The Yukon government has said municipal elected officials taking office no longer need to swear an oath to the King. The announcement comes after newly elected councillors in Dawson Creek refused to take the oath.
The government said those elected to office can take an oath of allegiance to the Constitution instead, saying the Constitution is the “supreme law” in Canada. The option remains for those who want to take the traditional pledge to the Crown.
“The revised oath offers elected local government officials the opportunity to swear or affirm their allegiance to either the laws and the Constitution of Canada, or the Crown. Before the change, elected municipal officials were required to make an Oath of Allegiance to the Crown,” the release says.
In the Oath of Allegiance, councillors need to swear they will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Crown, who is currently King Charles III, as well as his heirs and successors.
“This decision does not require a change to legislation and allows elected municipal officials to take the Oath of Allegiance in a way that better aligns with their values and cultural identities,” the government said.
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The act also has an alternative oath that leaders can take upon taking office.
In 2022, Quebec also changed the pledge after several members of the Parti Quebecois refused to say it, and were barred from sitting as a result.
Prior to the change, Quebec members of the legislature had to swear two oaths, one to the Quebec people and another to the Crown. Some politicians opted to take the oath to the Crown in private, away from the public witness.
Quebec Solidaire’s 11-member caucus had also refused to swear the oath in 2022, but opted to do it privately rather than lose their seats.
Earlier this year, New Brunswick MPs voted down a bill that would have removed the requirement for swearing an oath to the Crown.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
