Liberals Will Debate Dumping the Queen
January 6, 2012Ottawa – According to documents on the Liberal Party website, the Liberals will consider officially opposing Canada’s monarchy next week at a party convention in Ottawa.
The proposal, which was put forward by the Young Liberals of Canada, calls for the Liberal Party to change their official ideology to promote the idea of Parliament abolishing the Queen as our Head of State.
Local MP Scott Reid is disappointed that the Liberals would consider this policy saying, “I hope for the sake of our traditions and culture that the Liberals don’t enact this policy. It would be an insult to the descendants of the United Empire Loyalists who faced persecution and hardship, settled many parts of Canada, and shaped Canada as we know it.”
The policy calls on Parliament to sever all of our ties to our history as a Constitutional Monarchy and instead elect an American-style President.
Scott Reid was quick to point out that doing away with the Monarchy would remove one of the fundamental cornerstones of what makes Canada’s identity distinct.
“The Monarchy is an integral part of our society and remains one of the things that makes us distinct in our corner of the world.
“From the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to the Queensway. From the Loyalist settlements along the shores of Lake Ontario to the face on the back of our coins – the indelible stamp of our attachment to our Queen is everywhere.”
One of the reasons the Liberals give for considering this policy rests on a questionable figure that shows per-capita spending on the budgets of all Lieutenant Governors, the Governor General, and Royal visits total $1.53 whereas the per capita costs of the Monarchy in the United Kingdom is $1.32.
But the costs that the Liberals counted will persist even if Canada becomes an American-style republic. Elected heads of state still need to make official state visits, maintain an official residence, and hire staff to assist them.
The Biennial Liberal Convention will be held in Ottawa from January 13th to 15th.
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For further information contact:
Phil Joannou
Communications Assistant to Scott Reid, MP
613-947-2277
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