Since the debate on the place of the monarchy in Canada moved to Ottawa last week, major players in the international press have started to cover the subject. On social networks, the reactions to this coverage oscillate between an assumed “Quebec bashing” and support for the antimonarchism carried by the Bloc Québécois.
On Tuesday and Wednesday — the day Yves-François Blanchet tabled a motion proposing Canada’s independence from the British monarchy — international coverage particularly intensified. Influential media such as the British daily The Guardianthe British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the Qatari media AlJazeerathe American media ABC Newsor even the Turkish pro-government daily Daily Sabahtook an interest in the Bloc motion.
Yves-François Blanchet seemed particularly enthusiastic about the cover of the BBC on Twitter.
Good. There, I am a little… how to say?… impressed.
the sacrosanct @BBC News ?
The reflection is relevant, especially stripped of its partisan pettiness and fear of frank discussion.
Say hello to Charles for me! Nothing personal in our approach.
????????????????♂️⚜️ https://t.co/1hUBRZJ1qG— Yves-F. Blanchet ????⚜️ (@yfblanchet) October 27, 2022
However, the leader of the Bloc Québécois would disapprove of many comments that the news of the BBC sparked in his own Twitter feed. “Quebec is the whiny child of Canada,” said a surfer, in English. ” At the same time [que les députés fédéraux réfutent la motion du Bloc québécois]they should eliminate French once and for all, ”said another, also in the language of Shakespeare.
This same publication also received many approving comments from the Bloc motion. “Completely in agreement with Mr. Blanchet…. Enough is enough, this play that engulfs millions of $$$ every year! “, in particular claimed a French-speaking person. Under other Twitter feeds of other media, the reactions remain just as divided.
In recent weeks, the American media Politicoas well as the French newspaper The world, have also covered the debate over the monarchy in Canada. More recently, Thursday afternoon, the English-language Indian media WION carried out a report on the refusal of PQ and solidarity deputies to pledge allegiance to King Charles III during their swearing-in at the National Assembly of Quebec.
#Gravitas | A group of 14 Canadian lawmakers want to cut Canada’s ties with British royals. They refused to pledge allegiance to King Charles III during a ceremony. @MollyGambhir tells you how the debate on the relevance of the British monarchy in Canada is gaining traction pic.twitter.com/gTnOKPXrXJ
— WION (@WIONews) October 27, 2022
The British monarchy remains widely covered in the international media, partly because the Commonwealth still extends to 56 country states, spread over five continents. However, the crown does not obtain the same popularity rating in all these states.
In the Caribbean, the situation is particularly tense. In Belize, last spring, Prince William and his wife Catherine Middleton, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, notably had to cancel a visit to a cocoa plantation, because of demonstrations against the monarchy and slavery. Also remember that in 2021, Barbados became an independent republic, cutting its ties with the Crown.