Dominion of Strathcona
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Dominion of Strathcona Dominio de Strathcona (Spanish) | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms
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| Motto: Virtus, veritas, libertas (Latin) "Virtue, truth, liberty" | |
| Anthem: "Our Fair Strathcona" | |
 Location of the Dominion of Strathcona in North America. | |
| Status | Active |
| Capital | Cookstown |
| Official languages | English, Spanish |
| Recognised regional languages | Pacific Northwest languages |
| Ethnic groups (2024) |
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| Religion (2024) |
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| Demonym(s) | Strathconian |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Charles III[a] |
• Governor-General | Dustin Carlson |
• Prime Minister | Lucas Gonyer |
| Legislature | Parliament |
| Senate | |
| House of Commons | |
| Independence from Canada | |
• Declared | 15 July 2019 |
• Act of Union | 1 June 2024 |
• Government dissolved | 29 September 2024 |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.107 km2 (0.041 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2024 census | 13 |
| HDI | 0.944 very high |
| Currency | Strathconian pound (£) (SP) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (PST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Date format | mm/dd/yyyy |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +1 |
| Internet TLD | .ex |
Strathcona, officially the Dominion of Strathcona (Spanish: Dominio de Strathcona), was a micronation that claimed territory on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada from 2019 t0 2024. It was created by Canadian micronationalist Dustin Carlson as a self-proclaimed successor state to the Colony of Vancouver Island that existed from 1849 to 1866. Strathcona declared its independence from Canada but its existence was never formally recognized by the United Nations or the government of any sovereign state.[1]
The country was governed as a parliamentary constitutional monarchy that swore allegiance to Charles III as its King and head of state. Dustin Carlson served as Strathcona's self-appointed governor-general throughout its existance, while an elected prime minister acted as head of government.
Strathcona sought to become the 16th Commonwealth realm and receive diplomatic recognition from Canada and the broader international community. Its foreign policy was focused on diplomacy with other micronations and independence movements, as well as pressing its rights to self-determination on the world stage. As of 2024, it had a population of 13 full-time residents and issued its own currency and passports.
Etymology
The name Strathcona was inspired by the Strathcona Regional District on Vancouver Island, where the micronation was initially founded.
History
On 15 July 2019, the Dominion of Vancouver Island was established by Dustin Carlson, an aspiring micronationalist who had become fascinated by the concept of self-proclaimed governments after watching a YouTube video about the Republic of Molossia and subsequently doing a great deal of research about established micronations around the world. This modern-day dominion combined Carlson's passion for British and Canadian history with his desire for independence.
Carlson had become concerned by what he viewed as Canada's slow, inevitable shift away from its monarchy towards republicanism, specifically by comments made by New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh in 2018, where he declared himself to be a republican and was quoted as saying "I don't see the relevance of the monarchy, and I don't think that most Canadians do."[2] Carlson's ultimate goal for the fledgling country was to create a government that would always remain loyal to the Crown even if Canada eventually became a republic. The Dominion of Vancouver Island existed as a sole entity until late 2022, when negotiations opened with the nearby British San Juan Islands to combine their efforts to create a single, united nation. These negotiations initially stalled and produced little results until early 2024 when talks between the two parties were restarted. On 1 June 2024, the "Act of Union", the result of a series of diplomatic treaties to facilitate the unification of the two states, was signed and the Dominion of Strathcona was formally established.
Strathcona has since created its very own flag, coat of arms, and currency, with Carlson choosing Virtus, veritas, libertas (Virtue, truth, liberty) as the new country's national motto.
Politics and government
Strathcona is a unitary state governed as a Westminster-style parliamentary democracy. It has a strong tradition of liberalism and a moderate political ideology which are key components of the country's national identity.
Monarch
The nation's reigning monarch and head of state is Charles III, although the king has not recognized Strathcona or accepted the throne officially. The role of the monarch is entirely ceremonial, with the suzerainty of Charles III being formally acknowledged in his capacity as the King of Canada and the fact that the territorial claims of Strathcona exist entirely within his sovereign realm.
Governor-General
From a practical standpoint, the Governor-General of Strathcona is the nation's de facto head of state acting "in His Majesty's name and on His Majesty's behalf" in the absence of the monarch. Unlike the 15 current Commonwealth realms where the governor-general is directly appointed by the King on the advice of the prime minister, Strathcona's governor-general is appointed by the legislature due the country's unrecognized status as a micronation. The role has no fixed term limit, with the governor-general serving at at His Majesty's pleasure so long as he/she enjoys the confidence of the legislature. Dustin Carlson has been the country's first and only governor-general since its establishment.
Prime Minister
Strathcona's head of government is its prime minister, a civil service position directly elected by its citizens. The prime minister serves a term of four years, which can be extended an additional two years at the request of parliament or by public referendum. Lucas Gonyer currently holds this position, after winning Strathcona's most recent election on 3 July 2024.
Parliament
The Parliament of Strathcona is a bicameral legislature responsible for passing all statute laws within the country. It comprises the monarch, the House of Commons, and the Senate. Like the United Kingdom, Strathcona's parliament utilizes parliamentary supremacy, in which the legislative body is supreme over all other government institutions.
Senate
The Senate of Strathcona is the upper house of parliament. It is modeled after the British House of Lords with senators appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister. There are currently five senators, who can serve a lifelong term if they choose. The primary duty of the Senate is to review bills passed by the House of Commons before they are formally signed into law.
House of Commons
The lower house of parliament is the House of Commons, a democratically elected body whose members are known as Members of Parliament (MPs). Despite being the lower house in the legislature, the House of Commons is actually the more powerful of the two chambers. MPs propose, debate, and vote upon all legislation before it is passed to the Senate. Seven MPs currently hold office in the House of Commons, and are eligible to serve a renewable four-year term.
Political parties
Two political parties, the Conservative Party and the Labour Party, dominate politics within the legislature due to the country's small size. While this is widely considered to be a two-party system, smaller parties do exist and it is entirely possible for independents to win seats and hold public office. The largest of the two parties, the Conservatives, maintain a slim majority in Parliament while Strathcona's oldest party, the Labour Party, make up the official opposition.
| Logo | Name | Spectrum | Ideologies | Seats | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Conservative Party of Strathcona | CPS | Centre to centre-right | Conservatism Economic liberalism Constitutional monarchism Micronational imperialism |
4 / 7
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Labour Party of Strathcona | LPS | Centre to centre-left | Liberalism Social liberalism Democratic socialism Constitutional monarchism |
3 / 7
| |
Law and order
The Strathconian judicial system is made up of the Supreme Court of Strathcona and the Court of Appeal, and are responsible for handling all internal criminal and legal matters within the country. Strathcona maintains a policy of macronational privilege, with article VI section II of the nation's constitution requiring citizens to obey all Canadian federal and provincial laws at all times. The same rule applies to its citizens living abroad with regard to the laws of their home countries. Strathconian citizens are guaranteed fair and equitable treatment regardless of social class or personal characteristics, although the Strathconian government reserves the right to deny or revoke citizenship of any citizen convicted of a criminal offense.
Military
Strathcona maintains a small unified military, the Strathconian Armed Forces. It consists of land, sea, and air commands. The main duties of the armed forces are defending the country's small frontiers as well as participating in peacekeeping efforts, emergency response, and natural disaster relief. Strathcona claims to be a maritime power on a micronational scale, with most of its military resources being dedicated towards naval expansion and amphibious warfare, as well as sea exploration and scientific studies.
Ministries
The Strathconian Ministry is commonly referred to as Cabinet. There are currently nine acting ministers responsible for overseeing the government’s policies and priorities for the country:
- Minister of the Viceregal Household
- Minister of State
- Minister of Foreign Relations
- Minister of Defense
- Minister of Health
- Minister of the Treasury
- Minister of Justice
- Minister of the Environment
- Minister of Development
Foreign relations
To date, Strahcona has not received diplomatic recognition from the government of any internationally recognized sovereign state. Although, it has established diplomatic relations with several other micronations and independence movements. Strathcona's government cites the declarative theory of statehood, famously expressed in the 1933 Montevideo Convention, as legal justification for its sovereignty since it meets all of the criteria to be considered a sovereign nation.[b]
Unilateral recognition
All United Nations member states
Bumbunga
Cook Islands
Flandrensis
Holy See
Lostisland
Manchukuo
Molossia
Niue
Pavlov
Sancratosia
Sealand
Slowjamastan
Somaliland
Taiwan
Westarctica
Mutual recognition
Territory
Strathcona's territorial claim consists of a small enclave located within, and completely surrounded by, the sovereign territory of Canada. It is approximately 0.107 km2 in size making it one of the smallest nations on earth, but relatively large by micronational standards. Strathcona is situated on the outskirts of the town of Comox, near the eastern coast of central Vancouver Island. Cookstown, the nation's capital, is located along its southern border and includes street access via Strathcona's main border crossing with Canada.
Geography and climate
Strathcona's geography is comprised of grassland surrounded by horseback riding trails, wetlands, and large western hemlock trees which provide shade to the northern portion of the country. The residence of the governor-general is located in the eastern half of the country which features a large flower garden and numerous vegetable beds. There is also a gazebo for hosting diplomatic summits. As is typical of Vancouver Island, Strathcona has a Mediterranean climate defined by the Köppen classification as having temperate weather year-round. Summers are warm and dry, while winters are mild and wet with the temperatures rarely falling below freezing.
| Climate data for Cookstown | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 6.4 (43.5) |
7.4 (45.3) |
9.6 (49.3) |
12.9 (55.2) |
16.6 (61.9) |
19.8 (67.6) |
22.8 (73) |
22.7 (72.9) |
19.0 (66.2) |
12.9 (55.2) |
8.5 (47.3) |
5.9 (42.6) |
13.7 (56.7) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 1.4 (34.5) |
1.2 (34.2) |
2.5 (36.5) |
4.6 (40.3) |
8.0 (46.4) |
11.1 (52) |
13.3 (55.9) |
13 (55) |
9.9 (49.8) |
6.0 (42.8) |
2.9 (37.2) |
0.9 (33.6) |
6.2 (43.2) |
| Source: www.climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca (archived data from 1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
Economy
Strathcona maintains a tiny, but highly diversified market economy. There is a heavy reliance on agriculture for the exportation of eggs, fruit, and vegetables as well as localized trade within the micronation itself. Strathcona is almost entirely dependent on Canada for the importation of essential goods and services. The country is currently ranked 0.944 on the Human Development Index and is considered a moderately developed micronation with a CGSC classification of 3.2.
The Strathconian Pound (SP) is the nation's official currency, which is printed and circulated by the Reserve Bank of Strathcona. The pound is not backed by hard assets, but simply by a promise to pay the bearer upon the the prospect of recognition of the Dominion of Strathcona as an independent state by the United Nations General Assembly.
Culture
Strathconian culture is deeply inspired by the history of Vancouver Island and has been uniquely shaped by an abundance of Anglo-Canadian, British, and Spanish cultural influences. English and Spanish are country's dual-official languages with English being the mother tongue of 100% of its citizens. The languages of local Indigenous peoples all have legal status as recognized regional languages, with Indigenous history and traditions being widely promoted and legally protected within the micronation.
The environment and people of the surrounding Cascadia bioregion plays a key role in Strathconian national identity, as well as a sense of Western alienation and the belief that Vancouver Island as a whole is a region that is distinctively unique from the rest of Canada.
National symbols
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National flag
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Coat of arms
From 2019 to 2024, Strathcona used the flag of Vancouver Island as its national flag. This flag was designed by Michael Halleran in 1988 and its design consisted of a Blue Ensign with the badge of the 19th century Colony of Vancouver Island on a white disc on the fly half. Following the Act of Union with the British San Juan Islands in 2024, this design was relinquished and replaced by a new national flag designed by Dustin Carlson. The current flag consists of the Cross of Saint George superimposed on the Cross of Burgundy upon a white field. The design symbolizes the exploration and settlement of Vancouver Island by the Royal Navy and Spanish Armada in the late 18th century and honours the friendly negotiations between George Vancouver and Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra over boundry disputes at Nootka Sound in 1792.
The coat of arms features a shield emblazoned with a stylized version of the badge of the former colony. The primary symbols of the badge are the Trident of Neptune and the Caduceus of Mercury crossed in saltire. These symbols represent Vancouver Island's relationship with the sea and with trade respectively. Above is set a pine cone, and below is a beaver sitting on a small island surrounded by water. These represent the regions vast forests and proximity to the Pacific Ocean to the west and Salish Sea to the east. The national motto is displayed on a scroll beneath the shield, while the crest contains a seashell sitting atop a red and white torse. The supporters consist of a mythical sea-lion and sea-horse symbolizing the maritime history of the island and its inhabitants. The coat of arms can also be seen on the Great Seal used to authenticate important documents, surrounded by text that reads: "Charles III. King of Strathcona."
Holidays
There are several public holidays celebrated in Strathcona, several of which are "shared holidays" with Canada. The most widely celebrated holiday is Sovereignty Day on the 15th of July each year, commemorating the establishment of the Strathconian nation in 2019.
| Date | Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day | Celebrates the start of the new year. |
| Third Monday in February | Family Day | Shared statutory holiday with British Columbia. |
| Between 20 March and 23 April | Good Friday | Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus, on the Friday before Easter. |
| 15 May | President Baugh Day | Honours Kevin Baugh, President of the Republic of Molossia and original inspiration for the establishment of a micronation. Dustin Carlson first watched a documentary about Molossia on this day in 2019. |
| Second Monday in June | King's Official Birthday | Celebrates the birth of the Sovereign, King Charles III. |
| 15 July | Sovereignty Day | Celebrates the foundation of the Dominion of Strathcona. |
| 22 October | Founders Day | Celebrates of the birth of Dustin Carlson, founding father and inaugural Governor-General of Strathcona. |
| 11 November | Remembrance Day | Memorial holiday shared with Canada. Honors Canada's war dead. Anniversary of the armistice ending World War I in 1918. |
| 25 December | Christmas Day | Commemoration of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. |
See also
Notes
- ↑ Charles III does not recognize the Dominion of Strathcona, and has not claimed the throne officially.
- ↑ The Declarative Theory of Statehood defines a state as a person in international law if it meets the following criteria: 1) a defined territory; 2) a permanent population; 3) a government and 4) a capacity to enter into relations with other states.
References
- ↑ "Independent States of the World" nationsonline.org
- ↑ "Singh doesn't see the relevance of the monarchy" ctvnews.ca