New Canadian councilors refuse to swear allegiance to King Charles [Video]

Toronto — A small Canadian town’s five recently elected councilors refused to swear an oath of allegiance to Britain’s King Charles III during their investiture ceremony on Tuesday, despite it being a legal requirement in the northwestern Yukon territory where Dawson City is located.

Under a regulation in the Yukon’s Municipal Act, elected councilors are required to swear an oath of allegiance to the British monarch, who remains the official head of state of Canada despite the colonial-era link no longer giving the king any real power in the country.

The oath of allegiance to the monarch is typically taken by Yukon councilors when they’re sworn into office, right after they give the separate oath of office, within 40 days of their election.

If the politicians fail to do so, their election can be declared null and void, resulting in the office being left vacant and potentially leading to a special election, …