The United Kingdom government spent an estimated £162m ($200m) on the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II last year, according to a statement to Parliament. The event took place on 19 September, and hundreds of thousands of people came to Westminster Hall to pay their respects. The queen passed away on 8 September after 70 years in power, and after ten days of national mourning, her funeral took place. The last time the UK had a state funeral was in 1965 for former Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
The cost of the funeral was published along with a Treasury statement, and it was clear that the ceremony was a very grand one, involving much pomp and ceremony. With such a large-scale event, it is not surprising that many people are questioning the cost of the funeral, which is the highest ever recorded for any British monarch. To put this into context, the funeral of Elizabeth’s mother, the Queen Mother, in 2002, cost an estimated £5.4m.
It is worth noting that the funeral of Queen Elizabeth’s husband, Prince Philip, which took place in April 2021, was much more muted due to COVID-19 social distancing rules. While not as grand as the Queen’s funeral, the funeral of Prince Philip, who served Queen Elizabeth for 73 years, was a poignant event that was watched by millions across the world.
The entire world is mourning Queen Elizabeth’s death, but given that she was the longest-serving monarch in British history, it is not surprising that the state funeral was the grandest one ever recorded. However, the question remains: was it worth the cost?
Canadian Federal Strike Will Cost the Country up to CAD 200m Per Day
The ongoing strike by over 150,000 federal civil servants in Canada could cost the economy up to CAD 200m ($159m) per day, according to bank Scotiabank. The strike is one of the largest in Canadian history and has already reduced the country’s GDP by 1%. The majority of economists polled by Bloomberg News believe that Canada’s economy will experience a recession in the second and third quarters of this year, but the federal strike could make the economic recovery worse.
The strike started on April 19 and has caused chaos in government services, from passport renewals to Coast Guard operations. Of particular concern is the tax-collecting agency, which is just two weeks away from the May 1 income tax filing deadline. Federal workers are demanding a 13.5% pay increase over three years, while the government has only offered 9%.
This strike has highlighted the importance of federal workers in Canada’s economy, with business leaders stating that the strike’s impact has been much more significant than expected. It has also led to a debate about the government’s failure to be proactive in addressing worker grievances before the strike. While the government has offered some concessions in negotiations, they have yet to meet the workers’ demands fully.
While the strike is causing disruption and may have a severe impact on the economy, it is worth remembering that the workers on strike have legitimate demands. As such, it is vital that the government seeks a resolution to the conflict that addresses the workers’ concerns while safeguarding Canada’s economy.
Conclusion
Both the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the ongoing Canadian federal strike have significant impacts on their respective countries. While the cost of the Queen’s funeral, at £162m ($200m), seems high, her long and illustrious reign warranted it. Meanwhile, the Canadian federal strike highlights the importance of federal workers to the economy and the need for the government to address their concerns proactively.
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