Queen Elizabeth II has been one constant in a world of change. Now, for the first time in seven decades, change has come to the throne.
“We went through this 70 years ago,” said Keith Roy with the Monarchist League of Canada.
“Most of us weren’t there to go through it, but the Crown has been going on for over 1,000 years and so there’s a very robust system.
“It’s ready to handle this transition.”
And that system means practical changes, with new protocols already being implemented all across the country.
Elizabeth’s face is engraved on our coins, graces the $20 bill and is featured on some stamps. Even buildings, parks, and islands bear her name.
‘The main things that you will see different — I would anticipate — are stamps, portraits in government buildings and overall references,” Roy said.
He said over time, we will also likely see changes to Canada’s $20 bill, coins and passports.
As new coins are produced, the Mint said it will be up to the government of Canada to decide whether to change the image on the obverse (heads side) of coins, where the Queen currently appears.
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The Bank of Canada said the current polymer $20 bank note featuring the queen will continue to circulate for years to come. Her image will eventually be replaced, however, by that of her successor.
“When it is eventually redesigned, the $20 note will continue to feature the reigning monarch,” the bank said.
When it comes to things like stamps, Canada Post hasn’t said what will happen to existing stamps featuring the queen’s image but will presumably continue to accept those used after her death as legal postage.
“The bigger issues are more inside the legislature,” Roy said. “The legislation, how it’s drafted, what it says, the citizenship oath, those are some big things that will change fairly quickly.”
Another big change is the name of Alberta’s highest court.
“The name of the website has been changed (from the Court of Queen’s Bench) to the Court of King’s Bench,” said Danielle Boisvert, the president of the Criminal Trial Lawyers’ Association. “Their twitter has changed to the Court of King’s Bench… all of their forms will have to change very quickly.
“If it has the wrong name on it, it’s going to get bounced by the clerk and the client risks sitting in jail for longer until we can get those things fixed.”
It’s a new adjustment Boisvert said will take some getting used to.
“Everybody that practises now has never had anything other than a queen,” she said.
“We don’t have any lawyers that have been practising for more than 70 years, so it will definitely be a big change for everybody.”
While the changes will come at a cost, Roy said they won’t be too expensive.
“The cost of this transition would be significantly less (than the) cost of an American administration changing,” he said.
More information on the changes in Alberta can be found on the Alberta government’s website.
— With files from The Canadian Press
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