Queen’s role under fire

Press, 16 August 1978, Page 8

Queen’s role under fire

NZPA-Reuter Ottawa; The Queen would be re-; moved as Canadian head of State under recommendations announced by the influential Canadian Bar Association. The association suggests that the Queen should continue to be recognised as head of the Commonwealth, but a Canadian appointed by Parliament should be head of State for a fixed term. The Queen’s new role was part of a detailed plan for revamping the Canadian Government and providing a 'bill of rights for Canadians. The Prime Minister (Mr

Pierre Trudeau), who has come under a barrage of criticism from Canadian Monarchists in recent years for his views on the Queen’s role as head of State, suggested last June that the Queen should be regarded as head of State only when she was visiting Canada. Mr Trudeau came in for renewed attack during the Queen's visit, earlier this month, when he was accused of slights against the Royal family. In his wide-ranging constitutional reform package. Mr Trudeau proposed that the Prime Minister, and not

the Queen, should appoint the Canadian Governor-Gen-eral. Mr Trudeau has never been careful to hide his mixed feelings about the Monarchy. A well-known photograph here shows him jokingly pirouetting behind the Queen’s back at a London meeting. Despite the Bar Associations’s latest proposals, action on constitutional reform appears stalled for the time being. At a meeting of 10 provin cial premiers last week ir Regina, Saskatchewan. M Trudeau’s proposals won vi> tually no support.