PoliticalCitizen Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 I may be missing a whole layer of political knowledge here, but please help me understand why do we have a Governor General who also appears to be "Commander-in-Chief of Canada"? My understanding was Canada is no longer a colony and even less - a Monarchy. Why do we spend tax money on maintaining political structure dedicated to a foreign country's Monarch? And why is the Monarch's image on our money? Now I'm no history expert but I'm pretty sure USA (a former British colony) has none of that... Should Canada step above its colonial past and promote its own values as a multinational country? I hope I'm not offending anybody's feelings but some things just strike me as illogical... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Dancer Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 My understanding was Canada is no longer a colony and even less - a Monarchy. We are not a colony...But She is the Queen of Canada and Canada is a constitutional monarchy. We spend zero on maintaining the Crown. The Crown has revenues of their own. Changing all this would be expensive and pointless not to mention the effect on Morale. Who would Join the Citizen Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HisSelf Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 I may be missing a whole layer of political knowledge here, but please help me understand why do we have a Governor General who also appears to be "Commander-in-Chief of Canada"?My understanding was Canada is no longer a colony and even less - a Monarchy. Why do we spend tax money on maintaining political structure dedicated to a foreign country's Monarch? And why is the Monarch's image on our money? Now I'm no history expert but I'm pretty sure USA (a former British colony) has none of that... Should Canada step above its colonial past and promote its own values as a multinational country? I hope I'm not offending anybody's feelings but some things just strike me as illogical... I'm with you here. Why indeed? It's dumb. Just like our senate - elected or not. We have a really dumb system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fellowtraveller Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 We have a Governor-General to provide employment for former CBC employees who hit all the affirmative action buttons. It's what you call a 'niche'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seabee Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Could it not be argued that a Dominion, which Canada is, is an autonomous colony? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Doors Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Could it not be argued that a Dominion, which Canada is, is an autonomous colony? We are not a Dominion. We used to be a Dominion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argus Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 We are not a Dominion. We used to be a Dominion. We are still a dominion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoliticalCitizen Posted September 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 We are not a colony...But She is the Queen of Canada and Canada is a constitutional monarchy.We spend zero on maintaining the Crown. The Crown has revenues of their own. Changing all this would be expensive and pointless not to mention the effect on Morale. Who would Join the Citizen Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry? Oh, I see... Did we or could we get a referendum to get rid of "Constitutional Monarchy"? Or at least get Monarch of our own (King of Canada, anyone?) I read the Gov. General spent over 1 Mil of taxpayer's money on international travel... or am I wrong and she's sponsored by the Queen of England? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoliticalCitizen Posted September 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Could it not be argued that a Dominion, which Canada is, is an autonomous colony? Pardon my ignorance, but what exactly is a "Dominion" anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guyser Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 We are still a dominion. But no legal standing, as in "Dominion of Canada". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bush_cheney2004 Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 ....Now I'm no history expert but I'm pretty sure USA (a former British colony) has none of that... Nope...the USA booted your kings and queen's in the ass a long time ago. What a funny thread...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guyser Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Pardon my ignorance, but what exactly is a "Dominion" anyway? Comes from the latin "dominus" meaning master. We were under the Master of Britain for eons until the 1982 Canada Act. Same as Dominion of New Zealand and Dom of Newfoundland. Apparently it was used instead of Kingdom , which was wanted but refused because it may offend the Americans .Obviously a long time ago. It is not used today. Our name is Canada. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoliticalCitizen Posted September 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Comes from the latin "dominus" meaning master. We were under the Master of Britain for eons until the 1982 Canada Act.Same as Dominion of New Zealand and Dom of Newfoundland. Apparently it was used instead of Kingdom , which was wanted but refused because it may offend the Americans .Obviously a long time ago. It is not used today. Our name is Canada. Thanks for the explanation. I think if Canada is anybody's Dominion, than it is America's (as in United States). Maybe we should change our political structure so that it properly reflects our allegiances. Then Harper should address Bush's secretary to dissolve Canadian Parliament, not this Michelle woman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngusThermopyle Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Maybe we should change our political structure so that it properly reflects our allegiances. Or maybe you could just move to the States and save us the trouble of doing that. Whats wrong with having a Monarch? She doesn't hurt anyone, doesn't tax anyone and is seldom any part at all of the average persons life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoliticalCitizen Posted September 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Or maybe you could just move to the States and save us the trouble of doing that.Whats wrong with having a Monarch? She doesn't hurt anyone, doesn't tax anyone and is seldom any part at all of the average persons life. Honoring the image of even a token Monarch is honoring a tradition of Authocratic Rule. I thought Democracy (if that's what we have in Canada) is the opposite that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Dancer Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Honoring the image of even a token Monarch is honoring a tradition of Authocratic Rule. I thought Democracy (if that's what we have in Canada) is the opposite that. Great Britains's Consitututional monarchy predates the russian democracy by .....well when ever the Rusians fugure out how to have a democracy... from that date .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoliticalCitizen Posted September 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Great Britains's Consitututional monarchy predates the russian democracy by .....well when ever the Rusians fugure out how to have a democracy... from that date .... Thank god we don't live in Russia. But here right beside the "Land of the Free", why does our country need a foreign "Master"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guyser Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 But here right beside the "Land of the Free", why does our country need a foreign "Master"? It doesnt....and we dont. We are not the Dominion of Canada. We are Canada. Dominion has not been in vogue for decades.Parliament amended our name to what it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoliticalCitizen Posted September 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 It doesnt....and we dont.We are not the Dominion of Canada. We are Canada. Dominion has not been in vogue for decades.Parliament amended our name to what it is. And I guess it doesn't bother anybody to swear allegiance to UK's token Monarch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Dancer Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Thank god we don't live in Russia.But here right beside the "Land of the Free", why does our country need a foreign "Master"? It doesn't. Her Majesty is the servant of her people, not the master. Remember, the speech from the Throne is written by her government for her to read. But these nuances are possibly too subtle for you.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Dancer Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 And I guess it doesn't bother anybody to swear allegiance to UK's token Monarch? If I was a citizne of the UK it wouldn't, but I had no problem swearing allegiance to Elizabeth, Queen of Canada. Better to swear to her than say, Putin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guyser Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Better to swear to her than say, Putin. I dont know about that. Roman Abramovich certainly would argue. So would a lot of other very very rich men . If I could swear to him personally, as in " I guyser, swear to cut you ,oh great master Putin , in on the profits of steel company you will give me" ....whats the Aeroflot number again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoliticalCitizen Posted September 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 I dont know about that. Roman Abramovich certainly would argue. So would a lot of other very very rich men .If I could swear to him personally, as in " I guyser, swear to cut you ,oh great master Putin , in on the profits of steel company you will give me" ....whats the Aeroflot number again? LOL Don't forget - it's a "dog eat dog" and "opposition gets shot in the head by the police" world out there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoliticalCitizen Posted September 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 If I was a citizne of the UK it wouldn't, but I had no problem swearing allegiance to Elizabeth, Queen of Canada.Better to swear to her than say, Putin. Well, frankly, I had no problem swearing it either at the Citizenship ceremony. It did strike me as absurd, however... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topaz Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 What's the problem with the GG? She hasn`t said no to Harper has she? Wouldn`t the Cons look really stupid if she told Harper no and that he should go back to Parliament until a non-Confidence vote is brought forward. The Cons are putting signs up all over this area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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