Politicians' oath of allegiance to King Charles could be history if Liberal MP gets his way
CBC
Members of Parliament and senators may be able to dodge the centuries-old oath of allegiance to King Charles if a Liberal MP gets his pending private member's bill passed.
Canadian monarchists say the bill is republicanism by stealth — part of a larger effort to slowly chip away at the Crown's standing in Canada without actually scrapping the monarchy through a protracted constitutional fight with the provinces.
Canada's republicans, meanwhile, are welcoming the bill as a necessary first step toward ridding the country of what they maintain is an outdated institution.
Section 128 of the Constitution demands that every newly elected or appointed parliamentarian swear that they will "be faithful and bear true allegiance" to the reigning monarch.
Under Canada's founding document, a member cannot legally assume his or her seat in Parliament until they've taken the oath to the sovereign.
The monarch listed in the one-line oath is Queen Victoria, but the oath includes a line stating that the actual name will change from "time to time."
Bill C-347, introduced by New Brunswick Liberal MP René Arseneault, would upend that tradition by allowing federal politicians to swear an "oath of office."
That stripped-down oath would simply state that an office holder will carry out their duties "in the best interest of Canada while upholding its Constitution."
Arseneault did not make himself available for an interview with CBC News.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said repeatedly that now is not the time to debate the monarchy's role in Canada.
Trudeau has praised King Charles as a man "deeply aligned" with Canadian values, such as the fight against climate change and the pursuit of Indigenous reconciliation.
A spokesperson for Justice Minister Arif Virani said the government "will have more to say about this private member's bill when it comes up for debate." That will happen when Parliament returns later this month.
Arseneault has found a supporter in Pierre Vincent, a man with a long history of royal oath opposition.
Vincent, a former federal public servant and a member of Citizens for a Canadian Republic, challenged a similar requirement that bureaucrats swear allegiance to the sovereign.
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