FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Queen of England on Canadian currency and postage?
The Queen appears on Canadian
money and stamps in her capacity as Queen of Canada, not as Queen of England (the
same physical person, but two separatelegal personalities). Her
Majesty is Queen of England, but she is also Queen of a number of other
realms, including Canada, where she assumes the title "Queen of Canada".
Why does Canada have a Queen?
Canada is a contitutional monarchy. Since 1534, when
the King of France claimed possession of what is now Canada, the
history of our country has been marked by the reigns of an
uninterrupted succession of monarchs, both French and British, who have
had a significant influence on our country's development.
Isn't the Prime Minister the head of Canada?
The Prime Minister is the head of govenrment; the Queen is the head of state. Executive authority is formally vested in the Canadian
Sovereign and exercised on his or her behalf by the Governor General.
Why does the Queen not live in Canada?
While the Queen is our head of
state, she shares that title with a number of other countries around
the globe. She obviously can't be physically present in every
country of which she is Sovereign, so she relies on her vice-regal
representative to act on her behalf.
Why is Prince Philip not a king?
Queen
Elizabeth II is Queen in her own right. Her husband, Prince
Philip, is the Queen's consort and is not entitled to be sytled
king. When a king succeeds to the throne, his wife takes the
title of queen because this is the title bestowed on the king's
consort. The same thing happens lower down in the British
Peerage. If a man is created Lord XYZ, his wife becomes Lady
XYZ. However, if a woman is created Lady XYZ in her own right,
her husband remains Mr. XYZ.
Who will be the next King or Queen of Canada?
Succession to the throne is by
male-preference primogeniture and governed by the provisions of the Act
of Settlement and the English Bill of Rights.
These documents are now a part of Canadian constitutional law. Canada's
rules of succession are identical to those of the United
Kingdom by the Statute of Westminster.
Assuming
that Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales survives his mother, the
Queen, he will become the next King of Canada. When The Prince of
Wales accedes to the Throne, it is intended that HRH The Duchess of
Cornwall will be known as HRH The Princess Consort.
Why is the Queen on only the Canadian $20 note?
The
reigning monarch and members of the Royal family have always graced the
Canadian bank notes. In the 1935 series, former Prime
Ministers graced the front of two notes; Sir John A. Macdonald on the
$500 note and Sir Wilfred Laurier on the $1000 note. In the 1937
series, these two ministerial faces still graced the $100 and $1000
notes. In the 1954 series, the image of the Queen was placed on
all bank notes, then in the 1969 series the two familiar ministerial
faces returned, along with William Lyon Mackenzie King and Sir Robert
Borden. The $1 note was not reissued in the 1986 series, and the
production of the $1000 note was ceased in 2000, along with the $2 note
in 2001. This leaves the $20 note the only one with the image of
HM on Canadian paper currency.
What is the Governor General?
Canada
is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. This
means that Canadians recognize The Queen as our Head of State.
Canada's Governor General carries out Her Majesty's duties in Canada on
a daily basis and is Canada's de facto Head of State.
What is the Lieutenant Governor?
Canada is a parliamentary
democracy and a
constitutional monarchy. This means that Canadians recognize The
Queen
as our Head of State. Each province in Canada has a Lieutenant
Governor who carries out Her
Majesty's duties in the province on a daily basis and is the province's
de facto
Head of State. The Governor General acts for the government of
Canada, whereas the Lieutenant Governor acts for the provincial
government.
What is a Constitutional Monarchy?
Canada
is a constitutional monarchy. This means that the powers of the monarchy in Canada are limited by the
Constitution. The Constitution is a set of basic principles, laws and rules that
explain the powers and duties of the government and the rights and freedoms of
the citizens.
Does England control the Canadian government?
The
Constitution Act of April 17, 1982, transferred formal control over the
constitution from Britain to Canada, and added a Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms as well as procedures for constituional amendments.
How much does it cost Canadian taxpayers to have a monarchy?
It costs an average of $1.10
per Canadian to support the Monarchy in Canada. This money does
not go to the routine expenses of the Queen, but rather to the offices
of the Governor General and Lieutenant Governor.
Why do we celebrate the birthday of a queen who's been dead for almost 100 years?
As the name suggests, Victoria
Day was originally set to celebrate the birthday of Queen
Victoria. After her death, Canada continued to use this day to
celebrate every monarch's birthday.
Why do we celebrate the Queen's birthday in May when her birthday is in June?
Queen
Elizabeth's birthday is April 21st, but we celebrate it in May on
Victoria Day, as we have for every monarch since the death of Queen
Victoria.
What is Government House?
Government
House is the official residence of the Governor General or Lieutenant
Governor. Rideau Hall, in Ottawa, is the official residence of
the Governor General. Each province, at one time, had their own
Government House for the Lieutenant Governor, but today only some are
actually residences; some have been demolished or are used as museums.
Why do Canadian ships all have HMCS before their name?