitutional monarchy headed by HM Queen Elizabeth II, The Queen of Canada.

[Osipi]

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

FYI, Canada is not a republic. Canada is a constitutional monarchy headed by HM Queen Elizabeth II, The Queen of Canada.

OOOPS..my big mistake. I'm glad I have folks around like you that correct me.

[Mermaid1962]

If you see news reports about Royal visits to Canada, Osipi, I'm guessing that American newscasters refer to the Queen et. al. as "The Queen of England" (a mistake in itself) rather than The Queen of Canada or even "Canada's Queen."

Originally Posted by Osipi

OOOPS..my big mistake. I'm glad I have folks around like you that correct me.

[wbenson]

'Hang' the Queen by end of week, Tories tell embassies - The Globe and Mail

The Harper government, a staunch proponent of the monarchy, has ordered all Canadian embassies and missions abroad to display a portrait of the Queen by end of week.

[JulieS]

Originally Posted by wbenson

'Hang' the Queen by end of week, Tories tell embassies - The Globe and Mail

The Harper government, a staunch proponent of the monarchy, has ordered all Canadian embassies and missions abroad to display a portrait of the Queen by end of week.

I know some people in Quebec will not be happy.

[NGalitzine]

Originally Posted by wbenson

'Hang' the Queen by end of week, Tories tell embassies - The Globe and Mail

The Harper government, a staunch proponent of the monarchy, has ordered all Canadian embassies and missions abroad to display a portrait of the Queen by end of week.

I was actually quite surprised to find that this was not already the case.

[Mermaid1962]

I wouldn't be surprised to learn that HM's picture had been hanging in embassies but was taken down during the years that her picture was being taken off various denominations of bills and so on.

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

I was actually quite surprised to find that this was not already the case.

[wbenson]

The updated article has a quote that makes it sound like it was the usual practice anyways:

"Gar Pardy, a former Canadian diplomat, recalled one foreign mission where Canada didn’t hang the Queen. “I remember that most embassies use to carry a picture of the Queen somewhere in the public area. The only exception was Argentina and there for obvious reasons,” he said, referring to the Falklands War."

[Grandduchess24]

Does the royal family have a residence in Canada and the commonwealth realms?

[NGalitzine]

When in Ottawa The Queen stays at Rideau Hall which is the official residence of the Governor General. There is no "royal" residence that is specific to the monarch or her family in Canada. If there were it would be vacant almost all the time.

[Walsingham]

Can someone list all the prerogative, reserve or whatever powers that Her Majesty the Queen of Canada, can exercise theoretically or exercised before? I am pretty sure she can dissolve Parliament and declare war (provided Parliament approves to preserve Canada's democratic principles) as well as refuse to grant the Royal assent and give Royal pardons.

[Lumutqueen]

She can refuse the royal assent, but never ever would.

[CarolynHarris]

Here's a discussion of the latest polling data regarding Canada and the monarchy Canadian Support for the Monarchy Appears to Change According to the Survey Question | Carolyn Harris: Royal Historian

[James VI]

The position of Governor General has always interested me and following on from Carolyn Harris` posting above, i have a question. Viscount Alexander was the last Briton to be appointed GG, and since then all successive Governor Generals have been Canadian citizens, representing Elizabeth in her position as Queen of Canada. Have they all been Canadian Monarchists, though?

[wbenson]

I'm not sure it's a question that's been frequently asked of them. It's not exactly the most salient issue, and from their appointments onward they usually only speak on political questions in relative generalities, so it might be hard to extract that information.

[James VI]

Thanks anyway. I suppose the very fact that they accept the appointment in the first place, would give some indication as to their personal opinions on the Canadian Monarchy. There was a republican GG in Australia ( Bill Hayden ) but of course, this did not effect the way he carried out his duties, on behalf of the Queen, and i`m quite sure the same could be said of any Canadian GG who may have had similar sympathies.

[Iluvbertie]

The interesting thing with Bill Hayden was that he started out his time as GG as an avowed republican but by the end of his term he had become a supporter of the monarchy. I suppose that having carried out the duties of the monarch he came to realise the worth of a constitutional monarchy.

From that knowledge I suppose that something similar could have happened to any non-monarchist GG in Canada.

[Madame Royale]

The incumbent Governor-General, Ms Quentin Bryce, is herself rumoured to be a republican sympathiser. This however remains unconfirmed.

In her capacity as GG, she performs her vice regal responsibilities with such grace and is a wonderful representative of the Crown prerogative.

I'd expect that should any Canadian Governor General hold republican sentiment, that it would not hinder their ability to serve term(s) in the specified position. It is afterall not about the indavidual, per say, but the service to one's nation.

[James VI]

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

The interesting thing with Bill Hayden was that he started out his time as GG as an avowed republican but by the end of his term he had become a supporter of the monarchy. I suppose that having carried out the duties of the monarch he came to realise the worth of a constitutional monarchy.

From that knowledge I suppose that something similar could have happened to any non-monarchist GG in Canada.

Thanks for that interesting information about Bill Hayden, i did`nt know that he had changed his opinion, perhaps Monarchy does have a mystical power, after all ?!! Seriously, i do agree with your point that individual GG`s in Canada, Australia and elsewhere would indeed come to appreciate the benefits and strength of the office, regardless of any pre-concieved ideas they may have had on the relevance of the Monarchy.

[James VI]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

The incumbent Governor-General, Ms Quentin, Bryce, is herself rumoured to be a republican sympathiser. This however remains unconfirmed.

In her capacity as GG, she performs her vice regal responsibilities with such grace and is a wonderful representative of the Crown prerogative.

I'd expect that should any Canadian Governor General hold republican sentiment, that it would not hinder their ability to serve term(s) in the specified position. It is afterall not about the indavidual, per say, but the service to one's nation.

I could`nt agree more.