Canada halts parliament amid row [by order of The Queen]

BBC ^ | 12/4/2008

[fanfan]

I’d take a punch for him.

He’s a good man.

[Oztrich Boy]

Since its Parliament has been shut down by the representative of the British Queen (the "Governor General"), is Canada truly independent and is it technically a monarchy?

Canada is an independent de facto and de jure Constitutional monarchy with the Canadian Monarch, or, in her absence, her appointed representative, exercising the authority of the Crown on the advice of Crown ministers who have the support of a Parliament elected directly by the people.

[fanfan]

She can't veto.

Now the Governor-General is chosen by Canadians, the British have no say in the affairs of Canada. Am I right about this?

Sort of.
The GG is chosen by the Prime Minister, and this one was chosen by the Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin.

We peons don't get a vote on the GG.

[Arkinsaw]

Since its Parliament has been shut down by the representative of the British Queen (the "Governor General"), is Canada truly independent and is it technically a monarchy?

Yes, it is a Constitutional Monarchy that is independent. The Queen of Canada is Elizabeth II. While she is outside the country the Governor-General is her representative.

The Queen of Canada also happens to be the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. She is also the Queen of 15 other independent states.

[Arkinsaw]

The GG is chosen by the Prime Minister, and this one was chosen by the Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin.

The GG is appointed by the Queen on advice of the Prime Minister.

[Repeal 16-17]

The Queen of Canada is Elizabeth II. While she is outside the country the Governor-General is her representative.

Has Queen Elizabeth II ever visited Her kingdom in Canada?

[Arkinsaw]

Has Queen Elizabeth II ever visited Her kingdom in Canada?

Yes, she has toured there, opened Parliament, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Canada
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_tours_of_Canada_in_the_20th_century

[Candor7]

I'll step up too , we can draw straws?

LOL.

We could design an on line computer game using templates from Celbrity Fight Club, with a House of Commons background. 1 day trail with a one time 10 Loonie subscription. Then we could retire in Costa Rica!

Sgt. Preston and Yukon King can be on the Harper Tag Team.

10,000 hits our first hour out!

[buccaneer81]

Has Queen Elizabeth II ever visited Her kingdom in Canada?

Last visit to Canada was May 17-25, 2005.

[maine-iac7]

from the article: “Ms Jean - the representative of head of state Queen Elizabeth II - has the right to make a final decision on such matters. “

Ms. Jean made the decision.

When in doubt, read the whole story ;o)

[buccaneer81]

24 visits since 1952.

[Repeal 16-17]

Can the Governor General refuse to allow a no-confidence vote or void such a vote?

[RepublicanChick]

Can she do that for the Electoral College in a couple weeks?

***********

Thank you for a great laugh. I needed it tonight. Too funny!

I think we would be better off under the Crown rather than the One, sort of kidding....

[fanfan]

The GG is appointed by the Queen on advice of the Prime Minister.

Which already happened when former PM Paul Martin appointed the current GG....Harper can't just fire her without a constitutional reason.

[fanfan]

Costa Rica?

I’m in.

You sail?

[plushaye]

Yes, I saw the Queen in a big arena when she came to visit in May 2005. She and her hubby the Duke sat in chairs and watched many dancers and singers perform. I will always remember that she slouched in her chair! Maybe she had a back ache but I always imagined she would sit more upright like Queen Victoria. ;-)

Like the ancient Egyptians used to say, I say facetiously: “O Queen Live Forever” because very few in Canada and the UK want Prince Charles to become King and Camilla to become Queen after Queen Elizabeth passes away!!

[fanfan]

Can the Governor General refuse to allow a no-confidence vote or void such a vote?

No.

[Arkinsaw]

Which already happened when former PM Paul Martin appointed the current GG....Harper can't just fire her without a constitutional reason.

She was not appointed by the PM, she was appointed by the Monarch on the advice of the PM. The PM does not fire her, she serves at the pleasure of the Queen.

[Arkinsaw]

Can the Governor General refuse to allow a no-confidence vote or void such a vote?

My understanding is that the Governor-General could have ordered new elections, done nothing, or prorogued Parliament (suspended). She chose the third option, apparently seeing it as least intrusive. It is tradition for her to follow the advice of the government which in this case was to suspend.

[Clive]

Repeal 16-17 wrote:
"Can the Governor General refuse to allow a no-confidence vote or void such a vote?"

No

In 1867, When the British North America Act was passed by the British parliament to create a confederation out of certain British North American colonies, the office of Governor General was given certain reserve powers in his capacity as representative of both the Crown and the British government (which are not the same). The intent was that the confederation and its provinces were to be autonomous but within the Empire an the reserve powers were to preserve the interests of the Empire in the event of a conflict arising.

As a fallout of the 1926 King-Byng Wing-Ding, Canada proposed to an Imperial Conference in 1926 that the Governor General be answerable to Canada alone and not to the British Government. This conference resulted in a declaration to the effect that British Empire jurisdictions that achieve Dominion status acquire full sovereignty independent of the British Government. The Governor General then became the representative of the Crown alone, and not of the UK government or of any of its ministries.

The Empire became effectively the British Commonwealth which grew as each colony achieved independence. The Monarch became monarch of Canada and the various other dominions independent of its status as the British monarchy.

Another fallout of the King-Bing Wing-Ding was that Governor General's powers effectively became a legal fiction.

Although the reserve powers are still in the statute, conventional practice is that the Governor General cannot refuse to prorogue parliament, or to drop the writ for an election or to call parliament back from recess, when the Prime Minister requires it to be done.

Should the Governor General attempt to exercise her reserve powers over the objection of the Prime Minister, it would result in a major constitutional crisis and the Governor General would lose in any such contest.

I am grossly over-simplifying.