Queen Elizabeth funeral: Canada will mark federal holiday for monarch, but the idea receives mixed reactions around world
Canada is set to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II with a national day of mourning on September 19, 2022 - the day of the monarch's funeral.
PM Justin Trudeau said it was 'important' for residents to mourn for the late Queen. Discussions are occurring with provinces, but unless provinces agree, only federal workers will receive a day off.
"We will be working with the provinces and the territories to try and see that we're aligned on this. There are still a few details to be worked out, but declaring an opportunity for Canadians to mourn on Monday is going to be important," Trudeau said from a Liberal caucus retreat in New Brunswick.
Both New Zealand and Australia have declared that they will hold one-time-only national holidays to mark the occasion.
New Zealand announced that it will have its "Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day" holiday on Sept. 26. Australia said it will hold its one-off national holiday on Sept. 22.
While some Canadians think it would be a good idea and that it would be a huge "sign of respect for the Queen", others think the costs are too high for declaring such a bank holiday.
Here are some public reactions from around the globe to the news of a holiday for the Queen.
ABC News Breakfast this morning taking a swipe at Albo over his
“disruptive” one-off National Holiday to honour the Queen.
Apparently businesses (who are not forced to close) are complaining of profit losses & confusion (none were named).
PM just can’t win on ABC 🤦♂️— stranger (@strangerous10) September 11, 2022
Will be interesting to see if all the anti Royalists who mock the Queen's passing will be taking a day off work on the national holiday declared for her funeral.
— Kathryn CJ Hall Editor 📚 (@kathrynhall_) September 10, 2022
I’ll mourn if it’s a paid holiday
— Blacknically MS RACHEAL (@stupendouslymi) September 9, 2022
This is going to be the shittest Bank Holiday weekend outside of covid restrictions ever
— skillichuks 🇯🇲 (@BourdillonDon) September 13, 2022
Is Monday 19th September a bank holiday
Or
Unofficial lockdown— Eric dunn (@Ericdun19416783) September 13, 2022
In the maintaining/ standing down NHS activity for the bank holiday next week, there will be various views, but it’s important to remember NHS staff don’t exist in a vacuum - when economic & social infrastructure isn’t running (school, childcare, transport…) they are affected
— Kate Jarman (she/her) 💙 (@KateBurkeNHS) September 13, 2022
Really looking forward to the incoming “if you don’t like The Monarchy, why you taking the public holiday off?” Tweets in the forthcoming days.
— Kev “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲” Murray (@KevMurray01) September 13, 2022
I just don’t understand it. The Queen was held in genuinely high esteem by millions of people and even many republicans respected her. The country doesn’t need to be forced or corralled into performative grief. Let people go to the shops and enjoy their damn holidays
— Jonathan Lis (@jonlis1) September 13, 2022
