Queen visits Canada amid crisis

Queen Elizabeth II met Chief Alphonse Bird

The Queen and Prince Philip have begun a tour of Canada as a crucial vote on the future of its government is due.

The nine-day trip marks the centennials of the incorporation of Alberta and Saskatchewan into Canada.

It begins just two days before Paul Martin's Liberal minority government, hit by a corruption scandal, faces a vote of no confidence.

If he loses, an election would be called and the Queen's schedule changed so she is not seen with politicians.

BBC Royal Correspondent June Kelly said it was unlikely that the monarch would return home early or cut short her visit in the event of an election.

But certain parts of her programme could be curtailed to enable her to "keep her distance" from senior politicians and avoid any suggestion of bias.

Veterans

Mr Martin met the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh when they touched down in Regina, Saskatchewan, on Tuesday afternoon (about 2330 BST).

They visited the First Nations' University of Canada where the Queen participated in a tribute to First Nations veterans.

In pictures: Queen's visit

First Nation is the term used to describe Canadian aboriginals. More than 9,000 First Nation men and women fought in World War II and helped liberate the Netherlands.

And an Honour Song was chanted by First Nation Indians as part of a show of respect for the sovereign, whose ancestor Queen Victoria promised their ancestors land rights, free education and health care, and the right to hunt.

The royal couple are due at an official welcoming ceremony on Wednesday, when the Queen and Mr Martin are scheduled to give speeches before the legislature of the western Saskatchewan province.

They will then unveil a plaque inaugurating the Queen Elizabeth II Gardens at the front of the building.

Defection boost

The Queen is also expected to unveil a statue of herself riding a Saskatchewan-bred horse presented to her by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1969, and travel to the town of Lumsden for a lunch where she will be greeted by school children.

If the government loses the budget vote on Thursday, a vote of no confidence will follow. If that is lost, a general election will have to be called.

The Liberals were boosted on Tuesday, however, when a key Conservative member of parliament defected to the Liberal Party.

The Queen has visited Canada at least 22 times and has referred to it as a second home. Her last visit was in October 2002 for the Golden Jubilee tour.

She is the head of state in Canada, a member of the British Commonwealth.