Toronto, ON, June 13, 2003 - Citizens for a Canadian Republic, a non-profit, non-partisan organization advocating a democratically chosen head of state for Canada, is pleased to announce its second speaking event of the year, taking place on Tuesday evening, June 17.

Headlined as ‘Converging Paths: Canada and Australia vs. The Monarchy’, the guest for the evening will be Greg Barns, National Chairman of the Australian Republican Movement from 2000 to 2002 and National Campaign Director of the 1999 referendum for an Australian head of state. He’ll be addressing Toronto members and supporters of CCR at an informal evening dinner and reception at Urban Restaurant in downtown Toronto. The discussion will centre around Australia’s republican movement, its future and its parallels with the Canadian republican movement.

Barns sees those organizational parallels as being quite significant, with Canada being where Australia was in 1991. At that time, Prime Minister Paul Keating - coincidentally a former Deputy PM and Finance Minister - was chastised in the media for making comments during a Royal visit about Australia’s goal to be a republic. Polls supporting an Australian head of state have climbed steadily since then.

Barns says that support is so widespread today that "all living former Prime Ministers of Australia support a republic as does every Premier and chief Minister of our six states and two territories".

Tuesday evening’s event will consist of a dinner, address and reception from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM.

Media is asked to contact Event Coordinator Susan Bazinet before attending or to request interviews with Mr. Barns.