Why do we have a Governor General?

[PoliticalCitizen]

Harper claims parliment is dysfunctional as he wants to be king. Harper is true Monarch

Well at least he's Canadian

[whowhere]

Well the world has changed and US does a lot more for us than the English queen.

This country's future will be defined by its people who are increasingly less anglo-saxon, and hopefully this whole monarchy thing will be a page of the past soon enough.

Will you get a "historical nod of respect" from the former slaves to their former masters?

Why should we celbrate being someone's domain and not a FREE INDEPENDENT country?

Please tell us what country you came from so we can have a better idea of what delusions you stem from?

You strike me as some peaseant from a third world country who has stumbled into Canada's way of life. The US does alot more?? Really? Throwing people out of work in Ontario and moving their factories and offices to other Countries. The only reason Canada is afloat is because of its resources/natural wealth. This is not because of the United States. The United States has been out to eff Canada at every turn.

Thanks to Harper Canada is a resource economy. Thanks to Mulroney, Canada is a cultural wasteland.

[Alta4ever]

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...

Becasue we are a constitutional Monarchy, our entire political system was set up to be a mirror of Britain. We are part of the British Commonwealth. Our country was founded under the British Monarchy, it is part of what it is to be Canadian though Trudeau tried to wrase this, its is a part of our country our history and our Canadian Hertiage. In otherwords it part of making us who we are.

The US revolted and created a republic which is what makes them and their system different. This is why history needs to be taught in our schools, we are loosing our CANADIAN IDENTITY.

[Alta4ever]

Please tell us what country you came from so we can have a better idea of what delusions you stem from?

You strike me as some peaseant from a third world country who has stumbled into Canada's way of life. The US does alot more?? Really? Throwing people out of work in Ontario and moving their factories and offices to other Countries. The only reason Canada is afloat is because of its resources/natural wealth. This is not because of the United States. The United States has been out to eff Canada at every turn.

Thanks to Harper Canada is a resource economy. Thanks to Mulroney, Canada is a cultural wasteland.

Thanks to Trudeau nobody knows what it is to be Canadian, thanks to the liberals we struggle to keep the economy afloat, thats to the liberals, the parliment is now subornate to the supreme court, thanks to the liberals we live in a semi facist state whith thought police. Thanks to the liberals, thanks ot the liberals we are forced to their ideals of what a Canadian is instead of figuring it out for ourselves by stidy our own history.

[Hcheh]

Becasue we are a constitutional Monarchy, our entire political system was set up to be a mirror of Britain. We are part of the British Commonwealth. Our country was founded under the British Monarchy, it is part of what it is to be Canadian though Trudeau tried to wrase this, its is a part of our country our history and our Canadian Hertiage. In otherwords it part of making us who we are.

The US revolted and created a republic which is what makes them and their system different. This is why history needs to be taught in our schools, we are loosing our CANADIAN IDENTITY.

Too sad but too true.. Something needs to be done about this

On teaching history in schools.. I believe that they offer more American history and "world" history than Canadian history. What a shame!

I know some disgraceful "Canadians", who originated from another country, that wouldn't even admit that they are Canadian! I guess that Canadian citizenship card doesn't mean anything anymore eh

[tango]

Interesyting topic. Did anyone hit on the fact that the G-G is a critical part of our democratic checks and balances? Her powers are intended to protect us from elected politicians run amok. In fact, that's why she is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to protect us from being attacked by our own governments.

There is a tricky part of separating from the Monarch that Trudeau could not navigate.

Canada does not 'own' its land mass. Rather, Canadians live here by treaties with Indigenous Peoples. The Treaties are vested in the Crown. Without re-negotiating every treaty, the best Trudeau could do was have Canada created as a corporation. That is what the Canada Act did, though we refer to it as our 'Constitution'.

We are a nation of peoples. We are not a country with its own land mass, however.

[Hcheh]

Interesyting topic. Did anyone hit on the fact that the G-G is a critical part of our democratic checks and balances? Her powers are intended to protect us from elected politicians run amok. In fact, that's why she is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to protect us from being attacked by our own governments.

There is a tricky part of separating from the Monarch that Trudeau could not navigate.

Canada does not 'own' its land mass. Rather, Canadians live here by treaties with Indigenous Peoples. The Treaties are vested in the Crown. Without re-negotiating every treaty, the best Trudeau could do was have Canada created as a corporation. That is what the Canada Act did, though we refer to it as our 'Constitution'.

We are a nation of peoples. We are not a country with its own land mass, however.

Yes, there is another thread on this topic - "do we owe any allegiance to the queen?" that touched on that. The some of the participants on that thread are the same ones on this one. The "reserve" powers the monarch has are vital, it keeps our system in check.

[whowhere]

Interesyting topic. Did anyone hit on the fact that the G-G is a critical part of our democratic checks and balances? Her powers are intended to protect us from elected politicians run amok. In fact, that's why she is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to protect us from being attacked by our own governments.

There is a tricky part of separating from the Monarch that Trudeau could not navigate.

Canada does not 'own' its land mass. Rather, Canadians live here by treaties with Indigenous Peoples. The Treaties are vested in the Crown. Without re-negotiating every treaty, the best Trudeau could do was have Canada created as a corporation. That is what the Canada Act did, though we refer to it as our 'Constitution'.

We are a nation of peoples. We are not a country with its own land mass, however.

LOL, PoliticalCitizen should really ponder what you have stated. However, the G-G has not been doing her job. If there was ever a time for political oversight on Canada's actions by the G-G, now is the time. Canada's political parties are not to be trusted. If Canada is not careful some political party is scheming out new schemes along the lines of 407etr in Ontario. A total screw over to the Ontario and Canadian people by guess who the Conservative!!

[cybercoma]

The Governor General has no effectual power; her position is purely ceremonial. IOW, she ain't protecting anyone from crap.

Edited October 7, 2008 by cybercoma

[M.Dancer]

The Governor General has no effectual power; her position is purely ceremonial. IOW, she ain't protecting anyone from crap.

Not exactly. Legally she has the power, and traditionally she has never needed to use it. But if it came down to it, it could be done to preserve the law she is sworn to uphold.

[craiger]

If the lg is to protect the people from government then why do they hold vested interest in corperations?

example i will give is louis hole, holes greenhouse, Lockerbie and hole one of the largest corperate entity's in the oilsands. To go farther with this I will tell you Lockerbie and hole stole money's from unions by taking MERF funds to start up spinnoff non union company's. Sorry I have a hard time understanding the lg's position in protecting the people.

Edited October 8, 2008 by craiger

[M.Dancer]

If the lg is to protect the people from government then why do they hold vested interest in corperations?

example i will give is louis hole, holes greenhouse, Lockerbie and hole one of the largest corperate entity's in the oilsands. To go farther with this I will tell you Lockerbie and hole stole money's from unions by taking MERF funds to start up spinnoff non union company's. Sorry I have a hard time understanding the lg's position in protecting the people.

Sound to me like a logical nonsequitor....

[Hcheh]

It's not what I don't have. It's just that I feel my right to have rights is insulted by the mere existence of even a token Monarch.

I'd much rather swear allegiance to the Country and People of Canada then to some old lady from a foreign country that happened to be born in a "royal" family.

I'm sorry if I offended some royalists here but the Queen of England and all references to the "crown" feel meaningless to most and insulting to some immigrants. We came here to join millions of immigrants that live in a free country, not to become UK's royal subjects.

I apologize if your ability to comprehend does not allow you to grasp the concept.

"We don't take oath to an abstraction or a symbol such as a flag, because those can be changed."

"Except through the person of the Queen, Canada cannot take an oath to Canadians in return. It doesn't exist in the sense that it can take an oath. It is fundamental to our tradition of law and freedom that the commitments made by the people are reciprocated by the state. Reciprocal oaths are essential to our Canadian concept of government."

William Lyon Mackenzie King

[PoliticalCitizen]

Please tell us what country you came from so we can have a better idea of what delusions you stem from?

You strike me as some peaseant from a third world country who has stumbled into Canada's way of life. The US does alot more?? Really? Throwing people out of work in Ontario and moving their factories and offices to other Countries. The only reason Canada is afloat is because of its resources/natural wealth. This is not because of the United States. The United States has been out to eff Canada at every turn.

Thanks to Harper Canada is a resource economy. Thanks to Mulroney, Canada is a cultural wasteland.

You strike me as someone who might have been abused as a child. Why so much hate? Have you tried counseling?

USA / Canada trade is worth 1 Million a minute - the biggest trade relationship between any two countries on earth.

Canadian economy is driven by US demand. We're so tightly integrated that we're practically one North American entity.

UK is on the other side of the ocean and exercises no economical influence over our country.

Our link is a thing of the past... let's move on.

[PoliticalCitizen]

Becasue we are a constitutional Monarchy, our entire political system was set up to be a mirror of Britain. We are part of the British Commonwealth. Our country was founded under the British Monarchy, it is part of what it is to be Canadian though Trudeau tried to wrase this, its is a part of our country our history and our Canadian Hertiage. In otherwords it part of making us who we are.

The US revolted and created a republic which is what makes them and their system different. This is why history needs to be taught in our schools, we are loosing our CANADIAN IDENTITY.

But at the same time we're on our way of aquiring a new CANADIAN IDENTITY. One that is free of the colonial past, foreign monarchs and slavery.

[bush_cheney2004]

.....Our link is a thing of the past... let's move on.

Would still be a problem.....

All Canadians live under the authority of the Crown, and anyone born in Canada, whether to citizens or to landed migrants, is recognised as a natural-born subject of the Crown, as per common law.

[PoliticalCitizen]

Thanks to Trudeau nobody knows what it is to be Canadian, thanks to the liberals we struggle to keep the economy afloat, thats to the liberals, the parliment is now subornate to the supreme court, thanks to the liberals we live in a semi facist state whith thought police. Thanks to the liberals, thanks ot the liberals we are forced to their ideals of what a Canadian is instead of figuring it out for ourselves by stidy our own history.

Well, thanks to Bush's administration you now have a sound example of FREEDOM OF THOUGHT in the south

[PoliticalCitizen]

Would still be a problem.....

All Canadians live under the authority of the Crown, and anyone born in Canada, whether to citizens or to landed migrants, is recognised as a natural-born subject of the Crown, as per common law.

Dammm you BC!

You had to rub it in...

:angry:

[g_bambino]

But at the same time we're on our way of aquiring a new CANADIAN IDENTITY. One that is free of the colonial past, foreign monarchs and slavery.

Nobody, and nothing, can be free from the past. The only thing that concerns you here is the past as it actually happened and the past as you imagine it. They are not the same.

[bush_cheney2004]

Dammm you BC!

You had to rub it in...

:angry:

Sorry...maybe this story will make you feel better:

Born in Trinidad, educated in Saskatchewan and Ontario, Charles Roach, a prominent Toronto civil rights lawyer, refuses to become a Canadian citizen, even though he has lived in this country for nearly five decades. The reason, he says, is that he would have to swear allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html...756C0A960958260

[PoliticalCitizen]

Interesyting topic. Did anyone hit on the fact that the G-G is a critical part of our democratic checks and balances? Her powers are intended to protect us from elected politicians run amok. In fact, that's why she is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to protect us from being attacked by our own governments.

There is a tricky part of separating from the Monarch that Trudeau could not navigate.

Canada does not 'own' its land mass. Rather, Canadians live here by treaties with Indigenous Peoples. The Treaties are vested in the Crown. Without re-negotiating every treaty, the best Trudeau could do was have Canada created as a corporation. That is what the Canada Act did, though we refer to it as our 'Constitution'.

We are a nation of peoples. We are not a country with its own land mass, however.

We must continue Trudeau's work.

We should own our land.

[PoliticalCitizen]

Sorry...maybe this story will make you feel better:

Born in Trinidad, educated in Saskatchewan and Ontario, Charles Roach, a prominent Toronto civil rights lawyer, refuses to become a Canadian citizen, even though he has lived in this country for nearly five decades. The reason, he says, is that he would have to swear allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html...756C0A960958260

LOL

Dude should take it easier... it's like accepting one of those Microsoft license agreements for Windows or Office

[whowhere]

But at the same time we're on our way of aquiring a new CANADIAN IDENTITY. One that is free of the colonial past, foreign monarchs and slavery.

Who says the Queen is foreign? My Ancestory is Both French and English. Talked to alot of Americans they feel an affinity with the UK. So buddy rewrite Canadian identity for who exactly? Country rejects who couldn't cut the mustard wherever they came from so they come to Canada to try to make Canada like the s$%hole they came from. Actually, the bureacratic and political trash have tried to brainwash Canadians with their history revisions but here lies the problem. You will need to erase the documented writings of the continental congress. Americans along with their guns, like their history and that is available online through the library of Congress. Good luck with that.

[Alta4ever]

But at the same time we're on our way of aquiring a new CANADIAN IDENTITY. One that is free of the colonial past, foreign monarchs and slavery.

There is no such thing as a new Canadian Identity, our historty is part of who we are with out that all we have is I"M NOT AMERICAN I HATE AMERICANS. To me thats not much of an identity. I like knowing that our countries historical roots lay in a virtually ignored French Colony, that really had no value until the English took interest. From there the country built itself on the principals of English common law, and did amazing things, like the building of the longest railroad to cement its territory, defending itself from the American threat to the South to the emergence on the global seen with the taking of Vimy Ridge. At one point we had the third largest Navy in the world. No matter what these are a part of our identity and with out recognising these we deny ourselves, our country, and our traditions. No matter where you go in the world you will find that they can never escape their history, their identity. These things cannot just be manufactured.

[PoliticalCitizen]

"We don't take oath to an abstraction or a symbol such as a flag, because those can be changed."

"Except through the person of the Queen, Canada cannot take an oath to Canadians in return. It doesn't exist in the sense that it can take an oath. It is fundamental to our tradition of law and freedom that the commitments made by the people are reciprocated by the state. Reciprocal oaths are essential to our Canadian concept of government."

William Lyon Mackenzie King

Willy lost me there, sorry... who can swear what to whom again?