Praise and reflection yesterday marked the passing of a Canadian monarch for the first time in 70 years. House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota said members of the 44th Parliament would not be required to swear a new oath to the King..“Allegiance is automatically extended to our new sovereign,” said Rota. The oath required that MPs “declare that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second.”.According to Blacklock's Reporter, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday said the death of the Queen at 96 marked the close of an era. “A page has not only been turned but a chapter in our shared history has drawn to a close,” said Trudeau. “I know Her Majesty’s service to Canada and Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history.”.The Queen was the most traveled monarch in Canadian history, visiting 31 times. From 1953 Elizabeth toured all provincial capitals and made thirteen separate visits to Ottawa in 1957, 1959, 1964, 1967, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1982, 1984, 1990, 1992 and her last state visit in 2010. “Her reign encompassed the mandates of 12 Canadian prime ministers,” said Governor General Mary Simon..Elizabeth’s travels over 70 years made her the most-seen celebrity to generations of Canadians in far-flung towns and villages nationwide from Amherstview to Bruderheim, Canora, Carman, Chipman, Dauphin, Dieppe, Dugald, Flin Flon, Fort Steele, Gillam, Kamsack, King’s Landing, Miramichi, Morrisburg, Norway House, Prescott, Shediac, Strawberry Hill, Vernon and Williams Lake..Opposition Leader Candice Bergen yesterday said urban and rural Canadians alike mourned the Queen’s passing. “We grieve with unspeakable sadness the loss of our longest reigning monarch,” said Bergen..“Her extraordinary reign has now ended,” said Senate Speaker George Furey. “It will continue to instill and inspire the values of public service, selflessness and quiet dignity.”.“For many Canadians Queen Elizabeth represents the only monarch they have known in their entire lives,” said New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh. The Queen “lived a life of service,” he said..The death notice from Buckingham Palace came yesterday at 1:30 pm Eastern. It marked the first passing of Canada’s monarch since the February 6, 1952 death of King George VI..The earlier mourning period saw CBC Radio cancel commercial programming and the National Hockey League and Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union suspend all games in Canada. The Toronto Stock Exchange halted trading for a moment of silence..The Canadian Armed Forces in 1952 ordered the distribution of mourning bands to be worn on all uniforms, and coordinated artillery salutes at all army bases nationwide. The official mourning period saw the closure of bars, playhouses and movie theatres..“King George VI was a great King and a good man,” read a 1952 motion passed unanimously in the Commons. “By his devotion to duty, his high courage, his example as a husband and father and his concern for the welfare of those he ruled, he greatly endeared himself to his Canadian subjects. We will not forget.”
