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TORONTO — Citing the “symbolic” nature of the citizenship oath, Ontario’s top court has dismissed a constitutional challenge by three permanent residents who claim swearing allegiance to the Queen is discriminatory and unjust.

The trio had argued that the provision in the Citizenship Act that requires would-be citizens to swear to be “faithful and bear true allegiance to Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, her heirs and successors,” violates the Charts of Rights and Freedoms.

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Ontario Court of Appeal Justice Karen Weiler ruled Wednesday that the appellants’ claims were based “on their misconception” of the meaning of the oath to the Queen as an individual.

“The oath to the Queen of Canada is an oath to our form of government, as symbolized by the Queen as the apex of our Canadian parliamentary system of constitutional monarchy,” Weiler wrote in her decision.

“Applying a purposive and progressive approach to the wording of the oath, with regard to its history in Canada and the evolution of our country, leads to the conclusion that the oath is a symbolic commitment to be governed as a democratic constitutional monarchy unless and until democratically changed.”