Citizens for a Canadian Republic
| File:Citizens for a Canadian Republic.gif | |
| Founded | 2002 |
|---|---|
| Focus | Canadian Republicanism |
| Location |
|
Key people | Tom Freda, Pierre L. J. Vincent |
| Website | www.canadian-republic.ca |
Citizens for a Canadian Republic (CCR) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit Canadian organization founded in 2002 that advocates the replacement of the Canadian monarchy with a head of state who would either be chosen through a general election or elected by parliament. Models that the organization supports are former constitutional monarchies Ireland and India, both of which eliminated their monarchies in favour of elected presidents, while retaining their parliamentary systems that have a prime minister as head of government.[1] The organization's general objective is "to promote discussion and help raise awareness of the clear advantages of amending The Constitution to allow for a democratically-chosen Canadian citizen to serve as head of state."
History
Citizens for a Canadian Republic was formed in 2002 "in an effort to provide balance in the debate over whether or not Canada should remain a constitutional monarchy"[2]
That same year, CCR became involved in O'Donohue v. Canada,[citation needed] a lawsuit filed by one of its members, Tony O'Donohue. This suit challenged the constitutionality of certain provisions the law governing succession to the Canadian monarchy, the Act of Settlement, 1701, which discriminates against Roman Catholics. O'Donohue argued that it thus violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The case was dismissed in 2003, and the dismissal was upheld in 2005.
Chapters
- New Brunswick: Fredericton
- Quebec: Montreal
- Ontario: Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton
- Alberta: Edmonton, Calgary
- British Columbia: Vancouver
National organization
CCR's national director and principal anglophone spokesperson is Tom Freda. The associate director and principal francophone spokesperson is Pierre L. J. Vincent. Other prominent members of the group include O'Donohue, Professor Randall White and civil rights lawyer Charles Roach.
Affiliations
CCR is a member of Common Cause, an alliance of Commonwealth republican movements that seek to change their countrys' status as Commonwealth Realms to Commonwealth republics. CCR is not affiliated with any political party.