C-210 (45-1) - An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (oath of office)
Chamber
commons
Stage
1st Reading
Introduced
Jun 16, 2025
Progress
This bill lets Canadian MPs and Senators choose to swear an oath of office instead of, or alongside, the traditional oath of allegiance to the King.
Key Changes
- Amends section 128 of the Constitution Act, 1867 to give MPs and Senators a choice of oath
- Creates a new Oath of Office focused on faithfully performing parliamentary duties
- Members may now choose the Oath of Allegiance, the Oath of Office, or both
- Adds the new Oath of Office text to the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution Act, 1867
- The Oath of Allegiance to the King is no longer the only mandatory option for taking a seat
Gotchas
- Because this bill amends the Constitution Act, 1867, it may require a formal constitutional amendment process, which could involve provincial consent depending on the amendment formula required.
- The bill does not eliminate the Oath of Allegiance — it simply makes it optional alongside a new alternative, meaning members who wish to swear loyalty to the King may still do so.
- This is a Private Member's Bill, meaning it has a lower likelihood of passing compared to government-sponsored legislation and may not proceed beyond first reading.
- The bill was introduced by a Bloc Québécois MP, which signals a particular political motivation tied to Quebec sovereigntist and republican sentiment, though the bill itself is neutral in its legal text.
- It is unclear whether amending the oath requirements in this way could face legal challenges regarding the constitutional validity of the amendment procedure used.
Who's Affected
- Members of the House of Commons (MPs)
- Members of the Senate
- The Canadian monarchy and its symbolic role in Parliament
- Canadians who hold republican or nationalist views regarding the Crown
Vibes
0 responses
Gotchas
- Because this bill amends the Constitution Act, 1867, it may require a formal constitutional amendment process, which could involve provincial consent depending on the amendment formula required.
- The bill does not eliminate the Oath of Allegiance — it simply makes it optional alongside a new alternative, meaning members who wish to swear loyalty to the King may still do so.
- This is a Private Member's Bill, meaning it has a lower likelihood of passing compared to government-sponsored legislation and may not proceed beyond first reading.
- The bill was introduced by a Bloc Québécois MP, which signals a particular political motivation tied to Quebec sovereigntist and republican sentiment, though the bill itself is neutral in its legal text.
- It is unclear whether amending the oath requirements in this way could face legal challenges regarding the constitutional validity of the amendment procedure used.
Summary
Currently, all Members of Parliament and Senators must swear an Oath of Allegiance to the King before taking their seat. Bill C-210 would amend the Constitution Act, 1867 to give elected and appointed members a choice: they could swear the traditional Oath of Allegiance, a new Oath of Office, or both. The new Oath of Office would have members promise to faithfully carry out the duties and responsibilities of their role as a member of the Senate or House of Commons, rather than pledging loyalty to the monarch. This is a significant change because it shifts the focus of the oath from loyalty to the Crown to commitment to the job itself. The bill was introduced by Mr. Barsalou-Duval, a Bloc Québécois MP, on June 16, 2025. It reflects a long-standing desire among some Quebec nationalists and republicans to reduce symbolic ties to the monarchy in Canadian political life, while still allowing those who wish to swear allegiance to the King to do so.
Automatically generated from bill text using Claude
Vibes
0 responses