Canada and republicanism

Canadians should take note. Despite what Harper and the Conservatives would have the electorate believe, there is nothing inherently wrong with the “idea” of a Republic. In fact, recent events would suggest that Canada has a lot to gain from engaging in a genuine political conversation.

In 2008, Canada faced what many critics have defined as a “constitutional crisis”.

When it became apparent that the three Opposition parties had the numbers to form a coalition government, Harper moved to dissolve Parliament. This action forced Governor-General Michelle Jean to make a critical decision as the continued sitting of Parliament most likely would have led to the creation of a new government.

While Jean followed Parliamentary protocol and allowed the Parliament to be prorogued, the lack of response to the Governor-General’s role in the saga exposed the undeveloped policy debate associated with republicanism in Canada.

Whereas the “constitutional crisis” would have raised alarm bells among pro-republic sympathisers in Australia, Jean’s ability to determine Harper’s fate was not drawn upon as an argument to highlight the shortcomings of Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy.

Quite clearly levels of discontent, within the Canadian political community found in the sentiments of Rebagliati and the staunchly anti-monarchist Bloc Quebecois, have not translated into a coherent political movement. Although this partially accounts for the lack of questioning there appears to be a more pressing dynamic at play.

In an environment where the governing party is united in its support for a monarchy and critics are shut down for challenging norms, it is hardly surprising that Canada’s Republican Movement is hampered in its ability to influence the debate.

Political commentator Liam McHugh-Russell posits that Australians and Canadians share “an intense discomfort with the idea of the Governor-General exercising powers of any real political significance”. Yet due to the stigma associated with a pro-republican position, the affected parties were unwilling and unable to draw a link between how Jean’s role in the saga related to Canada’s constitutional arrangement.

Unfortunately, as long as Republicanism continues to be portrayed as a threat to Canada’s institutions and traditions then prospects for the “Republic of Canada” will remain as unrealistic as a warm day in the depths of a Nunavut Winter.