Don’t call them a colony.
Canada is technically still under the British Monarchy, albeit barely.
In 1867, Canada’s version of 1776, they gained most of their independence from the British Monarchy. It was then they established their constitution.
In 1931, the Brits under pressure created a law that gave Canadians full autonomy over the British.
In 1982, Canada no longer had to get approval from the British Parliament to make changes to their constitution.
Yes still, Canada celebrates Victoria Day. The holiday falls roughly around Queen Victoria’s birthday, and it is a federal one. Queen Victoria is supposed to be honored across Canada’s land.
But most Canadians don’t care. They are still technically a commonwealth of Great Britain, not 100% independent just quite yet (call it 98%).
The only real power the Queen has is her governor general she sends out. The Governor General of Canada is largely a figurehead who represents the British Monarchy in Canada at their official capacity. They do, however, have the power to even kick a prime minister out of office and overrule the parliament over votes. It hasn’t happened for 80 years, but a governor general did once intervene in parliamentary affairs. And they are entitled to do so anytime. That’s the last real link to the British Monarchy and Canadians resent it. Here are 7 reasons Canada have disdain for the British monarchy
- 1) The Governor General made a fool out of herself: In 2009, Governor General Michaelle Jean slaughtered a live seal, and then ate its heart whole, raw, in one bite. Yeah, that was pretty hardcore. She was protesting the European Union’s efforts to outlaw seal hunting and was way up north in an indigenous community. She received lots of ire from local animal rights groups and ever since then, few Canadians have taken their Brit representative seriously.
- 2) Canada doesn’t like Prince Harry and Meghan very much. In fact, just 43% approve of them. In a single year, their approval rating has dropped by almost half. In 2021, they enjoyed a 63% approval rating. It didn’t help that Harry and Meghan stopped in Canada before settling in LA. They even flirted with making the nation their home, but it was all a disrespectful tease.
- 3) Canada’s GDP beats that of England in a variety of ways. They’re actually more powerful economically in some ways then their political parents. Canada’s GDP per capita is $55,000. Great Britain’s is $45,000. Canadians are better off.
- 4) There’s a large movement growing in Alberta, Alberta51, to become the US’s 51st state. If successful, this would further kill the last vestige of Great Britain’s influence on Canada.
- 5) There’s also a movement brewing for Quebec to separate and become it’s own nation. They held two referendum votes before, in 1980 and 1995. Each time Quebec chose to remain, but the votes were close, each time only one percentage point made the difference.
- 6) The Bloc Quebecois had a good night in the last election holding 32 seats in Parliament. Their leader has, while not directly, flirted with having Quebec take another stab at independence. He certainly has the numbers in Parliament to at least try and make that happen.
- 7) Canada’s independence means something to them. Americans dismiss the fact that Canada never went through a war, but they did fight for and win their independence. The British Monarchy eventually bowed to pressure. Their 1867 independence day is a day when true patriotic Canadians come out and celebrate their independence, just like their US neighbors. More stores are closed on that day, most employees have off. Any time off for Victoria Day is a rarity.
So, as the mainstream media reminds you that it’s Victoria Day, just remember, Canadians don’t really care, and they don’t need to be reminded that they were under the foot of the monarchy once upon a time. Those days are behind them, and might be further still.
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