Why Charles III will not also be Charles the Last for Canada

Despite Canadians' discomfort with the monarchy and their British king: for now, the crown is not replaceable

On May 2, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau became the target of an unusual attack. During Question Period of the Canadian House of Commons, Rhéal Éloi Fortin, a member of the opposition Bloc Québécois (BC) from the French-speaking part of Canada, expressed his disapproval of the Prime Minister's participation in the coronation of Charles III on May 6 in London. Trudeau had therefore specially adjusted his schedule and left the concurrent party convention of his governing Liberals only after the first day, May 4, in order to arrive in Europe on time. "He could have sent someone in his place, such as a minister, but his priority is to prostrate himself before the king," Fortin shouted loudly into the chamber. By then, however, Trudeau had already left it, and his Canadian Heritage Minister had to fend off the attack. True, as a regional party, the BC has traditionally been anti-British and anti-monarchist - as early as the 18th century, France had to cede large parts of its Canadian possessions to Great Britain. But Fortin's contribution, placed specifically at the start of Coronation Week in Great Britain, tapped into a currently quite measurable antipathy throughout Canada toward the British monarchy and its still authoritative role in the country.

The Canadians look ahead with mixed feelings

Economic and social issues dominate the demoscopic picture at the start of 2023 - and Prime Minister Trudeau gets poor marks

Traditionally, the relevant Canadian polling institutes present the results of their most important, latest surveys at the beginning of the year. They serve as a barometer of the population's mood on key issues for the coming twelve months. At the beginning of 2023, probably the most important finding from the wealth of data is that Canadians feel that they and their country are in a permanent crisis. The reasons for this are manifold and have both geopolitical and domestic political backgrounds. Politicians seem to have failed so far to effectively counter the pessimistic trend, neither through people nor through policy designs. However, the survey results also contain some paradoxes.

Responding Jointly to Russian Aggression

The symbiotic relationship between Ukrainian diaspora and the Canadian government

Single title

Does the UN Model Still Work? Challenges and Prospects for the Future of Multilateralism

Single Title

Using the Past to Define the Present: An Introduction to Memory Politics in Canada & Europe

This digital booklet introduces the theme of ‘memory politics’ and aims at explaining why the commemoration of history matters, offering thought-provoking examples and ideas for students at high schools and universities. It explores historical narratives from North America and Europe, places where these narratives have recently taken on significant meaning in public debates. The booklet includes many illustrations, links to other sources and stimulates discussions among students based on the many brainstorming questions we included in the booklet. The project’s main goal is to provide a tool for students, teachers, museum and commemoration sites in order to raise awareness of how remembering the past is a complex task, and how it can be used for political purposes in the news, in political speeches, or on social media.

Visit of KAS Chairman Prof. Dr. Norbert Lammert and Dr. Gerhard Wahlers to Canada

Event Report

The Multilateral Trading System in Crisis: EU-Canada Leadership and Collaboration

Single title

The Legacy of Canada's Residential School System

Addressing Past Injustices from a Canadian-German Perspective

Single title

Next-Generation Technology and Electoral Democracy: Understanding the Changing Environment

Special Report

#FluTrucksKlan - Anfang vom Ende des "schönen Kanada"?

Premierminister Justin Trudeau hat die schwerste politische Krise seiner bisherigen, sechseinhalbjährigen Amtszeit und auch der letzten 40 Jahre überstanden - vorläufig. Das kanadische Unterhaus billigte am Abend des 21. Februar nach dreitägiger, zum Teil erregt geführter Debatte durch ein Abstimmungsergebnis von 185:151 mit den Stimmen der regierenden Liberalen, der „widerstrebenden“ Unterstützung der oppositionellen sozialdemokratischen NDP-Fraktion, unabhängiger Abgeordneter und eines Grünen die Ausrufung des Notstands am 14. Februar mittels des kanadischen Emergencies Act durch den Regierungschef. Anlass waren die rund dreiwöchigen Proteste von Fernfahrern („Truckers“) gegen beabsichtigte Impfpflichten im grenzüberschreitenden Lkw-Verkehr mit den USA. Der „Trucker Strike“, im Hashtagismus unserer Zeit sogleich als „FluTrucksKlan“ bezeichnet, bestand aus Straßenblockaden in der Innenstadt Ottawas, vornehmlich im Parlaments- und Regierungsbezirk, phasenweise auch an drei Grenzübergängen in den Prairie-Provinzen Alberta, Manitoba und Saskatchewan. Während die drei provinziellen Blockaden noch vor Inkraftsetzung des nationalen Notstands beendet werden konnten, hielt die gespannte Lage in der Hauptstadt länger an und konnte erst durch den mehrtägigen Einsatz eines großen Kontingents von Polizeikräften ab 17. Februar überwunden werden.