Quebec to remove British crown from provincial coat of arms
Quebec announced it will remove the British crown from the province's coat of arms as part of moves to modernize symbols and assert autonomy, while keeping other elements.
Copy link
By Torontoer Staff
The Quebec government announced Friday that it will remove the British crown from the province’s official coat of arms, calling the change a reaffirmation of Quebec’s autonomy and an update to provincial symbols.
Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette and French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge said the change follows a provincially mandated committee recommendation on constitutional matters, and they framed it as an effort to better reflect Quebec’s identity.
What will change, and what will stay
The current coat of arms features a Tudor-style crown above a shield that includes three gold fleurs-de-lis, a gold lion or leopard, and three green maple leaves. The government says it will remove the British crown element, while keeping the lion and the other symbols.
- Crown: to be removed from official versions of the coat of arms
- Gold lion: will remain part of the shield
- Fleurs-de-lis and maple leaves: unchanged
- Physical emblems on historic state buildings and furniture: will not be altered for heritage conservation reasons
- Official correspondence and some medals: will be updated over time
Government rationale
Jolin-Barrette said the change reflects public sentiment and a desire to modernize provincial symbols. “The vast majority of Quebecers have no attachment to the British monarchy and reject it,” he said in the news release. “In withdrawing the British crown from our official coat of arms, we’re ensuring that Quebec’s institutions and national symbols respect the Quebec population, that they’re modernized and, above all, that they better reflect Quebec’s identity.”
The vast majority of Quebecers have no attachment to the British monarchy and reject it. In withdrawing the British crown from our official coat of arms, we’re ensuring that Quebec’s institutions and national symbols respect the Quebec population, that they’re modernized and, above all, that they better reflect Quebec’s identity.
Simon Jolin-Barrette, Justice Minister
Roberge noted the coat of arms has not been modified in nearly 90 years. He said the Tudor-style crown was added in 1939, while the original emblem was granted by Queen Victoria in 1868. “Many things have changed since, and the need to turn the page on the monarchy is now very present in Quebec,” he said.
Many things have changed since, and the need to turn the page on the monarchy is now very present in Quebec.
Jean-François Roberge, Minister of French Language
Broader measures and context
The announcement comes alongside other steps Quebec has already taken to reduce formal ties to the monarchy. The province no longer requires newly elected members of the legislature to swear an oath to the King, and it plans to rename the lieutenant-governor’s title to “officer of Quebec.”
The ministers said the revised coat of arms will be reflected on some official correspondence immediately and will eventually appear on medals issued by the lieutenant-governor. For heritage conservation reasons, emblems on state buildings and historic furniture will remain unchanged.
Political reaction
The announcement drew rare praise from Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who linked the move to recent national debate over historical memory. His praise came a day after Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a speech at the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City that prompted criticism for framing the 1759 British victory as the start of a partnership.
I commend the coherence of Simon Jolin-Barrette and Jean-François Roberge and am delighted by this announcement.
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, Parti Québécois leader, on social media
The announcement prompted commentary across the political spectrum, with some viewing it as a symbolic assertion of Quebec’s distinct identity and others calling for careful consideration of historical and constitutional implications.
Implementation and cost
The government did not provide an immediate estimate for the cost of the changes. Officials said updates would be phased in for correspondence and awards, and that conservation of heritage items limits alterations to historic fixtures and buildings.
The change follows a committee review of constitutional matters and is presented by the government as part of a broader effort to modernize Quebec’s public symbols while balancing heritage preservation.
This report was first published Jan. 23, 2026. The decision will now move into implementation and legal review before new official images are widely adopted.
Quebeccoat of armsmonarchysymbolsprovincial politics
