- Polls last year showed that a majority of Canadians would now support a republic.
This is the moment the Canadian parliament stormed God Save the King after MPs rejected a bill that sought to eliminate the oath of allegiance to the reigning monarch.
Canada’s Liberal government, along with Conservative MPs, found rare common ground in allying against the private members’ bill supported by left-wing and nationalist parties further from the centre.
In the joint effort, MPs narrowly voted to retain Section 128, which requires new MPs to swear that they will be “faithful and bear true allegiance” to the reigning monarch by 113 votes to 97.
When the bill was rejected, royalist MPs applauded the verdict and began singing God Save the King, shown on video from Canada’s House of Commons.
It comes at a difficult time for Canada, which since the death of Queen Elizabeth II has been forced to reassess its relationship with the Commonwealth of member states with ties to Britain.
MPs opposing the bill broke into song after learning it had been successfully rejected.
The video shows speaker Greg Fergus repeatedly calling for order without much acknowledgment as the opposition bloc continues to chant.
Had the bill been passed, an amendment would have been introduced whereby the new MPs swore to perform their duties “in the best interests of Canada” and its constitution, without reference to the monarchy.
King Charles III remains sovereign and head of state of Canada.
As noted on the government website: ‘In Canada’s system of government, the power to govern is vested in the Crown, but is entrusted to the government to exercise in the name and interest of the people.
‘The Crown reminds the government of the day when the source of the power to govern resides elsewhere and is only granted to them for a limited time. ‘
French and British monarchs have reigned in Canada since 1534.
However, support for the monarchy is declining, and a shocking poll last year showed that six in 14 countries, including Canada, would vote to remove King Charles as their head of state.
Up to 47 percent of Canadians wanted change and only 23 percent openly supported the monarchy.
54 per cent of Canadians agreed that the monarchy was good for them in the past, but that it no longer makes sense.
Australia was more divided: 42 percent of Australians supported a republic and 35 percent were against it.
Only Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Tuvalu have significant majorities in favor of maintaining the status quo, according to the survey of 11,251 people.
Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall meet and greet local schoolchildren from Assumption School on the second day of their Platinum Jubilee royal tour of Canada on May 18, 2022 in Ottawa, Canada.
King Charles III shakes hands with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Buckingham Palace on September 17, 2022.
King Charles had reportedly started making plans to visit Canada in May 2024, before his shocking cancer diagnosis was revealed in February.
A Canadian official said CBC that ‘following the announcement of a cancer diagnosis for His Majesty the King, there are no further tours planned in Canada for 2024, nor are there any tours planned with other members of the Royal Family.’
The King is currently being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer after being diagnosed with a large prostate earlier this year.
However, he is “optimistic” about a two-week state trip to Australia after his cancer treatment has made a positive start.
King Charles could visit the country with Queen Camilla in October if all goes to plan.