Daphne Bramham: Welcome to Canada, Harry and Meghan, but …
Credit to Author: Daphne Bramham| Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2020 13:00:29 +0000
So, Meghan and Harry want to be more independent, more Canadian, and earn their own way.
First, let me say, What a relief! It’s not Prince Andrew who’s got a royal blessing to establish a foothold here with baby Archie.
As for the Sussexes, the best I can do is a lukewarm, “Well, okay then ******”
(And, BTW, those asterisks aren’t meant to replace bad words, but to indicate that my welcome is conditional.)
The first condition is the big one: Let them pay for their own security, since it bears pointing out that mostly what they will be protected from are the British and American paparazzi. It’s one of the reasons they want to come here — we leave them alone.
Harry and Meghan are already both reportedly millionaires. So surely, they can figure out how they are going to stretch their annual budget to cover a security bill that has been estimated at $1.7 million annually — but assuming they’re planning to be in Canada for six months a year, that means as much as $850,000.
If they want advice, maybe Meng Wanzhou can give them some tips.
The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle visited the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre in Vancouver on Jan. 14, 2020.
It’s not that I wish the Sussexes ill. But, rather than spend nearly a million dollars a year protecting some so-called “senior” royals who grow ever further from wearing the crown, maybe Canada could feed its hungry schoolkids or provide homes for people whose friends don’t have luxury pads where they can crash when the going gets tough.
Maybe that even makes sense to the rebranded Duke and Duchess as well. After all, SussexRoyal.com highlights how keen they are both to be independent and focus on doing good works.
Meantime, if they need help trimming their budget to cover security costs, pragmatic, practical Canadians likely have all kinds of suggestions.
Eat less Russian caviar, buy more of the Sechelt-produced instead. Swap Blue Mountain Brut for Moet & Chandon. Fly less. Shop more at modest Canadian retailers like Joe Fresh or Mark’s, and earn Canadian Tire bucks.
Next: If they’re serious about Canada, prove it by applying to become permanent residents.
As a prince, maybe Harry is forbidden from pledging allegiance to another country (even if his Grandma is the head of state). But he’s never going to be king anyway.
The Sussex Royals’ goals include strengthening the Commonwealth. They can start by acknowledging publicly that the 53 members are independent nations, not colonies.
They may share a colonial past linked to Britain, but Commonwealth countries are no more ruled by the Queen than British subjects are automatically eligible for citizenship.
Besides, as permanent residents, the Duke and Duchess would pay Canadian taxes. We have enough tax freeloaders — we don’t need to encourage more.
Harry and Meghan are probably eligible for express entry. And by that, I mean following the rules without interventions from their influential friends like Order of Canada member David Foster and former prime minister Brian Mulroney’s daughter-in-law, Jessica.
Both speak English fluently, they’re young enough, and the security check should be a breeze.
I plugged Harry’s details into Canada’s handy online tool to see if he would qualify for permanent residency.
He does. He’s a qualified fixed-wing and helicopter pilot, who took some of his military training at CFB Suffield, near Medicine Hat. But if there’s no crying need for pilots, with an estimated net worth of $25 million, he is eligible under the self-employed or investors programs.
For Meghan, it’s even easier. She has already worked here for at least one of the last three years.
Of course, they would each have to pay the $494 processing fee, and all the fees for medical exams, documents, etc.
The next condition? Don’t appoint Harry as governor-general. That would be a throwback to colonial times. There are plenty of worthy Canadians who are equally good at wearing dress uniforms, cutting ribbons, waving and being nice to their fellow citizens without little worry about their security concerns.
But if Harry and other Canadians really, really want him in the job, he must pledge full allegiance to Canada, which means biding his time as permanent resident until he qualifies for citizenship.
The final asterisk is this: Make Canadians’ giddy Sally Field moment end soon.
Sure, the couple likes Canada. They really, really like Canada. And that may make us feel good.
So do many, many others who are in immigration and refugee queues. They include hundreds of highly skilled and desperately needed scientists, nurses, doctors, engineers, dentists and tradespeople of all sorts who are ready, willing and able to enhance Canada economically, socially and culturally.
Because citizenship long ago morphed into a transactional arrangement, I don’t see any reason for Canada to apologize for setting out some quid pro quos for the royals.
Sure, we’ll welcome them. But let’s find out what the Sussexes plan to contribute to Canada before we make further fools of ourselves over these “senior” — but relatively minor — royals.
Twitter: @bramham_daphne