The toughest thing about success is that you’ve got to keep on being a success. Talent is only a starting point in this business. You’ve got to keep on working that talent. Someday I’ll reach for it and it won’t be there.

We citizens pay enough taxes without having to fork over more for this frivilous cause. Let’s put a stop to this waste and throw our weight behind the Canadian Republican cause for change.

I’m going to join for change now.

http://www.canadian-republic.ca/goals.html

All of the substantive decisions currently made by the Governor General (and there aren’t many of them) could be referred to the Supreme Court of Canada. The rest could be made by the Prime Minister. Indeed, most of them already are. The Governor General (or the Queen) rubberstamps them.

In my opinion the office of Governor General is worse than useless, and the monarchy is downright shameful. Hereditary monarchy is the ultimate nepotism. Will it take King Charles to wake this country up? I hope not!

The entire monarchy needs to be destroyed and cleansed. Canadians need to seize power for themselves. True nations govern themselves by the people through their representatives all the way to the top.

I’ve always been a republican and detested the monarchy for years. This is nothing more than a foreign head of state imposed on us through a myriad of complex legislation no one can read or understand. It is un-Canadian, anti-Canadian and non-Canadian, an absentee head of state that is the head of state of ANOTHER nation who rules for life, is never chosen by the people and is succeeded by blood. Because of this Canada has remained weak, divided and impoverished. English chauvinism stirs French separatism and both hate the Aboriginals.

We need a government where it is ruled by law, where the people is the state and the state is the people. We need not just an elected head of state chosen by the people who serves for a limited term but also an entirely new system of government. Westminster system has failed and we need a new form of government without the Queen. We must have a republican form of government. We must become a republic founded on the universal principals of liberty, equality and unity and with a constitution that embodies and honours them.

I am outraged that I’m paying for anyone else’s taxes…mine are plenty enough. But what do we do about it is the question. Some ‘how to’s’ would be helpful. Love the smart conversation everyone is having…this is my first visit. I’ll be back.

Once you rally the entrepreneurial support in Canada to the point of moving out of socialism and into a full-fledged-free-flowing enterprising economy, if you still need a GG, call me. I will do the job, and more, for 1/10th of the pay. This would be the ultimate of doing a turn-around. When I am done, I will let myself go.

Now that’s what we call a COMMENT! You’re correct. However, you may also find interesting that according to the poll information, http://www.canadian-republic.ca/“{2002} Today, polls show that many Canadians are unaware of the monarchy’s role in their system of government.” A 2002 EKOS poll found that only 5% of Canadians could correctly identify the Queen as Canada’s head of state.[5] 2002 - Ipsos Reid - (February 3) - 65 percent believe the royals should not have any formal role in Canada’s government and are “simply celebrities” and 48 percent of Canadians prefer a republic system of government with an elected head of state. Strangely, the same poll revealed 79 percent support the constitutional monarchy as Canada’s form of government.

Clearly, Canadians need to know more about the issues. Thus, the necessity of a good blog on these and other topics is suggested. Now, if I can just get my fellow countrymen to read my posts and your comments.

Thank you.

Are you sure the Governor General and the governmental structure below her are the “pretend government”? How do you know, without the certainty of historical revolution that Her Majesty does not simply allow the peasant Canadians to play government with a prime minister, parliament and provincial governments. It is not like she can’t run an empire without civil servants anyway. Perhaps Steven Harper is merely the highest level civil servant representing the populace: in times of cataclysmic distress, wouldn’t it be possible for the Queen to re-assert practical authority and dissolve parliament?

The problem is that Canada does not have the benefit of two near wartime-misses (three if you count the British interference in the Civil War) to assert its own independence. Else, overthrow the expenditures of the Governor General. For now, even Steven Harper is invited to serve at Her Majesty’s pleasure until his time is finished.

Meanwhile, we Americans agitate . . .

From http://www.crht.ca/DiscoverMonarchyFiles/QueenElizabethII.html
In 1867 the Fathers of Confederation wanted their new country called “The Kingdom of Canada” but dropped the proposal because of American objections. Sir John A. Macdonald told Queen Victoria on 27 February 1867 that the purpose of Confederation was “to declare in the most solemn and emphatic manner our resolve to be under the Sovereignty of Your Majesty and your family forever”. The Confederation Debates made clear that Canada was to be governed “by the Sovereign in person or by her representative duly authorised”.

Really appreciate the thoughtful comment. You might want to check this link out and do a little investigating as to whether you might want to get involved. http://www.canadian-republic.ca/goals.html. Please help me spread the word.

Okay, let me first start by saying that I’m a little embarassed that you, as an American, know more about how my Canadian government works than I, who was born and raised here, do. That aside, this article was very informative and interesting on a couple of different levels. On one, I completely agree that Clarkson’s 19-million dollar budget used to run our “pretend” government, as you call it, could be used to much better advantage. How ’bout establishing more, and better quality, shelters and programs for the homeless, instead of just visiting them? How ’bout pouring some of that money into subsidized seniors’ homes to reduce wait times or putting money back into the health care system? Secondly, I *am* outraged at helping to pay for the GG’s personal travel expenses with my taxes! I cannot afford a holiday in France, or a second home, or even a first home for that matter - why should I help pay for hers? I don’t mind paying taxes when I know that they are being used to help run this country in a fair and positive manner, but I consider this to be an abuse of power. Well-written article, Roland. Keep it up!