Canadian Town Council Stalled After Members Decline King Charles III Oath

A municipal governing body in Canada has reached an impasse following the newly elected members’ refusal to swear an oath of allegiance to King Charles III, a mandatory component of their induction ceremony. Stephen Johnson, who was elected as mayor of Dawson City in Yukon Territory, along with the incoming council, secured their positions last month. Their scheduled swearing-in, set for early this month, was halted when they declined to recite the required oath. Johnson stated that their refusal stems from solidarity with an Indigenous council member who has articulated apprehensions regarding the historical relationship between the Crown and Canada’s Indigenous populations. According to Yukon legislation, an individual newly elected to office is mandated to take the oath within 40 days of their election, failing which their victory “shall be considered null”. Consequently, Johnson and the other council members have until December 9 to complete the Oath of Allegiance. This oath, taken by elected officials in Canada—a Commonwealth nation and former British colony—requires them to swear or affirm that they “will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III” and his “heirs and successors according to law”. Until this situation is resolved, the new council is prevented from governing or making formal determinations. Speaking to the Canadian Press, Mayor-elect Johnson described the predicament as having left him in a difficult position. He clarified that “We can’t do anything legally required of us under the Municipal Act” until the council completes the oath, adding, “It’s a bit of a sticky situation.” Johnson indicated that he and the other council members declined the oath to demonstrate solidarity with Darwyn Lynn, a fellow councillor and member of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation, who expressed reluctance to swear allegiance. Johnson conveyed to the Canadian Press, “This is being done with no disrespect to His Majesty King Charles.” He further stated, “And also we’re not doing this to go, ‘Rah, rah, look at us,’ to poke everybody across Canada, to get rid of the Crown.” He concluded by saying, “It was just something we wanted to do together to show solidarity in what we do here in this town.” In an effort to resolve the issue, the municipal council has inquired with Yukon territorial authorities about the possibility of adopting an alternative oath. A representative from Yukon’s Department of Community Services verified to the BBC that the request had been received, but refrained from commenting on its potential approval. Bill Kendrick, the outgoing mayor of the town, informed the BBC that he expressed hope that “it gets worked out for the sake of the new council, so they can get down to business.” He also noted that public reaction within the town to the impasse had been varied. “I’d say it’s the whole gamut,” Mr Kendrick remarked, indicating that some residents consider the oath obsolete, while others view it as an affirmation of Canada’s governmental structure. Dawson City, with a population of 2,400, is recognized as the central location of the historic Klondike Gold Rush, which commenced in 1896. It holds the distinction of being the second-largest municipality within the Yukon, a Canadian territory adjacent to Alaska. The town occupies the former location of Tr’ochëk, a traditional hunting and fishing ground situated at the confluence of the Klondike and Yukon rivers. Its original inhabitants, the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, were dislocated following the influx of nearly 17,000 new settlers during the Klondike gold rush. In recent years, Canada has recognized its complex history concerning its Indigenous populations. In 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated before the United Nations that the nation’s colonial past was characterized by “humiliation, neglect and abuse”. This instance is not unprecedented for elected officials in Canada declining to swear an oath to the King. In 2022, the francophone province of Quebec enacted legislation that removed the mandate for elected officials to take an oath to the monarchy, with one legislator describing it as “a relic from the past”. Earlier this year, a comparable bill was presented by a member of Canada’s national parliament, but it was defeated with a vote of 197-113. To receive the most recent royal news and analysis directly to your inbox weekly, subscribe to our Royal Watch newsletter here. Individuals residing outside the UK may register here. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available here.