Media release

'Canada after the Queen' subject of Victoria Day forum

Former Chrétien aide Peter Donolo among guest speakers

May 14, 2009 - Toronto, ON - The Toronto chapter of Citizens for a Canadian Republic will mark Victoria Day with a special downtown speaking engagement and public forum.

Hosted by radio journalist Phil Taylor of CIUT's 'The Taylor Report,' the theme this year is 'Canada after the Queen: Options and opportunities.' The presentations and discussion will focus on the growth of public opinion for ending the monarchy and what steps should be taken now to prepare for a republic.

Guest speakers include pollster and former political strategist Peter Donolo as well as author and policy analyst Randall White. Contributing on the lighter side will be CBC Air Farce comedian Alan Park.

Date and Time: Monday, May 18 (Victoria Day/Patriots Day holiday), 1pm-4pm

Location: Metro Hall rotunda (main floor). 55 John Street, Toronto (South-east corner of King and John, two blocks east of Spadina).

Background

● Peter Donolo was Director of Communications for Prime Minister Jean Chrétien from 1993 to 1999. Presently, he is executive Vice President and partner at The Strategic Counsel, a Toronto-based public opinion research and communications consulting firm. An outspoken republican, Donolo stated in a 2002 Maclean's interview that by having a foreign monarch as our head of state, Canada is "behaving like a colonial outpost."

● Randall White, PhD is a policy analyst and author of a number of books on Canadian history and politics, including: 'Is Canada Trapped in a Time Warp?: Political Symbols in the Age of the Internet' and 'Voice of Region: The Long Journey to Senate Reform in Canada and Ontario Since 1985.' White's article 'Let's elect our head of state' was recently seen in the April 26th edition of the Toronto Star.

● Alan Park, a Toronto-based comic and satirist, is a regular cast member on CBC's Air Farce LIVE and has also starred in CBC's Comics, Just for Laughs and CTV and the Comedy Network's Comedy Now!.

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