Do Canadians want to remain under British rule?
"The monarchy is outdated and has no relevance in our government. I think it's time we just stood on our own."
Great Britain colonized Canada beginning in the late 1500s, and the country remained formally part of the British Empire until 1982. It is now a member of the Commonwealth of Former Imperial Countries, where the head of state is the British monarch.
The Angus Reid Institute conducted a survey showing that 51% of Canadians do not want the monarchy to remain its ceremonial nominal head (6% more than in January 2020). Only 26% of respondents said it was necessary, while 24% were unsure. A growing number of Canadians do not want a foreign monarch to represent them, despite deep historical ties to Britain and affection for the queen.
Some representatives of big business in Canada have spoken out on the matter, confirming the results of the surveys. Flavio Volpe, president of the Canadian Automotive Parts Association, wonders why Canada is the only G7 country whose head of state is a citizen of another country, and, referring to a small town in the south of the country, adds:
"I would rather have someone from Windsor as head of state than someone from the House of Windsor."
Members of the older generation support the idea of self-sufficiency. John Nielsen, 61, an Ottawa contractor, said:
"The monarchy is outdated and has no relevance in our government. I think it's time we just stood on our own."
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