A Canadian territory has changed its rules for elected municipal officials, allowing them to swear allegiance to the country’s constitution rather than the British crown when taking the oath of office.
The change comes after the newly elected council of Dawson City, Yukon, refused to take the King’s Oath in solidarity with an Aboriginal council member who expressed concerns about Canada’s royal history.
The protests delayed their confirmation and brought governance in the town to a standstill.
On Friday, the territory announced they had tweaked the law to allow for the choice of one of two oaths.
Yukon Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn said the change “allows elected municipal officials to take the oath of allegiance in a way that is consistent with society’s broader values and cultural identity.”
In Commonwealth countries and the former British colony of Canada, most elected officials are required to take an oath, oath or affirmation that they “will be faithful and truly loyal to His Majesty King Charles III” and his “heirs and successors by law”.
There have been questions about whether Dawson City’s new council, elected in late October, could convene if they refused to take the oath of office.
Under Yukon law, newly elected officials must accept election within 40 days of being elected or their victory “will be deemed null and void.”
That gave officials a deadline of December 9 to come up with a solution.
Councilor Darwyn Lynn, a member of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation, said he was hesitant to take the oath because of Canada’s conflicted history with indigenous peoples .
“I probably read it about 15 times, but it doesn’t get any easier,” Lynn said at a news conference announcing the change.
“Based on the history of the royal family in Canada and elsewhere, I think there may be another option.”
He said questioning the requirement sparked a “wonderful conversation” about Canada’s history in Dawson City, a city of 2,400 people, and in the wider Yukon.
He said the conversation was “very balanced,” with some supporting the alternative and others hesitant about removing it.
“Everyone has the right to their own opinions and choices, and that’s a great part of our country,” Lynn said.
He and other Dawson City council members will be sworn in in the coming days.
This is not the first time a Canadian province or territory has modified the requirements for the Pledge of Allegiance.
In 2022, the French-speaking province of Quebec passed legislation removing the requirement for elected officials to be sworn in as monarchs. One lawmaker called it a “relic of the past.”
However, taking the oath remains a requirement for members of Canada’s National Assembly and most provincial legislative assemblies.
