Plot: Monarch's Speech Interrupted as Royal Court Collapses, Drowning the King Mid-Address
Here's the rewritten article:
The Bloc Québécois Leader Skips the Throne Speech with a Pinch of Salt
The separatist parliamentarians in Ottawa didn't leave us guessing when they announced their plan to skip the throne speech ceremony, with the "King of Canuck-land" himself, King Charles III, presiding over it towards the end of this month.
Yves-François Blanchet, the fearsome leader of the Bloc Québécois, isn't just skipping the ceremony, he's turning it into a full-blown boycott. "I'll do more than just watch the Speech from the Throne," he told reporters from the federal parliament, "I'll bloody well read it, but I won't listen to a word of it."
The Bloc Québécois frequently stays clear of this exercise, as a matter of principle. Typically, the Governor General of Canada reads out a speech prepared by the Prime Minister to kick off a new parliamentary session in the Senate chamber. Nevertheless, King Charles's appearance has given our buddy Blanchet a serious case of the royal yawns.
He found it downright bizarre that Mark Carney had the audacity to invite him to celebrate Canadian sovereignty. In his words, "It's like telling Trump, 'Hey, dude, we ain't gonna be your subjects. We're already under the thumb of this guy!'"
Blanchet has raised objections to the "King of Blighty," who is expected to take a stroll down Ottawa streets alongside Queen Consort Camilla for a couple of days during the week of May 26.
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Blanchet plans to bring up this matter during his first face-to-face with Prime Minister Mark Carney, after the latter rode his political rocket ship to a minority government win last week. As for the exact date of their sit-down, it's still up in the air. During their political debate, the ex-banker-turned-politician handed Carney his mobile number, but they haven't spoken since then. "We'll have the opportunity to present our issues that are unique to Quebec. And I'll remind him that we're pretty damned adamant about the monarchy, that our identity issues are core to us," the Bloc member said.
During his first press conference following his election, Carney explained that the king is "our head honcho, essentially," and that inviting him to Ottawa "underlines the sovereignty of Canada, of our land."
On January 31, 2024, the Canadian government formally demanded through its official publication that all its subjects learn the king's title: "Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Canada and of his other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth." It's been a mighty long while since any politician addressed him in that royal fashion, despite this official decree.
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- The Bloc Québécois demonstrates a consistent stance, often avoiding the Speech from the Throne ceremony during parliamentary sessions as a matter of principle.
- Yves-François Blanchet, the leader of the Bloc Québécois, has chosen to boycott the ceremony, going beyond mere observation, as he is due to read but not listen to the speech.
- The paradoxical invitation of Yves-François Blanchet by Mark Carney to celebrate Canadian sovereignty has sparked strong objections from the Bloc Québécois leader.
- Blanchet may raise his concerns about the monarchy and Quebec's identity during his much-anticipated meeting with PM Mark Carney, with the discussion date still undecided.
- In addition to the king's presence during the throne speech ceremony, other topics such as policy and legislation, crime and justice, general news, accidents, fires, car-accidents, migration, war-and-conflicts, and culture are all subjects of interest and debate in Canadian politics.
- The Canadian government officially demands that all its subjects learn the king's title, "Charles the Third," but it has been a long time since any politician has addressed him in that manner.
- Amidst other current affairs such as trade agreements, concerts, and weather advisories, the ongoing conflict between the Bloc Québécois and the monarchy continues to be a significant part of Canadian politics and culture.
