What Canadians have to say about the Queen

Another Canada Day has been celebrated, hot on the heels of the recent Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. And new studies are showing many may not be in favour of the monarchy’s long-term future as head of state.

In recent months six Caribbean countries have signalled they want to follow Barbados in removing the Queen as their head of state, and opinion is also shifting in Canada.

A Leger poll for the Association of Canadian Studies (ACS), found 56 per cent of Canadians did not agree with swearing allegiance to the Queen.

New Canadians have to swear an oath to the monarchy at citizenship ceremonies including a pledge to “be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, her heirs and successors."

Also, according to an Angus Reid poll done back in April, 51 per cent of Canadians say a monarchy should not be in place for generations to come.

Jack Jedwab, president of the Association for Canadian Studies, said most people born in Canada were probably unaware that new Canadians had to swear an oath to be faithful to the Royal Family.

"If you ask Canadians about their identity, few would mention the monarchy," he said.

The poll of 2,118 people earlier this month cannot be assigned a margin of error because online panels are not considered truly random samples.

While 58 per cent of those who responded are positively disposed toward the Queen, with only 28 per cent negatively disposed, Canadians are evenly divided — 40 per cent positively and 40 per cent negatively — in their view of the monarchy overall.

Local support

Denise Brass, who grew up in the U.K. and came to Canada at 19, told Kelowna10 she continues to support the monarchy.

“I think most people in England are a fan of the Queen. She’s reigned for 70 years, she’s created a lot of stability and safety with the people of England, and I think she’s got a huge following,” she said.

The Camelot Winery owner added times have changed on how the royal family is viewed, from a ‘blue blood family’ of hierarchy to being seen as normal people with normal family drama. She used the example of when Princess Dianna died, and how the whole country and the world was in shock and in disbelief.

And Brass thinks the monarchy still has relevance beyond Britain.

“She’s the head of state for 54 countries [including England]. You ask the other 53 countries, I’d imagine you’d have a high percentage that still want her to be head of state,” Brass said. “She just promotes prosperity and democracy and peace. That’s what I like about the monarchy.”

Elizabeth, Charles and William

The Angus Reid poll showed a 63 per cent favourable view of the Queen, with Prince William, her grandson, having a favourable view at 60 per cent. Prince Charles, the queen’s eldest son, and heir to the throne, has 29 per cent favourability.

Brass thinks the monarchy is in good hands once Queen Elizabeth,96, is eventually succeeded, and shares the near universal opinion among those in favour of the royal family, that the second in line to the throne, Prince William, will prove popular once his reign starts.

“Kate and William are the epitome of the king and queen,” she said. “They will be loved just as much as Diana was loved. And I think going forward the will be supported and revered just like the queen.”

Earlier this month, the Queen celebrated her platinum jubilee with celebrations in Canada, the U.K. and across the Commonwealth. She ascended the throne at age 27 in 1952 and is England's longest-serving monarch.

With files from The Canadian Press.