Dominion of Vancouver Island

This article is about the micronation. For the island, see Vancouver Island.

Dominion of Vancouver Island
Flag Colonial Badge
Motto: Dei Gratia Regina
Anthem: God Save the Queen
Status	Active
Location	Vancouver Island
Capital	Victoria
Official languages	English, French
Religion	Christianity
Demonym	Vancouver Islander
Government	Unitary parlimentary constitutional monarchy
• Monarch	Elizabeth II
• Governor General	Dustin Carlson
• Prime Minister	Dionne Anderson
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Commons
Establishment
• Founding	15 July 2019
Area
•	32,305.94 km2 (12,473.39 sq mi)
Population
• Estimate	14
HDI	0.929 very high
Currency	Vancouver Island Pound (de jure) Canadian Dollar (de facto)
Time zone	Pacific Time Zone
Date format	mm/dd/yyyy
Drives on the	right
Calling code	+1
Internet TLD	.ca

The Dominion of Vancouver Island, officially the Island of Vancouver and its Dependencies, is a North American micronation established in 2019. It is a self-declared restoration of the 19th century Colony of Vancouver Island that existed prior to Canadian Confederation, and claims the former colony's territory of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands of the Strait of Georgia. The Dominion seeks to achieve recognition as a Commonwealth realm.

The Dominion of Vancouver Island exercises no authority over the territory it claims, nor is its existence acknowledged by The Crown or any sovereign nation. Nevertheless, under the leadership of founder Dustin Carlson, the country maintains its seat of government and de facto embassy in the city of Victoria, and advocates for Vancouver Island's independence. According to Carlson, the primary goal of the Dominion of Vancouver Island is: "To educate people about the fascinating but often overlooked history of our island home, while having fun at the same time".

History

Claim to sovereignty

The Dominion of Vancouver Island, or "Second Restoration", justifies its existence based on historical evidence from the former colony, as well as opposition to the current Canadian political situation. Primary examples include:

• The authoritarianism of the Douglas governorship and corruption of the Hudson's Bay Company which administered practically all goods and services on the island, resulted in the guaranteed rights and privileges of both settlers and First Nations people as subjects of the Crown being wrongfully diminished. The full economic potential of the colony was therefore restricted and led to the eventual forced amalgamation with the Colony of British Columbia in 1866.

• While joining Canadian Confederation may have ultimately be inevitable, the people of the Colony of Vancouver Island were still denied the future possibility of achieving constitutional status equivalent to that of a dominion, such as the Dominion of Newfoundland in 1907.

• Under the current Trudeau government, the Dominion asserts that Canada is falling short of living up to its standard of "First of the Realms", and that the people of Vancouver Island have a duty to preserve and protect their history as subjects of the British Empire if they so choose.

Colonial period

Main article: Colony of Vancouver Island

Background

The history of the modern day Dominion dates back to late 2018, when Canadian micronationalist Dustin Carlson founded the People's Republic of Courtica. The tiny nation existed until the summer of 2019, when it was merged with the neighboring Democratic People's Republic of Lerwick to establish the Vancouver Island Soviet Socialist Republic (VISSR). The VISSR quickly became one of the leading communist micronations, and experienced rapid development and population growth. However, its planned economy led to economic stagnation and multiple diplomatic conflicts arose with its fellow micronations due to the VISSR's promotion of Soviet communism. The nation fell into a slow and steady decline in the fall of 2020.

Foundation of the Dominion

Dustin Carlson had also been assisting other local micronationalists in their pursuit of statehood, and together with close friend Dionne Anderson they founded the Commonwealth of Lazonesia. After a short stint as the country's first Prime Minister, Carlson stepped aside to avoid a conflict of interest with his primary duties as leader of the VISSR. With Lazonesia flourishing, and the VISSR's full potential being limited by it's rigid Soviet system, Carlson and Anderson began diplomatic discussions about a possible merger of the two nations to properly represent the interests of the people of Vancouver Island. On February 18 2021, the VISSR-Lazonesia Act of Union was signed. This act formalized the annexation of the Commonwealth of Lazonesia by the Vancouver Island Soviet Socialist Republic, and combined the assets and populations of both nations. The ruling communist party of the VISSR was denounced, and the new unified country was officially renamed the Dominion of Vancouver Island. It was decided that the new Dominion would be founded as a successor state to the former Colony of Vancouver Island that existed before Confederation in 1867. Its new government was founded upon the principles of parliamentary democracy , and officially declared Queen Elizabeth II as head of state with a primary aim to be recognized as a Commonwealth Realm. After doing extensive research on the topic, Dustin Carlson came to the conclusion that membership in the commonwealth would be the most logical path to follow on his journey to sovereign statehood. Like the VISSR, the Dominion was founded partially as a means of protest against the current political trajectory of its host nation of Canada, while also striving for peaceful coexistence with its much larger neighbor and primary trading partner.

Overview

Territory

The Dominion claims the entirety of the former colony's territory, asserting its sovereignty over Vancouver Island and nearby Gulf Islands. In reality, the governmental authority of the Dominion is limited to a small enclave in the city of Victoria where it maintains its embassy and administrative officials.

Culture and Laws

The national identity of the Dominion of Vancouver Island is one of pride in British colonial history, and traditional Canadian values. The nation was initially founded upon a basis of opposition to current Canadian politics, and out of frustration with the policies of the Trudeau government. However, the Dominion asserts that they are not secessionist in nature. Its citizens are all tax paying, law abiding Canadian citizens who live peacefully alongside the people of their much larger host nation. The culture of the Dominion reflects its ethnically diverse population and features an eclectic assortment of art, music and cuisine. Being a predominantly secular state, most citizens of the republic are followers of various spiritual beliefs, and all religions are openly accepted. The government of the Dominion upholds the highest possible standard of human rights, tolerance, sexual orientation and diversity. The country guarantees universal equal rights to citizens and visitors of all walks of life. Like its host nation Canada, English and French are the two official languages. Animal welfare is an important aspect of the country, with several dogs, birds, and fish making their homes in the various homes and offices of its government officials.

Government and Politics

The Dominion is governed as a unitary parlimentary constitutional monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II is the nation's monarch and head of state, although this claim is not currently acknowledged by Her Majesty, or the government of any other Commonwealth Realm. The highest government official within the Dominion itself is the Governor General who represents the monarch. The Prime Minister, is the country's head of government. The Prime Minister is a duly elected official who, once sworn in, serves at Her Majesty's pleasure. The Dominion is a non-partisan democracy, meaning there are no political parties. Candidates for political office are chosen directly by their constituents, and elected to power by simple popular vote. The country's legislature is a bicameral parliament with the House of Commons serving as the lower house of government, and the Senate as the upper house.

National Symbols

• 

  Flag

• 

  Colonial Badge

The Dominion adopted the Flag of Vancouver Island as its national flag and civil ensign. The flag was designed by Michael Halleran in 1988 as an unofficial flag for Vancouver Island. The flag is a defaced defaced Blue Ensign with the Union Flag in the canton and the badge of the Colony of Vancouver Island on a white disk on the fly.

The nation lacks a formal coat of arms due to being currently unrecognized by The Crown. The Dominion hopes to be officially granted arms by Her Majesty The Queen upon achieving diplomatic recognition as a sovereign Commonwealth Realm. Therefore, the badge of the Colony of Vancouver Island serves as the nation's primary identifying heraldic symbol. The badge contains elements taken from the Great Seal of the Island of Vancouver and its Dependencies designed in 1849/50 by Benjamin Wyon, Chief Engraver of Her Majesty's Seals. The main symbols of the badge are the Trident of Neptune and the Caduceus of Mercury crossed in saltire. These symbols represented the island colony’s relationship with the sea and trading. The pinecone and beaver symbolize the forest and other natural resources of the fur trading inhabitants of Vancouver Island at the time.

Military

The armed forces of the Dominion are known as the Vancouver Island Colonial Militia (VICM). It consists of both army and naval branches, the VICM Dragoons and VICM Navy respectively. Since the country's government rejects any notion of micronational warfare, the Colonial Militia serves primarily as a volunteer self defense force. Its main priorities are emergency response, disaster relief, first aid courses, and cadet training programs.

Foreign Relations

Nations recognized by the Dominion

• All 193 member states of the United Nations
• Southern Confederation of Angosvria
• Empire of Atlantium
• Dominion of British West Florida
• Grand Cascadian Republic
• Republic of China
• Confederate States of America
• Commonwealth of Dracul
• Grand Duchy of Flandrensis
• Kingdom of Gnome
• Kingdom of Grýttlund
• Hong Kong Government in Exile
• Holy See
• Holy Roman Empire
• Humanitarian Empire and Realm
• Republic of Hwapyong
• Karno-Ruthenian Empire
• United Empire of Kumandria
• Royal Republic of Ladonia
• Manchukuo Temporary Government
• Federated States of Martian Olympus
• Republic of Molossia
• Dominion of New England
• Kingdom of Queensland
• Res Publica Ensia
• Commonwealth of Rhodesia
• Principality of Sealand
• Republic of Suverska
• Central Tibetan Administration
• East Turkistan Government-in-Exile
• Dominion of Ulster
• Grand Duchy of Westarctica
• Dominion of West Canada
• Principality of Woodlandia
• Zooxaloo

Formal Diplomatic Relations

The Dominion of Vancouver Island has signed formal diplomatic relations treaties with the following countries:

Name	Date
Grand Cascadian Republic	15 July 2019
Republic of Suverska	19 July 2020
Federated States of Martian Olympus	20 November 2020
Kingdom of Grýttlund	10 January 2021
Humanitarian Empire and Realm	15 January 2021
Res Publica Ensia	22 January 2021
Southern Confederation of Angosvria	29 January 2021
Kingdom of Gnome	21 February 2021
Republic of HwaPyong	26 February 2021
Kingdom of Queensland	2 March 2021
United Empire of Kumandria	4 March 2021
Principality of Woodlandia	16 March 2021
Zooxaloo	30 March 2021

The Dominion is a member state of the Commonwealth of British Dominions, as well as a signatory party in the Union Against Micronational War.