Republic Now Survey Reveals Overwhelming Support for Reform of Canada’s Parliamentary Oath of Office
91% of Canadians Prefer Oath Reflecting Loyalty to Canada and Its Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Toronto, ON — A new national survey commissioned by Republic Now, a non-partisan political advocacy organization calling for Canada to replace the British monarch with a democratically-selected Canadian as head of state, has revealed overwhelming support for reforming the parliamentary oath of office. The survey, conducted by the respected polling firm Abacus Data, asked 1,900 Canadians which oath they preferred for their federal Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators.
The two options presented were:
a) “I promise to conscientiously discharge the duties of my position, serve the interests of my constituents and my nation, and uphold Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”
b) “I do swear that I will be faithful and bear true Allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third.”
The results show that 91% of Canadians prefer the first option, emphasizing loyalty to Canada, democratic governance, and the values enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Only 9% support the second option, which reflects the current oath of office, wherein MPs and Senators swear allegiance to the British monarch.
Calls for Reform
This overwhelming preference for an oath reflecting Canadian values comes in the wake of April 2024’s parliamentary vote on Bill C-347, which sought to amend the oath of office. Despite significant public support for reform, the bill was defeated by a vote of 197 to 113, retaining the requirement that parliamentarians swear allegiance to the British monarch before taking their seats.
Ashok Charles, Executive Director of Republic Now, emphasized that the survey results clearly demonstrate that the majority of Canadians believe their representatives should pledge their loyalty to Canada, not a foreign monarch. “The current oath is out of step with modern Canadian values and the will of the people. Canadians overwhelmingly support an oath that reflects a commitment to our democracy, our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the principle of equality, rather than allegiance to a foreign monarch,” said Charles.
Republic Now Takes Action
In light of these findings, Republic Now will be sending a message to every Member of Parliament and Senator, urging them to take action to reform the oath so that it expresses loyalty to Canada, democratic governance, and the ideals expressed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
“The message from Canadians is clear: our parliamentary representatives should be pledging their allegiance to Canada and its people, not to a foreign monarch. We urge parliamentarians to heed the will of the people and work toward modernizing the oath of office to reflect Canada’s values and identity as an independent nation,” Charles added.
For more information on Republic Now and its campaign to modernize Canada’s parliamentary institutions, please visit republicnow.ca.
Media Contact:Ashok Charles
Executive Director, Republic Now
Email: director@republicnow.ca
Phone: 416-653-4747