Questions remain whether Queen’s funeral will mark national holiday in Canada

Much like the ceremony in London, Ottawa’s formal proclamation of Charles as its king was an occasion steeped in tradition. Caryn Ceolin with the sights, sounds and symbols that made this key constitutional and ceremonial moment Canada’s own.

By Michael Ranger

Two more Commonwealth countries have announced they will mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II with a public holiday, but there is still no word if Canada will follow suit.

Both Australia and New Zealand announced residents would get a one-time national public holiday later this month to mourn the Queen.

Canada announced its plans for a major memorial next Monday, the day of the funeral, with a commemorative ceremony, a military parade, and gun salutes in Ottawa. But no details have been unveiled on a national holiday.

Some speculation is that a declaration of a public holiday could be made during a special session of the House of Commons on Thursday that will honour Queen Elizabeth.

British officials announced on Saturday that the Queen’s state funeral would take place at Westminster Abbey on Sept. 19. Before the date of the funeral was announced, Privy Council President Dominic LeBlanc said it’s important for the members of the House of Commons and the Senate to have an opportunity to honour the Queen’s service to Canada.

The manual of the official government procedure for Canada says the prime minister should declare a national public holiday on the day of a monarch’s funeral. However, it notes that it is not binding on the prime minister.

Canadians were previously given a day off to mourn King George VI following his sudden passing in 1952.

The protocol calls for 10 days of mourning following the Queen’s death, and Parliament is set to reconvene for the fall sitting on that same day. It was not immediately clear whether that schedule would still go ahead.

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese says his country’s holiday will coincide with a National Day of Memorial for the monarch on Sep. 22. New Zealand says it will hold a public holiday on Sep. 26, along with a state memorial service in the capital city of Wellington.

“We need to acknowledge that this is currently here, a one in 70-year event,” says New Zealand prime minster Jacinda Ardern. “The Queen was our sovereign, our head of state, and made an enormous contribution to New Zealand.”

King Charles III was proclaimed Canada’s new head of state on Saturday at a ceremony that included heraldic trumpeting, a 21-gun salute and a moment of remembrance for his mother. He also became head of state in 13 other countries, including Australia and New Zealand.


With files from The Canadian Press and Alex Bloomfield

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today