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As residents and protocol offices in Saskatchewan and Alberta are making eleventh hour preparations in anxious anticipation of the Queen's visit, it is becoming clear just how little the Queen, as head of state, is really involved in matters Canadian, particularly when those matters are political.

While Paul Martin's minority government clings to power and sits on the absolute brink of destruction, the Queen will be touring the two prairie provinces as they gear up to celebrate the centennial anniversary of their inauguration. The Queen does not intend to get involved in Canada's current political conflict, but rather stick to her itinerary.

It is hardly surprising that the Queen is reluctant to get involved with the situation. Afterall, the Canadian Constitution greatly limits her role when it comes to politics. For all intensive purposes, the Queen is considered to be little more than a figurehead leader, yet Canadians spend ridiculous amounts of money each year to keep her representatives, the Lieutenant Governors and the Governor General, living in style as they fulfill their role of also being "above politics".

According to John Aimers, dominion chair of the Monarchist League of Canada, "The monarchy represents the things that Canadian's agree about - it's a unifying principle - and partisan political politics, which is a necessary part of our system, represents the things we disagree about. I think it's good to have the two appear together as it seems will happen. Then Canadians can see both the formal and the raucous parts of our constitution working together and working well."

Perhaps, or does the Queen's visit at such a time of turbulence lead to questions as to the relevance of the monarchy's role in Canada and highlight the fact that although the monarchy "represents the things that Canadians agree about", the role of the monarchy itself is one of those points of Canadian dissention?

Further Reading:
The Monarchist League of Canada: Arguments for the Crown
Monarchy Free Canada

Expat Talkback:
Should the monarchy's role in Canada be abolished?