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During the referendum and more recently, certain leading Australian republicans have gone on the public record to declare that Canada is a (politicans') republic.
When Queen Elizabeth was recently in Canada, one of our national TV networks reported this on the evening news:
” Meanwhile the Queen has commenced a nine day tour of Canada. She arrived in Halifax to an official welcome from Prime Minister Stephen Harper and hundreds of locals who'd gathered for hours in steady rain. Although Canada is now a republic, Queen Elizabeth's silhouette still marks their coins.”
You can watch this here.
The fact is that Canada is a constitutional monarchy – a crowned republic. As Australia, New Zealand the United Kingdom, Barbados , and a about 15 % of countries are. And on all measures, they are among the best.
Republicans in Australia confidently predicted Sir William Deane would be our last Governor-General.
We have had three more. In the meantime The Queen has just appointed the Canadian Governor General – Canada's 28th.
…Canada and the referendum…
According to John Howard, the 26th Prime Minister of Australia, the Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien followed it intensely. He was releived when the referendum was defeated.
in his biography, Lazarus Rising, John Howard says that in Durban on e week later Mr Chrétien bowed to The Queen of Canada and said:
Your loyal Australian Prime Minister has saved the monarchy in Australia. He has also done me a very good turn.
…new Governor General of Canada…
On October 1st, 2010, David Johnston was sworn in as Canada's 28th Governor General.
Le 1er octobre 2010, David Johnston a été assermenté comme 28e gouverneur général du Canada
David Johnston began his professional career as an assistant professor in the Faculty of Law at Queen’s University in 1966, moving to the Law Faculty at the University of Toronto in 1968.
He became dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario in 1974.
In 1979, he was named principal and vice-chancellor of McGill University, and in July 1994, he returned to the McGill Faculty of Law as a full-time professor. In June 1999, he became the fifth president of the University of Waterloo.
Mr. Johnston has served on many provincial and federal task forces and committees. He has also served on the boards of a number of companies, including Arise, CGI, Fairfax, and Masco.
He was president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and of the Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec. He was the founding chair of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, chaired the federal government’s Information Highway Advisory Council, and served as the first non-American chair of the Board of Overseers at Harvard University.
…prolific author…
He is the author or co-author of two dozen books, holds honorary doctorates from over a dozen universities, and has been awarded the Order of Canada (Companion).
Mr. Johnston holds an LLB from Queen’s University (1966), an LLB from the University of Cambridge (1965), and an AB from Harvard University (1963). While at Harvard, he was twice selected for the All-American hockey team and is a member of Harvard’s Athletic Hall of Fame. His academic specializations include securities regulation, information technology and corporate law.
He was born in Sudbury, Ontario, and is married to Sharon Johnston. They have five adult daughters and seven grandchildren.
Sworn in on October 1, 2010, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston is the 28th governor general since Confederation.
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[ More videos follow]
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[ Posted 24 October 2010]