British Monarchy Always Committed to Protecting Canada’s Sovereignty — King Charles in Canadian Parliament

British Monarchy Always Committed to Protecting Canada’s Sovereignty — King Charles in Canadian Parliament

King Charles, the formal head of state of Canada, arrived in Ottawa, Canada’s capital, on Monday for an important two-day visit.

Why is King Charles addressing the Canadian Parliament?
King Charles is delivering the traditional “Throne Speech” at the opening of the new session of Parliament. This session begins following the recent victory of the center-left Liberal Party. The speech is not personally written by the King but prepared by the office of Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, outlining the new government’s goals and priorities.

Delivering the Throne Speech is a long-standing tradition in Canada and other former British Empire territories. However, it is very rare for the monarch to deliver it in person. Usually, the Governor General reads the speech. The last time a monarch personally gave the speech was Queen Elizabeth II in 1977.

Jared Wesley, a political science professor at the University of Alberta, said, “This visit shows the King places great importance on Canada’s sovereignty. Trump’s direct threats have caught the attention of the King and his advisors.”
He added, “This visit has also influenced Canada’s domestic politics, as Trump’s remarks have stirred patriotism among Canadians and established the monarchy as a strong symbol distinguishing Canada from the United States.”

Elizabeth MacCallum, a professor at the University of Toronto, believes the visit is “an effort to remind Canadians of their independence and national identity.”

Is there a message for Trump?
Prime Minister Carney said the invitation to the British monarch was “not accidental.” In a statement marking Charles’s arrival, he did not mention Trump by name but said, “The crisis has strengthened our historic bond.”

Since Charles is head of state for both Canada and the UK, his business relations with the UK are complex. Earlier, Carney had criticized the UK government for inviting Trump on a state visit.

Will Trump be mentioned in the Throne Speech?
MacCallum believes Trump’s name will not be directly mentioned but there will be pointed references to “Canada’s sovereignty.” There may also be messages about redefining U.S.-Canada trade relations.

Wesley joked, “Those who come expecting a theatrical speech might want to take a snack break when they hear the word ‘reset’!”

What else might the speech include?

• A commitment to develop Canada as an “energy superpower”

• Plans to manage the cost of living
  After the speech, there will be debates and a vote in Parliament. If the government fails, new elections may be called, although this is unlikely.

What has Trump said about Canada?
Trump has repeatedly suggested, sometimes jokingly and sometimes seriously, that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States. At one point, he called former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “Canada’s governor” and said that absorbing Canada would solve America’s mineral resource shortages.

Prime Minister Carney responded firmly, “Canada will never be sold.” Trump said, “I’m not thinking about sending the military right now,” but also said, “This marriage (the union of the U.S. and Canada) would be tremendous.”