TORONTO (AP) – Queen Elizabeth II flew in to western Canada for a royal visit Tuesday, with the nation’s governing party embroiled in a political scandal that has threatened its hold on power.

She and Prince Philip arrived in Regina, the provincial capital of western Saskatchewan, where they are taking part in centennial celebrations for the province’s union with the Canadian confederation.

The queen is the head of state in Canada, a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies.

The queen, wearing a salmon-colored suit with brown fur trim, was met at the airport by Canada’s Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson, the queen’s representative in Canada, Prime Minister Paul Martin and other dignitaries.

She and Prince Philip then took part in a tribute to First Nations veterans. First Nations is the term used by Canadian aboriginals whose ethnic groups, similar to American Indians, were among the first continental settlers.

More than 9,000 First Nation men and women fought in World War II and helped in the liberation of the Netherlands.

The queen presented a stone taken from the Scottish highlands, which she said represented the rights of First Nations people. She said she hoped it would “serve as a reminder of the special relationship between the sovereignty and all First Nations people,” the queen said.

The 79-year-old monarch has visited Canada at least 22 times since she becoming queen and has referred to it as a second home.

Though Canadians are somewhat indifferent to the monarchy, most have great affection for the queen, toasted at official events and whose silhouette marks their coins.

The visit begins just two days before Martin faces a vote of non-confidence in Parliament. Should his minority Liberal government lose what’s expected to be a very close vote, general elections will be called.

The Liberals got a huge boost on Tuesday, however, when a key Conservative member of Parliament defected to the Liberal Party.

Royal tradition has been to bow out during election campaigns to avoid any suggestion that the visit is being used to shore up support for an incumbent government.

At least one royal watcher does not believe national politics will hurt the long-awaited royal visit.

“Politicians are always on their best behavior when the Queen is around,” said John Aimers, dominion chair of the Monarchist League of Canada.

The opposition, however, has accused Martin of using the Queen’s visit to prop up his government. Martin said he intends to greet the royal couple when they arrive Tuesday evening and he will address the official welcoming ceremony on Wednesday morning before returning to Ottawa.

If Martin’s government – hit hard by a corruption scandal within his Liberal Party – were to fall Thursday, officials say the queen would not get caught up in the procedure of dissolving Parliament.

AP-ES-05-17-05 2208EDT