Should the Queen's portrait hang in Canada's embassies?

A portrait of the Queen hangs on the Sovereign's Wall at the entrance to the Department of Foreign Affairs building in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says Canada's embassies around the world have been instructed this month to hang a portrait of the Queen, the latest in a series of pro-monarchy moves by Ottawa.

"Like virtually every other country in the world who display pictures of their head of state in their missions, we expect all Canadian missions abroad to display pictures of Canada's head of state, the Queen; along with the Governor General, the prime minister and relevant ministers," Rick Roth said in an email.

The directive is the latest move from the federal government to pay tribute to the monarchy.

In August, Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced that the Canadian Forces' Maritime Command and Air Command will again be known as the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force, names last used in 1968.

In July, Baird came under fire from Quebecers after two paintings by celebrated Quebec artist Alfred Pellan were taken down from the Foreign Affairs building in Ottawa in favour of a portrait of the Queen.

Should the Queen's portrait hang in Canada's embassies? Do you approve of the Conservatives' closer ties to the monarchy? Let us know in the comments below.

With files from the Canadian Press.



(This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)