Canadians appear divided on the future role of the monarchy ahead of the coronation of King Charles III, according to a new poll.
The 74-year-old monarch’s coronation is less than two months away and the country is split in two over whether it’s time to cut ties with the Crown, according to a new poll.
A Leger poll of 1,544 Canadians found that 56% of respondents agreed that the country should “reconsider its ties” with the monarchy now that there is a new ruler. That number was higher in Quebec, where 71% of respondents said there should be constitutional soul-searching about the Crown, according to CBC.
Residents of Ontario (53%) and British Columbia (52%) were more likely than other regions to say that King Charles and his heirs should retain their current role in our system.
Barbados ditched ties with the monarchy in 2021 and became a republic – a move that gave hope to anti-royalists in other Commonwealth realms.
This kind of move couldn’t happen so easily in Canada, as Charles has deep ties to Canada, forging bonds with some Canadians through his charity work and outreach during his many visits to the country.
The Constitution of Canada requires unanimity on the matter — the House of Commons, the Senate and the 10 provinces would have to agree on a different system.
However, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there was no appetite for this kind of protracted constitutional battle. Whether he is loved or not, King Charles is likely to remain king of the land.