愛污传媒

Skip to main content

Bloc Quebecois' motion to sever ties with monarchy fails, but gets backing from other MPs

Share
OTTAWA -

A Bloc Quebecois motion calling for Canada to sever ties with the monarchy failed on Wednesday, after Bloc Leader Yves-Fran莽ois Blanchet forced MPs to vote on whether the federal government should no longer be connected to what he called an 鈥渋ncredibly racist鈥 and 鈥渁rchaic鈥 institution.

While the proposal was largely opposed鈥攕eeing the motion defeated 266-44鈥 it did have support from several non-Bloc MPs.

Several NDP MPs, including Jenny Kwan, Lori Idlout, and Leah Gazan voted in favour of the motion, along with Green MP Mike Morrice, Liberal MP Joel Lightbound and Independent MP Alain Rayes.

Doing away with the monarchy in Canada would require an agreement of the House of Commons, the Senate, and all 10 provinces, in an 鈥渁mendment of unanimous consent鈥 to the Constitution.

Blanchet received heavy pushback from MPs on Parliament Hill this week after advancing the proposal, some of whom accused the Bloc leader of scrambling for relevance and headlines by using one of its few opposition days in the House of Commons this year to bring up a topic nowhere near top-of-mind for Canadians.

They added Canadians are far more concerned about other issues, including the economy, climate and health care.

But Blanchet argued MPs should be able to 鈥渢alk about more than one thing at a time,鈥 and that wanting to sever ties with the monarchy does not deter from other issues.

Blanchet also raised eyebrows during his speech when he said Bloc MPs were not sincere in their oaths to the Queen; their oaths are to the people of Quebec, he said.

His comments continued to reverberate on the Hill leading up to Wednesday鈥檚 vote, with some officials, including Liberal MP Judy Sgro, saying Blanchet should not be able to sit in the House when he 鈥渨asn鈥檛 true to the commitment that he made,鈥 while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Quebecers overall are more concerned about inflation and the cost of groceries than they are reopening the Constitution, and he鈥檚 sure many people swear oaths to the Crown to become citizens just to withdraw it later, so it鈥檚 not worth spending time debating the sincerity of Blanchet鈥檚 oath.

Blanchet later doubled down on his statement, telling reporters after the vote Wednesday that his oath to the Queen was hollow.

鈥淎n oath which is sworn because you don't have a choice, it doesn't have much of a meaning,鈥 he said.

鈥淚 am personally certain that many MPs from other parties feel exactly the same, but that is not a subject openly discussed by other parties, while for us it is obvious,鈥 he added.

IN DEPTH

Opinion

opinion

opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike

When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Four people are dead following a fiery crash in downtown Toronto that happened overnight on Lake Shore Boulevard.

The president and CEO of New Brunswick-based Covered Bridge Potato Chips is taking an 'extended leave of absence' after being charged with domestic violence this past weekend.

A memorial is growing outside a Walmart in Halifax after a 19-year-old employee was found dead inside an oven in the store Saturday night.

A search has started at Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of two victims of a serial killer.

Local Spotlight

He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.

A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.

Stay Connected