It has been quite a year. Queen Elizabeth II oversaw a historic platinum jubilee. Her death, while saddening, resulted in no mad rush for the door at the prospect of King Charles III as republicans had long predicted (hoped?). Instead, the new king has taken to his role with vigor and the people have
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Alberta Politics: Turn and face the strange, ch-ch-changes … Edmonton’s Federal Building and B.C.’s Liberals get new names
Yesterday, the provincially owned Federal Building adjacent to the Alberta Legislature in downtown Edmonton was officially renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Building. The notorious Sky Palace on the day in June 2021 when Jason Kenney and senior cabinet members were busted by an unknown photographer in a nearby office tower
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Small Edmonton crowd says farewell to Queen Elizabeth as tired premier manages a reasonably dignified speech
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney trowelled it on a bit, perhaps as befits expectations in a provincial capital, but he generally managed a reasonably dignified performance as he said farewell to Queen Elizabeth on the steps of the Alberta Legislature yesterday. The Royal Artillery Band plays the national anthem as the
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Jason Kenney, working remotely by cellphone from London queue, tweets ostentatiously while waiting to bid farewell to Queen
“In queue for Queen, Premier Kenney signs order banning remote work option for civil servants.” University of Alberta political scientist Jared Wesley (Photo: David J. Climenhaga). In fact, there was nothing for Alberta Premier Jason Kenney to sign. Alberta’s civil servants were ordered back to their offices months ago, on
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Canadian Conservative affection for the monarchy: 1.6 kilometres wide and 2.54 centimetres deep!
Canadian Conservatives have been working hard to give the impression they’re enthusiastic monarchists. The Queen and her husband, Prince Phillip, visit Canada, where she was genuinely popular throughout her 70-year reign, in 1967 (Photo: Library and Archives Canada). They’ve been beavering away cultivating this impression with particular energy since the
Continue readingThe Maple Monarchists - Blog: Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada (1926-2022)
“Grief is the price we pay for love” ~Dr. Colin Murray Parkes and popularized by the Queen in 2001. Loyally Yours,A Kisaragi Colour
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Separation of God and state
This week the House of Commons debated a motion by the Bloc Québécois regarding the House’s morning prayer. Yes, the morning prayer no less. As a number of MPs pointed out, the House has somewhat more important issues to deal with. Furthermore, the Bloc might have waited until June when
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: The end of monarchy?
So the Queen is 96. A good age. Happy birthday, Your Majesty. Her birthday once again prompts the usual question. Do we want to continue with the monarchy? Or is it time to move on from an archaic institution? According to an Angus Reid survey, the answer is yes we
Continue readingThe Maple Monarchists - Blog: Platinum Jubilee in February
February isn’t exactly the best month to have a celebration buthere we are. February 6th marked the day 70 years ago that Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II. Queen’s Statement Jubilee Pin The government of Canada has produceda Platinum Jubilee pin which is beingdistributed by the Monarchist League of Canada. The
Continue readingThe Maple Monarchists - Blog: Queen & Governor General’s Statements on the First National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
“I join with all Canadians on this first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to reflect on the painful history that Indigenous peoples endured in residential schools in Canada, and on the work that remains to heal and to continue to build an inclusive society” ~Her Majesty the Queen “As we mark the first National Day
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: The royal soap opera takes centre stage
My goodness, why do we fuss over these silly people. Two over-privileged royals whine on TV about not being treated royally enough and the nation is all atwitter. The most titillating revelation is that apparently someone in “the firm” queried the colour of the pair’s kids. And this is of
Continue readingThe Maple Monarchists - Blog: Meme Monday #8
The Queen and Prince Philip have a solid marriage despitethe pressures their roles place on it. Or maybe its because of those pressures that their marriage has been going strong since it began way back in 1947. “If I am asked what I think about family life after 25 years ofmarriage, I
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Happy Canada Day! Or, as the UCP would have it in some corners of rural Alberta, Grumpy Dominion Day
Happy Canada Day! Alberta is the only place in Canada, I’d wager, where someone who was barely out of diapers when our country’s national holiday was renamed Canada Day would make the point they really think it oughtta still be Dominion Day. But these are strange times and Wild Rose
Continue readingThe Maple Monarchists - Blog: Evolution of the Right to Encourage
Walter Bagehot was a contemporary of Queen Victoria having been born after, and died before, the long-lived queen. And while Queen Victoria was the one who set about creating a greater symbolic role for the monarchy going forward, it was Walter Bagehot who codified the monarchy’s political role. Now, Mr. Bagehot would likely object that
Continue readingThe Maple Monarchists - Blog: Meme Monday #7
Wash your hands, people! The Corona virus pandemic has led many to alter their behavior as a means of stopping its spread. Her Majesty is said to be reviewing up-coming events with an eye to whetherthey will need to be cancelled or postponed. There is also a plan in place for her quarantine
Continue readingThe Maple Monarchists - Blog: The Royal Veterans
As people around the world commemorate Remembrance Day we remember the sacrifices and bravery of our armed forces. The fact I can sit at my computer in rural New Brunswick and write this article without any fear of attack is in large part because of them. That this could easily be different reminds me that
Continue readingThe Maple Monarchists - Blog: Canadian Royal Tour Stories
I have an occasional interest in stories about Canadians and their interactions with the Royal Family. I don’t think these stories are all that rare as even within the ranks of my 30, or so, coworkers two have shared stories about Royal Tours. The first is a story I have I may have already
Continue readingThe Maple Monarchists - Blog: Names & Titles Given to Members of the Royal Family by Canada’s First Nations
The Canadian Monarchy has a long history with the original inhabitants of Canada. And despite the failures of successive elected governments to uphold promises made to these First Nations, the relationship between them and the Royal Family remains strong. One comparatively recent expression of this relationship is the giving of names by tribes to Royal Family members.
Continue readingThe Maple Monarchists - Blog: That Time Economists Apologized to the Queen for the 2008 Financial Crisis
In November of 2008 Her Majesty wasvisiting the London School of Economics.The financial crisis was well underway andthe Queen took the opportunity to posea question about the scale of the disasterthat everyone had been thinking; “If thesethings were so large, how come everyonemissed them?” It was a fair question thatdeserved
Continue readingThe Maple Monarchists - Blog: Mutual Respec- Oh Shiny!
The Queen’s annual Christmas message has been released.It covered several topics but a big one was the need for mutualrespect between people and the corrosive effect tribalism can have. It talked about the good the Commonwealth Games doin bringing diverse peoples together to emphasize sharedvalues. It even included a small
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