The debate on the place of the monarchy in Canada should not resume any time soon despite the death of Queen Elizabeth II, considers the former Prime Minister of Canada Jean Chrétien.
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The question of royalty in Commonwealth countries has always been a “problem” for some, Mr Chrétien admitted while talking to journalists in London on Sunday, giving the example of the referendum on the transformation of Australia into a republic. in 1999, lost by the abolitionists of the monarchy.
“There are always debates. There may be a few, but we have other subjects to discuss, I think, in Canada than that,” predicted the former prime minister on the eve of the queen’s funeral.
Mr. Chrétien confided, between some anecdotes about his meetings with the Queen and the members of the royal family, to be happy to have the chance to attend the funeral in order to be able to “turn the page on an important figure in the history of the monarchy”.
The former Liberal Prime Minister had nothing but good words for Elizabeth II, whom he had met on several occasions, notably in events involving Commonwealth countries.
“There was something very special when she was there. We respected her stability, she avoided controversy with great ease,” he recalled, comparing the effect of his presence to that of former South African President Nelson Mandela.