As the movement to abolish the monarchy begins to spread within the Commonwealth, historian and teacher Frédéric Bastien sees no day when Canada will sever ties with the British Crown.
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“There is no chance that the monarchy will be abolished in Canada. It will stay there for generations and generations,” he said in an interview with TVA Nouvelles.
The historian and teacher at Dawson College points out that in order to abolish the monarchy in Canada, the constitution would have to be revised and all provinces would have to agree.
Should such a scenario materialize, Mr Bastien believes that the Quebec issue would impede the abolition of the monarchy.
“If we open the constitution, Quebec will ask for its recognition as a nation and for more powers. English Canada and the federal government are determined not to recognize Quebec as a constitutional nation,” he said.
Quebec wants its share, Frédéric Bastien mentions, and Justin knows it. For this reason, the historian believes, the prime minister of Canada refuses to touch the monarchy and the constitution.
The latter also regrets Mr Trudeau’s insistence that the issue of abolishing the monarchy is not important to the majority of Canadians.
“He knows that when Mr. Trudeau opens up the Constitution to be able to abolish the monarchy, he knows very well that he must face the Quebec question, and he knows very well that he does not want to give Quebec anything. That’s why he prefers to pretend it’s the wrong question,” says the teacher and historian.
“Canada’s unresolved Quebec issue prevents us from abolishing the monarchy,” he adds.
opposition and discrimination
In addition, Frédéric Bastien pointed out that King Charles III. was crowned in an Anglican church on Saturday. The new sovereign, like his predecessors, must be of Anglican faith in order to ascend the throne.
But this is a case of religious discrimination affecting Canada, Mr Bastien believes.
Since the British monarch is the head of state of Canada, this means that being of Anglican faith is absolutely necessary in order to “govern” Canada, the historian points out.
“If you are Catholic, you do not have the right to become head of state. If you are Jewish, Muslim or of any religion other than Anglican, this is not possible for you. And during that time, Mr. Trudeau will challenge Quebec’s Bill 21 in the Supreme Court, saying it is discriminatory. I think it’s a bit of a paradox that the federal system and the Trudeau government are acting like this,” asserts Frédéric Bastien.
To see the full interview, watch the video above.