General

Sadly for Quebec MPs, Jubilee Medals are not refundable

Six Quebec MPs, including all four members of the Bloc Québécois, have rejected the Queen’s Jubilee Medals, which were handed out to all 308 federal MPs.

Two members of the NDP—Pierre Nantel and Alain Giguere—joined the Bloc protest, CP reports.

Sixty of the medals were also handed out to notable Canadians Monday, the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. The awards are part of a lavish $7.5 million celebration of the jubilee planned by the Canadian government.

But some MPs, along with various republicans and other anti-monarchists, aren’t exactly thrilled about the festivities.

“Australia – also part of the Commonwealth—isn’t handing out these medals. Why is Canada?” Bloc MP Louis Plamandon said, according to CP. “I will not participate, none of the Bloc will hand out these medals and we hope other Quebec MPs also say non.”

For now at least, Nantel and Giguere are the only New Democrats to reject the medals. NDP leader Nycole Turmel said most of her caucus is now considering how best to hand the awards out.

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