Eastern Ontario town dodges vote on nixing oath to king

Town council in Prescott, Ont., didn't even debatea motion to call on the Ontario government to scrap theoath of allegiance to King Charles III currently required ofelected officials, let alone vote on it.

The motion,brought forward by Coun. Lee McConnell,failed to receive a seconder during the councilmeeting Monday evening.

"In four terms I've been on council, I have never encountered a council disrespect another member of council by somebody not seconding a motion such as this," McConnell said.

"To not give the opportunity to a member of council who obviously has put a lot of thought into it,to talk about something that is very important to him,shows, in my opinion and in my experience, a considerable lack of respect for that person."

McConnell previously told CBC he believed there would be no problem getting a seconder for the motion.

"The feedback that I had from my constituents,or residents,was not to support your motion," said Coun. Justin Kirkby. "There's no disrespect."

McConnell said he believedanother councillor should have seconded the motion anyway, whether they intended to vote for it or not.

"It is a disrespect," he said. "And I'll remember it."

Had the motion passed, itwould have requiredthe town about 90 kilometres south of Ottawa to call on Ontarioto amend the Municipal Act: either removingthe oath or makingit optional.

Ontario's current declaration of office includes thestatement"I will be faithful and bear true allegiances to His Majesty King Charles the Third."

McConnell's motion hadreferencedthe Quebec government'spassage of its own bill in December, which madethe same oath optional for members of itsNational Assembly.