The Queen of Canada????

It's official. I don't understand Canada.

A few years ago, the hubby and I spent a weekend in Toronto. It happened to be over July 1st which, we were told, is "Canada Day."

We asked several people what "Canada Day" was and they each said, "You know, like your 4th of July."

We responded, "Well, on our 4th of July, the Declaration of Independence was signed. What happened on 'Canada Day'?"

No one could tell us. Although they knew it had something to do with their independence from England.

So, today, I'm reading one of the many e-newsletters I subscribe to and it just so happens that this particular author lives in, and has just become a citizen of, Canada. He mentioned swearing allegiance to the "Queen of Canada." The what???

This compelled me to do some Internet research where I discovered that Queen Elizabeth II (you know, of England) is "also" the Queen of Canada. Huh?

Apparently, the country was proclaimed independent in 1982 (but not on July 1st) by the Queen. Let me emphasize: they were PROCLAIMED independent by the monarch they still have. What kind of independence is that?

They call this proclaimation "constitutional patriation," the explanation of which (from Wikipedia) is that:

"Canada, as a former British colony, was until 1982 governed by a constitution that was a British law and could be changed only by an Act of the British Parliament. Patriation thus specifically refers to making the constitution amendable by Canada only, with no role for the Parliament of the United Kingdom to play in the amending process. Hence, patriation is associated with the adoption of the Canadian amending formula, and the corresponding acquisition of sovereignty."

However, even given all that patriation stuff, Queen Elizabeth II is still their queen and retains "vast powers," including the appointment of the Prime Minister.

I don't know what else to say. I just don't get it.