Only 34% want royal family member to continue to be Canada’s head of state as federal Conservatives have proposed in questionably unconstitutional Bill C-53
79% of people in Quebec want this change, as do more than 60% of people younger than age 34 and 55% of people age 35-64 — 48% of people outside Quebec want this change (39% in B.C.), while only 39% want to continue with royal family member (53% in B.C.)
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2021
OTTAWA – Today, the new national educational foundation Your Canada, Your Constitution (YCYC) released the results of its recent national survey of 2,024 Canadians that shows a majority of Canadians (55%) want to change to a Canadian head of state, while only 34% want to continue with a member of the British royal family as Canada’s head of state.
“The federal Conservatives have introduced a bill to change the succession rules for the monarchy without consulting the provinces on this constitutional change, and have ignored completely that most Canadians want to change to a Canadian head of state selected by Canadians,” said Duff Conacher, Coordinator of YCYC. Bill C-53 was rushed through the House of Commons by the Conservatives, and is currently being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.
Compared to the rest of Canada, many more people in Quebec (79%) support this change than do not (13%). Outside of Quebec, an average of 48% support this change, while only 39% want to continue with a member of the British royal family as Canada’s head of state.
Across Canada, support among people younger than 34 is highest (more than 60%) but a clear majority (55%) of people age 35 to 64 also want to change to a Canadian head of state.
Given this survey result, and the survey result released in June 2012 by YCYC that revealed 67% of Canadians want an elected Governor General and provincial lieutenant governors, and the recent survey that revealed 84% of Canadians want clear, written, enforceable rules in the areas that the Governor General and lieutenant governor currently make decisions, it is clear that a substantial majority of Canadians want Canada’s head of state made Canadian, and democratic, and with clear powers.
This is not surprising given that Environics Focus Canada survey (PDF – pages 20-21) has consistently found since 1997 that only about 15% of Canadians see the Queen as an important symbol of Canada (the lowest percentage of any symbol named).
About the poll: The data was gathered between January 31st through February 11th, 2013 through Harris/Decima’s teleVox, the company’s national omnibus survey. Results are based on a sample of 2,024 Canadians, and the corresponding margin of error is ±2.2%, 19 times out of 20.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Duff Conacher, Coordinator of Your Canada, Your Constitution
Tel: 647-824-5959
Email: [email protected]
Internet: www.YourConstitution.ca
Survey Question
Canada’s federal government, and the governments of the 15 other countries that have the British monarchy as their head of state, have agreed to change the rules about who in the royal family can inherit the throne in the future. Experts believe that in order to change these rules in Canada, the Constitution of Canada may have to be changed.
If a change to the constitution will need to be made anyway, would you rather see a Canadian born person chosen by Canadians as Canada’s head of state, or continue to have a member of the British Royal family as Canada’s head of state?
(a) Canadian born
(b) British family
(c) Don’t know/refused
SURVEY (PDF Format)
What do you think? You can send a letter letting key politicians across Canada know what you think HERE.
