Queen visits Canada amid political strife

TORONTO – Queen Elizabeth II flew in to western Canada for a royal visit Tuesday, with the nation’s governing party embroiled in a political scandal that has threatened its hold on power.

She and Prince Philip arrived in Regina, provincial capital of western Saskatchewan, where they took part in centennial celebrations for the province’s union with the Canadian confederation.

The queen is head of state in Canada, a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies.

The queen was met at the airport by Canada’s Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson, the queen’s representative in Canada, Prime Minister Paul Martin and other dignitaries.

She and Prince Philip took part in a tribute to First Nations veterans. First Nations is the term used by Canadian aboriginals whose ethnic groups, similar to American Indians, were among the first continental settlers. More than 9,000 First Nation men and women fought in World War II and helped in the liberation of the Netherlands.

The queen presented a stone from the Scottish highlands, which she said represented the rights of First Nations people. She said she hoped it would “serve as a reminder of the special relationship between the sovereignty and all First Nations people,” the queen said.

The 79-year-old monarch has visited Canada at least 22 times since she becoming queen and has referred to it as a second home. Though Canadians are somewhat indifferent to the monarchy, most have great affection for the queen.

The visit begins two days before Martin faces a vote of nonconfidence in Parliament. Should his minority Liberal government lose what’s expected to be a close vote, elections will be called. The Liberals got a boost Tuesday, when a key Conservative member of Parliament defected to the Liberal Party.

Royal tradition has been to bow out during election campaigns to avoid any suggestion the visit is used to shore up support for an incumbent government.