Media release

Is this Canada's next head of state?

Toronto, ON, November 18, 2004 - Recent evidence revealed during a hearing investigating sex discrimination in the British Royal household indicates some disturbing insight into the views of Prince Charles.

Regarding staff employment policies, the heir to the throne and next-in-line to replacing the Queen as Canada's head of state, the Prince is reported to have written the following in a 2002 memo to a staff member:

"What is wrong with people nowadays? Why do they all seem to think they are qualified to do things far above their capabilities?"

"This is all to do with the learning culture in schools. It is a consequence of a child-centred education system which tells people they can become pop stars, high court judges or brilliant TV presenters or infinitely more competent heads of state without ever putting in the necessary work or having the natural ability.

"It is a result of social utopianism which believes humanity can be genetically engineered to contradict the lessons of history."

Supporters of Citizens for a Canadian Republic, the advocacy group that wants a democratically chosen Canadian as head of state were appalled, yet not surprised.

"We hope Canadians will take note", says Tom Freda, National Director of the non-partisan organization.

"These kinds of views are not compatible with egalitarian Canada. The concept of being able to aspire and succeed at whatever one chooses, despite one's social standing, is at the very core of Canadian values. Prince Charles' comments should be a rude awakening to Canadians as they contemplate whether or not the monarchy is appropriate for a progressive, twenty-first century nation such as ours."

"What many Canadians don't think about," he added, "is that the Queen is nearing the end of her reign. We could wake up one morning to find that our new head of state is King Charles III, whether we like it or not. This is already a major issue in Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica and Barbados regarding their respective monarchies. It's time we started the debate here as to whether citizens of an independent Canada deserve the right to choose their own head of state or accept one imposed upon them without debate or democratic process."

- 30 -