Written Question tabled in the Senate Act of Settlement Answer received September 2011 The Government of the United Kingdom recently disclosed that it has contacted the 15 Commonwealth nations where the Queen is the Head of State, including Canada, to propose changing the Act of Settlement to remove the rule requiring males to take precedence over their female relations in matters of succession to the Throne. The Government of the United Kingdom is also considering changing the Act of Settlement by removing the restriction that bars members of the Royal Family from marrying Roman Catholics. At present, members of the Royal Family are forbidden from converting to the Roman Catholic religion, or marrying someone from the Roman Catholic religion, unless they agree to being removed from the order of succession. As these changes will directly impact the future Head of State of Canada, it is necessary for the Government of the United Kingdom to secure the consent of Commonwealth Countries in order to implement these changes. Could the Government of Canada indicate whether it is in favour of these proposed changes? The government holds Her Majesty The Queen and the office of the Sovereign in high regard and recognizes the importance of ensuring that the Monarchy continues to be a vital institution. Making changes to the line of succession would require agreement of the countries for which Her Majesty The Queen is Head of State. We would work closely with the Realms in any discussions concerning reform of the Act of Settlement. |