This is a positive and constructive evolution that builds upon our history, and neither diminishes the contribution that this institution has made to our national dream nor erases our collective memory of this contribution. Canadians can continue to celebrate the monarchy, as well as many other symbols of British culture, through continued membership in the Commonwealth and in many other ways.

It is wise for us to think ahead; to recognize that a foreign monarch as head of state no longer reflects our Canadian democracy, independent status or demographic composition. The monarchy is an institution that divides rather than unites us, with half the respondents to opinion polls saying they do not support the monarchy and almost unanimous opposition in Quebec. By burying our heads in the sand and being apathetic about the issue, we are saddling ourselves with a head of state that manages to be both divisive and irrelevant. It is time to include the public in an informed analysis and an active debate on this issue.

In Canada, we have both the British Monarch as head of state (represented in Canada by the Governor General) and the Prime Minister as head of government. Regardless of the method of selecting individuals to hold these offices, there are many benefits from a division of power between these two positions. A non-partisan head of state serves to personify the state and the unity of the political community, and is to be above partisan politics in times of national tension. The head of state can also relieve the Prime Minister of many routine ceremonial events and duties of protocol. Moreover, an additional figurehead serves as a reminder to the Prime Minister that he or she is not the only or final authority, and can also serve as a trusted source of confidential and independent advice.

We need Canadian figureheads who will, together and over time, represent the country's bilingual and multicultural attributes, act as symbols of achievement and pride and models for our youth, and project Canadian values internationally.

In this context, uni.ca supports the establishment of a Canadian head state, with the following notes for consideration:

1. A Canadianized head of state should be included in any future constitutional reform package. In order to continue our traditions and to maintain the same title in our documents, the Governor General should become our head of state;

2. All of the Crown's prerogatives in Canada, both in the written Constitution and by convention, would be transferred to the Governor General, avoiding a debate over their definition. We would replace the word "the Crown" in our government documentation with the term "the State" or "Canada". The entire fiduciary responsibility towards Canada's Aboriginals could be devolved to the Governor General;

3. The Governor General should be selected or indirectly elected. The Officers of the Order of Canada could operate as a nominating committee which would develop a short list of candidates. The list of candidates could be put to an "electoral college", a joint, federal-provincial, legislative electoral group. The eventual Governor General would require ratification by election with a majority of at least two-thirds of the members of the provincial legislatures and the House of Commons. In this way Canada's new regime could be called a "constitutional democracy;

4. It would be beneficial to have a relatively long term of office, in the range of eight years or so, renewable once for a period of up to another eight years. Should there ever be perceptions of abuse in office, the House of Commons could institute procedures against the Governor General before the Supreme Court;

5. It would be up to the provinces to decide whether they want to continue having provincial Lieutenant Governors.