Poll: 52% say Canada should ‘stop being a constitutional monarchy’ | World News

Toronto: The coronation of King Charles III is scheduled for next month, but most Canadians believe it’s time for the country to ditch the monarchy.

According to a new survey by the Angus Reed Institute (ARI), a non-profit public opinion polling organisation, 52 per cent of respondents believe Canada should “cease to be a constitutional monarchy”. The King of the United Kingdom is Canada’s head of state and is represented in Canada by the Governor-General.

The opposition Leaders Party had already moved a motion on this in the House of Commons in October last year. More than a quarter, or 27 per cent, of those surveyed want Canada to remain a constitutional monarchy for generations to come.

While the Caribbean nation of Barbados has removed the royal family as head of state, other countries including Belize, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis have announced similar plans. 61% of Canadians believe that “these countries made the right decision to sever ties with the monarchy”.

About three in 10 (28%) Canadians say they have a favorable opinion of the new king; about half (48%) do not. “In fact, a majority (60%) is opposed to the recognition of Charles as king and all that comes with it,” the pollsters found. That includes growing opposition to taking the King’s oath, singing “God Save the King” at official ceremonies, or putting his likeness on Canadian currency.

The Canadian did love his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. A poll conducted by ARI in April last year found that 63 percent had a positive view of her and 59 percent said they would be sad when she died. Charles didn’t evoke quite the same sentiment, with just 28 percent seeing him positively.

In fact, 45 percent of respondents said Canada should go through a tortuous process to amend the constitution and abandon the monarchy.

The official coronation of King Charles III is scheduled for May 6 at Westminster Abbey in London.