The Republic of Canada

[Cobalt_Kid]

A system that gives MPs more power to hold the Pm and govt to account is good. We don't have that right now. The executive which is the PM, runs Parliament like a chess player moves his pawns on a chessboard. Our legislature is very weak in Ottawa as ut cannot subpeona information to do its job properly.

Right, technically our executive is the monarchy which plays no real active role in running the country. PMs try and take on the mantle of head of state as part of modern politics in Canada but in the process end up short-circuiting the checks and balances supposedly presented by an elected Parliament.

It says volumes that a minority government can manipulate the entire nation like a skater playing crack the whip.

 

[Spade]

If we failed to appoint a GG, how could the GG sign legislation?

You've missed the point. We would still appoint a Governor General. The monarchy would be vacant., Consult a constitutional expert. This is a viable option. We don't need a monarch for our system as it is now to work.

 

[FiveParadox]

And how would a Governor General be appointed without the monarch?

 

[Spade]

And how would a Governor General be appointed without the monarch?

By the PM or popular vote.

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

Democracy does not reside in the Governor General, but the responsibility to ensure that Canada always has a democratically-elected Government rests with Her Majesty the Queen, performed in all practical terms by the Governor General and our Lieutenant Governors. The very fact that The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson P.C., C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., the 25th Governor General needed to watch her second prime minister so very carefully during the ‘confidence motion’ crisis (as stated in her own memoirs) makes it very clear that the Governor General has a practical (and vital) role in Government, as did the fact that our second-to-last request for prorogation took nearly two hours of the prime minister’s time.

We could not simply fail to appoint a Governor General, because Canadian legislation can only be enacted by Her Majesty the Queen with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons. The legislation is drafted and passed by the legislature, but it is only made law by the Royal Assent of Her Majesty through the Governor General or one of the Lieutenant Governors; without that final step, the rules of our parliamentary system would have the legislation die on the floor when the session expires. You cannot circumvent the Constitution Acts, 1867–1982 by simply “failing to appoint” a Governor General or Lieutenant Governor, or refusing to proclaim a monarch. Our system of government would simply stop.

Show me an example, where it was reported in the media, in Canadian political-constitutional history, where Her Majesty the Queen took the advice of the Senate and House of Commons to enact legislation. When did this happen?

MPs and senators could agree to pass legislation and bypass the GG. These elected representatives of the people have it in their power to do this, democratically. There might be a hiccup or two, but MPs and MLAs would just carry on.

The constitution can be changed, it is not etched in stone.

 

[taxslave]

And how would a Governor General be appointed without the monarch?

We really have no need for either one. It is simply a costly tradition that we are too lazy to do away with.WE have elected MPs to make laws and do not need the nod from some foreigner to make them legal. That is just an excuse not a reason.

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

We really have no need for either one. It is simply a costly tradition that we are too lazy to do away with.WE have elected MPs to make laws and do not need the nod from some foreigner to make them legal. That is just an excuse not a reason.

The GG is now divisive. Paul Martin appointed Michaelle Jean because she looked good, being black. Martin thought he vould get multicultural street cred here. The problem is that she and her husband were those soft sovereigntists/separatsists/independentists that work in the Quebec media. Her husband wrote in a book stating that he was a Quebecker first and Canadian second. They were filmed in a movie toasting what appears separatism.

Jean is not so popular in English Canada because she has a weak federalist public record to fall back on. And she has few accomplishments.

Martin's political antennae was very weak here, seeming to be oblivious to the fact that the Quebec media sees Canada as a distraction. Lysiane Gagne of The Globe and Mail has written that when Quebecers speak of "society" they mean French speaking Quebec society. Canada is not in their view.

The GG, British empire and English Canada once worked together, now English Canada is adrift and needs to restructure to get back on track. Creating a new vision for English Canada requires a republic to improve governance in the country. We need a govt for the majority, not minorities.

 

[taxslave]

The GG, British empire and English Canada once worked together, now English Canada is adrift and needs to restructure to get back on track. Creating a new vision for English Canada requires a republic to improve governance in the country. We need a govt for the majority, not minorities.
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That would cut out a lot of work for lawyers who would otherwise be on welfare it the taxpayers didn't subsidize various minorities to ensure they get more rights than everyone else.

 

[L Gilbert]

The GG, British empire and English Canada once worked together, now English Canada is adrift and needs to restructure to get back on track. Creating a new vision for English Canada requires a republic to improve governance in the country. We need a govt for the majority, not minorities.
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That would cut out a lot of work for lawyers who would otherwise be on welfare it the taxpayers didn't subsidize various minorities to ensure they get more rights than everyone else.

Pretty much. The best government would be one that does what the majority wants it to do if we want to be a democracy. Short of Canadians grabbing the power back from people who supposedly "represent" them, nothing is going to change in Canada.

 

[Liberalman]

Really, the American system is called a democracy with two identical parties?

Americans have more than two political parties

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

A Governor General wouldn't be necessary if all the power currently held by the crowns' representative was put into a constitution.

No more fooling around with election dates and dissolving Parliament if the political winds change, the constitution would be the highest authority.

 

[ironsides]

Dump the idea of Provincial rights, and start thinking of Canada's rights first. America has only two parties that mean anything, we do not or rarely form coalitions. Usually we have majority rules. Having a wee bit of a problem now, but will take care of it. Basically uncomplicate your system. Forget tradition for once. As with us this should be a simple solution. But it will not happen and life goes on.

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

A Governor General wouldn't be necessary if all the power currently held by the crowns' representative was put into a constitution.

No more fooling around with election dates and dissolving Parliament if the political winds change, the constitution would be the highest authority.

Power, however, does not reside in a constitution, it resides in people in those offices. But in Canada we give the "monarchy" and "crown" power when it has no person filling that office or concept. During the days of the British empire, these words meant something, now they are words of manipulation to make Canada less democratic and accountable.

Changing election dates is what parliamentary democracy is all about. Business always talks about flexibility, why not the same for govts?

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

A constitution is a contract between the people of a nation and it's rulers(even the elected ones), so in a sense it is the highest authority in the absence of a monarch or dictator. I think one of the problems we have here is as Canada has moved away from direct control from Britain a bit of a power vacuum has developed and politicians and parties have naturally tried to fill the gap with not always positive outcomes for democracy.

By creating a firm constitutional basis for government we could do away with much of the ambiguity behind some of the problems in the nation today, including building a more stable platform for unity.

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

A constitution is a contract between the people of a nation and it's rulers(even the elected ones), so in a sense it is the highest authority in the absence of a monarch or dictator. I think one of the problems we have here is as Canada has moved away from direct control from Britain a bit of a power vacuum has developed and politicians and parties have naturally tried to fill the gap with not always positive outcomes for democracy.

By creating a firm constitutional basis for government we could do away with much of the ambiguity behind some of the problems in the nation today, including building a more stable platform for unity.

Due to the decline of English Canada over the decades, it has lost direction and purpose as the British empire has declined. The political situation has totally changed but the institutions have not.

Not too long ago it meant something to appoint a GG who was born in Canada. To cement its status as an independent country from Britain. Then it became the thing to do to appoint a GG born outside the country. Somehow, it feels like Canada got highjacked somewhere along the line. Like the current holder of the office, it just has little status in the country.

 

[FiveParadox]

I think that many Canadians would disagree with you, dumpthemonarchy.

Her Excellency The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., the Governor General of Canada, is held in high regard by a good number of Canadians. Her Excellency’s wisdom and class are evident in the Governor General’s many speeches and addresses, and Her Excellency’s mission to “break down solitudes” beats a drum that many Canadians are in tune with—namely, to break down the invisible barriers that have existed between Québec and the other provinces. There could no more anti-sovereigntist sentiment than that.

The Governor General has also handled with incredible diplomatic flare and expediency the political crisis that Canadians found themselves mired in some several months ago, even returning from a State visit to be present for the advice of The Right Honourable Stephen Harper P.C., M.P. (Calgary Southwest), the Prime Minister of Canada, and any consequences thereof. Our present Governor General has been the most engaging representative of Her Majesty The Queen we’ve ever had.

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

I think that many Canadians would disagree with you, dumpthemonarchy.

Her Excellency The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., the Governor General of Canada, is held in high regard by a good number of Canadians. Her Excellency’s wisdom and class are evident in the Governor General’s many speeches and addresses, and Her Excellency’s mission to “break down solitudes” beats a drum that many Canadians are in tune with—namely, to break down the invisible barriers that have existed between Québec and the other provinces. There could no more anti-sovereigntist sentiment than that.

The Governor General has also handled with incredible diplomatic flare and expediency the political crisis that Canadians found themselves mired in some several months ago, even returning from a State visit to be present for the advice of The Right Honourable Stephen Harper P.C., M.P. (Calgary Southwest), the Prime Minister of Canada, and any consequences thereof. Our present Governor General has been the most engaging representative of Her Majesty The Queen we’ve ever had.

I can't recall any interesting quotes from Ms Jean. But she looks awesome. Which is why Paul Martin picked her. Got his multicult cred going.

I guess in a strict political sense here, you're right, she's breaking down barriers between Quebec and other "provinces," but people? She worked in the French language media in la belle province and all who work in that hothouse when they speak of "society" they mean Quebec only.

According to the book The Unfinished Canadian by Andrew Cohen, her hubby wrote in a book that he was a Quebecker first and a Canadian second (page 170). They appeared in an arty film appearing to toast sovreignty. She has no public record to fall back on as a staunch federalist to dissipate those issues. She's a lightweight and not as popular as you might think.

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

Due to the decline of English Canada over the decades, it has lost direction and purpose as the British empire has declined. The political situation has totally changed but the institutions have not.

Not too long ago it meant something to appoint a GG who was born in Canada. To cement its status as an independent country from Britain. Then it became the thing to do to appoint a GG born outside the country. Somehow, it feels like Canada got highjacked somewhere along the line. Like the current holder of the office, it just has little status in the country.

I like Canada as a multi-cultural nation, and while that means some basic changes I think it's possible to keep many of the characteristics that have attracted people here from all over the globe. One of the big ones is all the freedoms we that have that have been bought at a high price.

I think we have a choice, we can move into the future or try and hold onto the past.

 

[AnnaG]

I like Canada as a multi-cultural nation, and while that means some basic changes I think it's possible to keep many of the characteristics that have attracted people here from all over the globe. One of the big ones is all the freedoms we that have that have been bought at a high price.

I think we have a choice, we can move into the future or try and hold onto the past.

Canada has no choice but to be multicultural as long as we respect other's religions, traditions, etc.
Whose past are you referring to? European's version of Canada's past or my ancestor's version? We should be looking forward to the future, not walking backwards into it.

I have pics of my kids as they USED TO BE. I do not look at the pics wishing that my kids were like they used to be. I simply see them to enjoy the memories. I love watching my kids evolve.

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

Canada has no choice but to be multicultural as long as we respect other's religions, traditions, etc.
Whose past are you referring to? European's version of Canada's past or my ancestor's version? We should be looking forward to the future, not walking backwards into it.

I have pics of my kids as they USED TO BE. I do not look at the pics wishing that my kids were like they used to be. I simply see them to enjoy the memories. I love watching my kids evolve.

I was refering more to the British Empire part of our past.

Good points.