the constitution. constitutional amendment, 1982 and beyond british north america act, 1867

THE CONSTITUTION

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, 1982 AND BEYOND

• British North America Act, 1867

• British North America Act, 1867– no amendment formula

• British North America Act, 1867– no amendment formula– U.S. Constitution

• (2/3 of each house of

Congress and 3/4 of states)

• Why no amendment formula in B.N.A. Act?

• Why no amendment formula in B.N.A. Act?– Not possible in 1867

• Why no amendment formula in B.N.A. Act?– Not possible in 1867– not needed

• But increasing desire for sovereignty in the 20th century

• Increasing desire for sovereignty in the 20th century– King-Byng affair, 1926

– Statute of Westminster, 1931

Viscount Byng of VimyGovernor General, 1921-26

• Patriation efforts began in the 1920s

William Lyon Mackenzie KingPrime Minister, 1921-26, 1926-30, 1935-48

John DiefenbakerPrime Minister, 1957-63

• 1961: The Fulton FormulaUnanimous for key provisions;

fed. + 2/3 of provs. (50% of pop.)

for other amendments

Davie FultonMinister of Justice, 1957-

• 1961: The Fulton FormulaUnanimous for key provisions;

fed. + 2/3 of provs. (50% of pop.)

for other amendments

• Rejected by Quebec

Jean LesagePremier of Quebec, 1960-66

Lester B. PearsonPrime Minister, 1963-68

• 1964: Fulton-Favreau Formula(Guy Favreau, Minister of Justice, 1963-65)

– minor changes to the Fulton Formula

• 1964: Fulton-Favreau Formula(Guy Favreau, Minister of Justice, 1963-65)

– minor changes to the Fulton Formula

Pierre TrudeauPrime Minister, 1968-79, 1980-84

• 1971: The Victoria Charter

• 1971: The Victoria Charter– no unanimous consent required

• general amending formula:– fed. + majority of provinces

• including: any province with 25% of national pop.

2 from Atlantic Canada

2 from western Canada (with 50% of pop.)

• 90 day limit to Senate delay

• 1971: The Victoria Charter– Charter of Rights

Robert BourassaPremier of Quebec

Rene Levesqueelected Premier of Quebec, 1976

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, 1982 AND BEYONDReferendum, May 20, 1980

Results: 60% “Non” 40% “Oui”

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, 1982 AND BEYONDReferendum, May 20, 1980

Results: 60% “Non” 40% “Oui”

Among Francophones: 50% “Non” 50% “Oui”

• Sept. 1980: First Ministers’ Conference

• no agreement

• Oct. 1980: Federal resolution– patriation (amending formula)– charter of rights

• If no provincial agreement - Federal govt. to proceed unilaterally

• most provinces opposed

• Unilateral federal request to British Parliament

• reference question to Supreme Court of Canada

“Does the federal Parliament have the constitutional authority to proceed without provincial consent?”

• reference question to Supreme Court of Canada

“Does the federal Parliament have the constitutional authority to proceed without provincial consent?”

Ottawa, N.B., Ontario: “YES”Other 8 provinces: “NO”

• Sept. 28, 1981 - Supreme Court Decision

Bora LaskinChief Justice

Supreme Court of Canada

• Sept. 28, 1981 - Supreme Court Decisionconstitutional convention requires provincial consent

but nothing in law to prevent Parliament from proceedingwithout provincial consent

Nov. 1981 - One More Try

• Nov. 1981 - One More Try

• “Kitchen Accord”

– Roy McMurtry - Ontario Attorney-General

– Roy Romanow - Saskatchewan Att.-General

– Jean Chretien - Minister of Justice

• Produced agreement

• Produced agreement (except Quebec)

• Amendment formula:– Parliament + 2/3 of provinces (with total pop. Of

50% of national)– certain key provisions require unanimous consent

• Charter of Rights and Liberties

• New Constitution signed April 17, 1982

– judicial review

• Regina v. Big M Drug Mart (SCC, 1985)

– judicial review

• Robertson and Rosetanni v. The Queen (1963)

– judicial review

• Robertson and Rosetanni v. The Queen (1963)

• R. v. Edwards Books and Art (1986)

• Abortion

• R. v. Morgentaler (1988)

• Abortion

• R. v. Morgentaler (1988)– S. 252 Criminal Code of Canada

contrary to S.7 of the Charter

JusticeBertha Wilson

• Abortion

• Borowski v. Canada (1989)

• Abortion

• Borowski v. Canada (1989)

• Tremblay v. Daigle (1989)

• Continued efforts at general reform:

• Meech Lake, 1987-90

• Charlottetown Accord, 1992

• Referendum Revisited, 1995

• general amending formula - s.38– “7-50 rule”

• ss. 40-45 use different formula

• s. 41 - unanimous consent

Meech Lake, 1987-90

RETIRED ELECTED

Meech Lake, 1987-90

RETIRED JUNE, 1985

Meech Lake, 1987-90

New Premier of QuébecPierre Marc Johnson

Meech Lake, 1987-90

RE-ELECTED DECEMBER, 1985

Meech Lake, 1987-90

FIVE DEMANDS:

Recognition of Quebec’s “Distinct Nature”

Limitation of the federal spending power

Greater control over immigration for Quebec

A veto for Quebec - or ability to opt out

Participation in appointment of SCC justices

Meech Lake, 1987-90

MEECH LAKE MEETING, APRIL 1987

Meech Lake, 1987-90

MEECH LAKE MEETING, APRIL 1987- DISTINCT SOCIETY for Quebec

Meech Lake, 1987-90

MEECH LAKE MEETING, APRIL 1987- DISTINCT SOCIETY for Quebec- Provincial input to Senate appointments

Meech Lake, 1987-90

MEECH LAKE MEETING, APRIL 1987- DISTINCT SOCIETY for Quebec- Provincial input to Senate appointments- Provincial input on immigration policy

Meech Lake, 1987-90

MEECH LAKE MEETING, APRIL 1987- DISTINCT SOCIETY for Quebec- Provincial input to Senate appointments- Provincial input on immigration policy- Provincial input on Supreme Court appointments

Meech Lake, 1987-90

Full Text of Meech Lake Accord:

http://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Canada/

English/Proposals/MeechLake.html

Meech Lake, 1987-90

• By June, 1990: 7 provinces and Ottawa had passed resolutions in favour of accord– Manitoba and New Brunswick not yet– Newfoundland passed and then revoked

resolution

Meech Lake, 1987-90

ONE LAST “ROLL OF THE DICE”

June 3 - 10, 1990

Meech Lake, 1987-90

Clyde WellsNewfoundland

Meech Lake, 1987-90

Clyde WellsNewfoundland

Joe GhizPrince Edward

Island

Robert BourassaQuébec

David PetersonOntario

Meech Lake, 1987-90

Don GettyAlberta

Meech Lake, 1987-90

David Peterson

Meech Lake, 1987-90

David PetersonOntario willing to give up 6 Senate seats

Meech Lake, 1987-90

• Saturday June 9: Agreement

Meech Lake, 1987-90

• Saturday June 9: Agreement

• accord to be submitted to legislatures of Newfoundland, Manitoba and New Brunswick by June 23

Meech Lake, 1987-90

The decision will be left to theLegislature of Newfoundland

Meech Lake, 1987-90

Gary FilmonPremier of Manitoba

Meech Lake, 1987-90

• Manitoba– Premier Gary Filmon (P.C.)– Sharon Carstairs (Liberal)– Gary Doer (N.D.P.)

Meech Lake, 1987-90

Elijah Harper

Meech Lake, 1987-90

SenatorLowell Muray

Meech Lake, 1987-90

Elijah HarperSenatorLowell Muray

Meech Lake, 1987-90

We are not prepared to bemanipulated any longer!

Meech Lake, 1987-90

Meech Lake is dead

Meech Lake, 1987-90

We need time to heal the wounds.

Meech Lake, 1987-90

“Quebec will no longer negotiate withthe other provinces.”

• September, 1991 - another try

• federal proposal:– “Canada Clause”

• “distinct society”• native self-govt.

– “EEE Senate”– “Preparing For a More Prosperous Future”

• Charlottetown Accord, August 1992

• national referendum, October 1992

• Referendum Results

NO YES 54.2%

NO YESNational 54.2% 44.8%

Quebec: 55.4% 42.4%

Manitoba: 61.7% 37.9%

Sask.: 55.1% 45.5%

Alberta: 60.2% 39.6%

B.C.: 67.8% 31.9%

Quebec: 55.4% 42.4%

Manitoba: 61.7% 37.9%

Sask.: 55.1% 45.5%

Alberta: 60.2% 39.6%

B.C.: 67.8% 31.9%

Ontario: 49.8% 49.6%

• Quebec Referendum Again, Oct. 30, 1995– “Non” again - but by a narrow margin

the constitution. constitutional amendment, 1982 and beyond british north america act, 1867

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