grassshoppah
19th June 2001, 08:29 AM
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's prime minister, arguing that knighthoods and peerages are not compatible with democracy in his country, has written an angry letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair urging him not to grant Canadians titles like "lord" or "sir".
In a letter released late on Sunday, Jean Chretien asked Blair to consult before announcing honours to Canadian citizens, two of whom received knighthoods in the Queen's annual birthday honours list.
"I am writing to you to express in the strongest terms the objections of the government of Canada and my personal objections to the way in which your government has dealt with the question of honours bestowed on Canadian citizens," Chretien wrote in the letter to Blair.
Britain's High Commission declined to comment on the letter on Monday, referring questions to Blair's Downing Street office.
The two British-Canadians -- high-tech billionaire Terence Matthews and academic George Bain -- were among 950 on Queen Elizabeth's annual birthday honours list announced on Saturday.
Matthews was born in Wales and made his fortune in Canada. Bain was born in Canada and moved to Britain in 1963, becoming a British citizen in 1982. He heads Queen's University in Belfast.
"I am in no way calling into question the accomplishments of Mr. Bain or Mr. Matthews. In fact I believe that they are distinguished Canadians," Chretien said.
"What I and the government object to is that, by conferring the knighthoods without seeking the agreement of the Canadian government, you have not taken into account the Canadian government policy with regard to how Canadian citizens should be honoured."
Canada has loosened many of its colonial-era ties with Britain, but the Queen is still Canada's titular head of state, despite occasional objections by ministers and others.
Foreign Minister John Manley, who has publicly called for a removal of the Queen as Canada's head of state, added his voice to the latest wrangle by formally issuing a diplomatic note expressing Ottawa's displeasure.
In a letter released late on Sunday, Jean Chretien asked Blair to consult before announcing honours to Canadian citizens, two of whom received knighthoods in the Queen's annual birthday honours list.
"I am writing to you to express in the strongest terms the objections of the government of Canada and my personal objections to the way in which your government has dealt with the question of honours bestowed on Canadian citizens," Chretien wrote in the letter to Blair.
Britain's High Commission declined to comment on the letter on Monday, referring questions to Blair's Downing Street office.
The two British-Canadians -- high-tech billionaire Terence Matthews and academic George Bain -- were among 950 on Queen Elizabeth's annual birthday honours list announced on Saturday.
Matthews was born in Wales and made his fortune in Canada. Bain was born in Canada and moved to Britain in 1963, becoming a British citizen in 1982. He heads Queen's University in Belfast.
"I am in no way calling into question the accomplishments of Mr. Bain or Mr. Matthews. In fact I believe that they are distinguished Canadians," Chretien said.
"What I and the government object to is that, by conferring the knighthoods without seeking the agreement of the Canadian government, you have not taken into account the Canadian government policy with regard to how Canadian citizens should be honoured."
Canada has loosened many of its colonial-era ties with Britain, but the Queen is still Canada's titular head of state, despite occasional objections by ministers and others.
Foreign Minister John Manley, who has publicly called for a removal of the Queen as Canada's head of state, added his voice to the latest wrangle by formally issuing a diplomatic note expressing Ottawa's displeasure.