Keith Gerein, Journal Staff Writer

Festivities to mark the Queen's golden jubilee are in full swing in England, but not every Edmontonian is eager to join the party.

In fact, many believe it's time for Canada to sever all ties to the British monarchy, abandoning traditions and symbols that have been a part of the country since before its birth.

"We need to support our own culture, our own way of doing things," said C.J. King, 18, as he strummed a beatup guitar on Whyte Avenue.

"But we should get rid of the Queen in a good way," he added.

Don McEachern, a teacher in his 50s, said he has no problem with the British monarch remaining Canada's head of state until Queen Elizabeth's death.

"But we'll have to re-evaluate at that point. We have no particular need to have a British monarch, or even a monarch, in this country."

The monarchy's presence in Canada may not generate the heated discussions that the Kyoto accord, abortion or even the price of gasoline may ignite, but that doesn't mean the matter isn't contentious.

A poll on The Journal's Web site showed a dead heat on Wednesday, with 50.5 per cent of respondents in favour of keeping Canada tied to the British monarchy and 49.5 per cent opposed.

High-profile politicians have also started to speak out on the issue. A year ago, John Manley, then foreign affairs minister, made headlines when he said Canada's head of state should be a "Canadian who reflects Canadian diversity and is chosen by Canadians."

There's even an official organization for anti-monarchists. Citizens for a Canadian Republic was launched in April with the aim of providing a foil to the Monarchist League of Canada.

"Our group is set up to keep the subject alive and ... to make sure that people who raise these ideas aren't seen as traitors," said co-director Tom Freda. He said the Toronto-based organization wants the governor general to become Canada's symbolic head-of-state as a representative of the people, rather than a representative of the Queen. The group plans to launch a membership drive in Edmonton in late June or early July.

Cheryl Madriaga, 20, doesn't plan to join the organization, but agrees with many of its aims.

"The Queen is just a figurehead, just a face, so it seems pointless to keep her around," said Madriaga, who will be attending NAIT this fall.

"People associate her with Britain, so how do we figure into it?"

Madriaga felt the money spent on maintaining a royal connection, including funding the governor general and lieutenant-governors, was a waste.

"It just doesn't seem important. There are better areas to spend the money, like crime prevention."

Jessica Neufeld, 19, also listed herself among the anti-monarchists.

"Tradition is good, but we are our own country, so we should have our own ideas," she said while serving customers at a Calgary Trail coffee shop.

However, Neufeld was less certain on how Canada could replace monarchist symbols and traditions.

"We have the beaver. We have the maple leaf. Maybe we could put up pictures of the prime minister," she suggested.