A Story of Canadian Nationalism, Turmoil and Betrayal

Only copy down the highlighted text.

Created in 1867 for the Confederation of Canada

Under the authority of the British Parliament

The federal government had tried unsuccessfully for years to bring the Constitution to Canada

During the lead up to the 1980 Referendum in Quebec PM Trudeau had promised ‘change’ to Quebeckers if they rejected sovereignty association

With the failure of the referendum Trudeau felt the time was right to repatriate

(bring home) the constitution

Trudeau and the 10 provincial premiers met to revise the constitution – with no success

Trudeau gave the premiers one last final ultimatum to reach a deal or be left out of the process

Trudeau and 9 premiers (not Rene Levesque – Quebec) worked through the night to reach a deal

The following morning Levesque learned a deal had been reached in his absence

Levesque complained the deal confirmed that “Quebec was alone” within Canada

The purpose of constitutional renewal had been to reassure Quebec of its

place within Canada – instead it further alienates them

The three main points of the agreement were:

1. The power to amend (change) the constitution would be

brought home from Britain

2. Changes to the constitution required the approval of the federal government and 7 provinces (comprising 50% of the pop.)

3. A Charter of Rights and Freedoms would be added to the constitution

The federal government voted in favour of the patriation package

The Parti Quebecois government in Quebec order all flags to be flown at half mast to signify the “insult” from English Canada

The British Parliament approved the changes to the BNA Act and the Constitution Act 1982 was born