| Is it just me or is it odd that we pledge our allegiance
to the Queen only and not also to the Canada?
The Pledge of Allegiance Act reads as follows:
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"2. (1) Every person who,
either of his own accord or in compliance with any lawful
requirement made of the person, or in obedience to the
directions of any Act or law in force in Canada, except
the Constitution Act, 1867 and the Citizenship
Act, desires to take an oath of allegiance shall have
administered and take the oath in the following form, and
no other:
"I, ...................., do swear that I
will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and
Successors. So help me God.
"(2) Where there is a demise of the
Crown, there shall be substituted in the oath of
allegiance the name of the Sovereign for the time being.
R.S., c. O-1, s. 2; 1974-75-76, c.
108, s. 39."
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Webster's dictionary defines Allegiance to include: loyalty or
devotion to a person, group or cause.
Does the Queen take an Oath of Allegiance to Canadians? Well not specifically, but the Act establishing the Coronation Oath
of 1689 states that she does promise to govern over the Kingdom and its
"dominions".
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Act Establishing the Coronation Oath 1689
Whereas by the law and ancient usage of this Realm, the Kings
and Queens thereof have taken a solemn oath upon the Evangelists
at their respective coronations, to maintain the statutes, laws,
and customs of the said Realm, and all the people and
inhabitants thereof, in their spiritual and civil rights and
properties: but forasmuch as the oath itself on such occasion
administered, hath heretofore been framed in doubtful words and
expressions, with relation to ancient laws and constitutions at
this time unknown: to the end therefore that one uniform oath
may be in all times to come taken by the Kings and Queens of
this Realm, and to them respectively administered at the times
of their and every of their coronation: may it please your
Majesties that it may be enacted:
II. And be it enacted by the King's and Queen's most
excellent majesties, by and with the advice and consent of the
Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons, in this present
Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the
oath herein mentioned, and hereafter expressed, shall and may be
administered to their most excellent majesties King William and
Queen Mary (whom God long preserve) at the time of their
coronation, in the presence of all persons that shall be then
and there present at the solemnizing thereof, by the Archbishop
of Canterbury, or the Archbishop of York, or either of them, or
any other bishop of this Realm, whom the King's majesty shall
thereunto appoint, and who shall be hereby thereunto
respectively authorized; which oath followeth, and shall be
administered in this manner; that is to say,
III. The archbishop of bishop shall say, "Will you
solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of this Kingdom
of England, and the dominions thereto belonging, according to
the statutes in Parliament agreed on, and the laws and customs
of the same?"
The King and Queen shall say, "I solemnly promise so to
do."
Archbishop or bishop, "Will you to your power cause law and
justice in mercy to be executed in all your judgments?"
King and Queen, "I will."
Archbishop or bishop, "Will you to the utmost of your power
maintain the laws of God, the true profession of the gospel and
the Protestant reformed religion established by law, and will
you preserve unto the bishops and clergy of this Realm, and to
the churches committed to their charge, all such rights and
privileges as by law do or shall appertain unto them, or any of
them?"
King and Queen, "All this I promise to do."
After this, the King and Queen laying his and her hand upon the
holy Gospels, shall say,
King and Queen, "The things which I have here before
promised, I will perform and keep: So help me God."
Then the King and Queen shall kiss the book.
IV. And be it enacted, That the said oath shall be in like
manner administered to every King and Queen, who shall succeed
to the imperial crown of this Realm, at their respective
coronations, by one of the archbishops or bishops of this Realm
of England, for the time being, to be thereunto appointed by
such King or Queen respectively, and in the presence of all
persons that shall be attending, assisting, or otherwise present
at such their respective coronations; any law, statute, or usage
to the contrary notwithstanding. |
Funny thing is that the monarch, who was to be bound by this
"Oath", was also the person who had to approve the Law
enacting the Oath.
You may note that the Monarch promises to govern according to the
statutes of Parliament, that is the ruling body of the country.
Since Queen Elizabeth II is the Queen of Canada, she must, according
to the 1689 Oath, takes an Oath to rule according to the laws of Canada.
So the Queen takes an Oath to Canada but Canadians do
not?
Just thought I would ask.
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