Comparing the Constitutional Monarchies of Canada and Jamaica

My column in today’s edition of the Globe and Mail online compares Queen Elizabeth II’s role as head of state in two commonwealth constitutional monarchies, Canada and Jamaica. Canada’s Prime Minister, Stephen Harper has promoted the monarchy’s role in Canadian history and political culture in recent years while Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller is interested in Jamaica becoming a republic to mark the 50th anniversary of independence from the United Kingdom. There are key differences between the Queen’s role as Queen of Canada and her role as Queen of Jamaica demonstrating the diversity of constitutional monarchy in the commonwealth. Click here to read Constitutional Monarchy: The Canadian-Jamaican divide.