Author's Note

• Author: Steven Chaplin
• Pages: 9-10

vii

Author’s Note

On  September , as this book was going to press, Queen

Elizabeth II died, and King Charles III ascended to the throne. In

present times, there are few direct consequences for Parliament, or

for this book, other than reading all references to the Queen as the

King, and the necessary references from Her to His.

But this was not always the case. Prior to  for Canada, and

 in the United Provinces of Canada, on the demise of the sover-

eign, parliaments and legislatures were dissolved. One part of the

Parliament, and the person who had summoned Parliament, ceased

to exist, and therefore the Parliament came to an end. Similarly,

various major players in the parliamentary process, including the

Cabinet, would have to reswear oaths of oce to the new sovereign

in order to continue in their functions. ese matters have now

been settled by se ction  of the Parliament of C anada Act that pro-

vides “Parliament shall not determine or be dissolved by the demise

of the Crown and, notwithstanding the demise, shall continue, and

may meet, convene and sit, proceed and act, in the same manner

as if that demise had not happened.” Similar provisions in other

federal and provincial statutes allow oce holders to continue in

their functions without interruption or the requirement to reswear

any oath.