The Quebec government made an announcement on Friday regarding the removal of the British crown from the official coat of arms of the province. This decision was described as a confirmation of Quebec’s autonomy by Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette and French Language Minister Jean-Francois Roberge in a press release. They stated that the removal of monarchy symbols was a recommendation put forth by a committee mandated by the province to study constitutional matters.
Jolin-Barrette emphasized that the majority of Quebecers do not have a strong connection to the British monarchy and do not support it. By eliminating the British crown from the official coat of arms, the government aims to ensure that Quebec’s institutions and national symbols align with the identity of Quebec and are modernized.
The current coat of arms includes a crown above a shield with three gold fleurs-de-lis, a gold lion (which symbolizes the British Crown), and three green maple leaves. While the lion, sometimes referred to as a leopard in French, will remain, the Tudor-style crown added in 1939 along with the provincial motto “Je me souviens” will be removed.
Highlighting that the coat of arms has not been altered for nearly 90 years, Roberge expressed the importance of moving away from the monarchy in Quebec. The government has taken steps in the past to reduce ties to the monarchy, such as no longer mandating new elected legislature members to pledge an oath to the King. Additionally, there are plans to rename the title of lieutenant-governor to “officer of Quebec.”
The government plans to update the coat of arms on official correspondence and medals presented by the lieutenant-governor while maintaining existing emblems on state buildings and furniture for heritage conservation purposes. The cost implications of these changes were not immediately disclosed by the government.
The announcement by Roberge and Jolin-Barrette received praise from Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, especially in light of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent speech in Quebec City regarding the Plains of Abraham. The speech faced criticism for its portrayal of the historical battle between British and French troops in 1759 as a “partnership.”
St-Pierre Plamondon commended the coherence of Jolin-Barrette and Roberge, expressing satisfaction with the decision to remove the British crown from Quebec’s coat of arms.
