Roger-Luc Chayer (Photo: par Millie Pilkington 2024)
Following the election of Canada’s new Prime Minister, the Honourable Mark Carney, a rare historical gesture has been made: King Charles III of Canada has been invited to deliver the Throne Speech, scheduled for the end of May.
This announcement has sparked negative reactions from some individuals and politicians, who denounced the presence of the sovereign with harsh remarks. It seemed important to revisit this invitation and highlight the historical context, especially at a time when Donald Trump, since his re-election, has been systematically attacking Canada’s sovereignty, treating our country as if it were simply an American state governed by a governor, like any other state in the Union.
In Canada, the Head of State is the King!
In all sovereign countries around the world, there is a Head of State and, often, a Head of Government. In France, the Head of State is President Emmanuel Macron, while the Head of Government is his Prime Minister.
In the United States, the Head of Government is the President of the United States. Unlike other political systems, where the Head of State (the king or the president) is distinct from the Head of Government (the prime minister), the American president combines both roles:
Head of State: He represents the country on the international stage.
Head of Government: He leads the executive, appoints ministers (called « secretaries »), signs laws, oversees federal agencies, and can veto bills.
In Canada, the Head of State is King Charles III of Canada, and the Head of Government is Prime Minister Carney. This is how the Canadian Constitution is written, and as long as it is not revised according to the prescribed conditions, the King will remain the Head of State of Canada, whether we accept it or not.
What deeply outrages me is the disrespect shown by certain individuals toward the sovereign, a disrespect they openly cultivate toward the one who is, in fact, the guarantor of our sovereignty.
According to Noovo Info, for the Parti Québécois (PQ) and the Bloc Québécois, the arrival of King Charles III in Canada following Mark Carney’s victory is unacceptable. « I must admit, even I find it hard to believe, » added PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.
In a post on X, Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon attacked the remarks of the Canadian Prime Minister, who stated that the visit of the monarch was « a historic honor, » which « clearly shows the sovereignty of our country. »
The leader of the Parti Québécois is making a serious political mistake by opposing his own Head of State, especially since his party has only five members out of a total of 125. King Charles III is also the Head of State of Quebec, and Premier Legault is his Prime Minister.
A King Facing a President: Two Visions of Power and Sovereignty
In these difficult and uncertain times, both economically and politically, it is crucial to confront a U.S. president who is more dangerous than ever. With his destructive ambitions and conquest-driven aspirations, only unity — and especially determination — can truly make a difference.
The difference between the King of Canada and the President of the United States is often discussed. Today more than ever, this distinction makes perfect sense: a king can be a protective and unifying symbol, whereas an unstable president, displaying traits of personality bordering on dictatorship, represents a much graver danger.
What Is the Importance of the Throne Speech in Canada?
It will be particularly important for King Charles III to deliver the Throne Speech at the end of May directly from the Canadian capital, given the current geopolitical context marked by repeated attacks from Donald Trump on Canada’s sovereignty.
In doing so, the sovereign physically and symbolically reaffirms his role as Head of State of Canada, at a time when this role is being challenged by external forces and, at times, by certain internal political actors.
As Trump seeks to reduce Canada to a mere extension of the United States, even referring to our country as if it were just another state in the American Union, the King’s presence on Canadian soil sends a clear message: Canada is an independent parliamentary monarchy, with its own institutions, history, and Constitution.
The Throne Speech, as a founding act of each parliamentary session, therefore takes on exceptional significance. This royal gesture reminds us that Canadian sovereignty is not an illusion but a reality rooted in law, embodied by a monarch whose authority is distinct and respected. It is a moment of national cohesion in the face of external pressures.
I personally look forward to discovering the content of the Throne Speech, written by the Prime Minister for the King. I have a strong feeling that we will witness a historic moment, and I would not be surprised if President Donald Trump himself listens in, as much of the discussion will likely revolve around him.
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