The Canadian province of Quebec promulgated a law making it optional for the legislature to take an oath of allegiance to the monarch.
The bill was introduced when King Charles III ascended the throne and three politicians refused to swear allegiance. Earlier in the year, Canada’s parliamentarians overwhelmingly voted ‘no’ to severing ties with the Crown.
In Canada, Quebec most favoured the abolishment of the constitutional monarchy. The bill was recently introduced by Premier Francois Legault.
After elections were held in the province, 14 politicians refused to swear the oath. When they were informed that they could not sit in the legislature without swearing the oath, 11 of them reneged. The 3 others that held out were barred from the National Assembly since November, waiting for Mr. Legault to bring forward the bill. Since all parties agreed to waive the traditional consultation, the bill was fast-tracked.
In Quebec, members of the legislature had to swear two oaths—the people of Quebec and the Crown. The oath for the Crown has long been controversial.
The new provincial law means the Canadian Constitution Act of 1867 had to be amended to include the section exempting Quebec from the Oath of Allegiance to the King. This used to be a requirement for all members of provincial legislatures across Canada.
“It is, I think, a relic from the past,” Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, a co-spokesperson for the Quebec solidaire party, stated that about the oath to King Charles.
“I think there is strong support in Quebec to modernise our institutions, to make sure that the representatives of the people are not forced in 2022 to swear an oath to a foreign king.”
However, Constitutional scholar Philippe Lagasse reportedly told the BBC that Quebec did not have the authority to amend the constitution by an act of legislation alone. He said a change like this would either need the support of seven provinces that had, on aggregate, more than 50% of the population of Canada, or the federal parliament would have to agree with Quebec to allow the change in Quebec alone.
Justin Trudeau could challenge this new law in court, or a private citizen could be given ample opportunity to challenge the law.
In Canada, King Charles is the head of state whose role is predominantly symbolic. The power to administer is entrusted to the Canadian government.
Canada as a whole remains divided on the monarchy. In an Ipsos survey conducted after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, half of the Canadian respondents said their country should sever its ties with the Crown.
79% of Quebec believes that the ties should be severed.
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