The Canadian House of Commons witnessed an outbreak of patriotic fervour last night after a cross-party group of MPs voted to kill a royal-hating piece of legislation.
The Bill, if passed, would have allowed MPs to opt out of swearing an oath of allegiance to King Charles when entering the Commons.
In a grand coalition, both the mainstream centre-left and centre-right parties joined forces to kill the Bill, while the Quebec nationalist party and the left-wing NDP backed it.
The republican legislation was crushed by a majority of 84, by 197 votes to 113.
The move means Canada’s constitution will remain as originally written and faithful to His Majesty the King.
Following the news that the legislation had been defeated, patriotic MPs broke out into a rousing rendition of God Save The King!
Thunderous applause also sparked, with speaker Greg Fergus shouting “Order!” Over the singing.
The Commonwealth country’s constitution will retain Section 128, which requires every new MP to swear they will be “faithful and bear true allegiance” to the King or Queen of the day.
British MPs must do likewise, though get a choice between swearing to god or an atheist affirmation.
Until MPs swear loyalty to the King they cannot assume their seat.
The defeated Canadian Bill, introduced by Liberal MP René Arseneault, would have allowed MPs to swear an “oath of office”.
The change would have allowed MPs to promise they will carry out their duties “in the best interest of Canada while upholding its Constitution”.
John Fraser, president of the Institute for the Study of the Crown in Canada, said the Bill was “a stupid idea”, warning that republicans were “foolishly” trying to dismantle’s Canada’s 150-year-old system of government.
The King was set to visit Canada in May this year, however the trip has been delayed due to his cancer diagnosis.
