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


• 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-

63


• 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


Pierre TrudeauPrime Minister, 1968-79, 1980-84


• 1971: The Victoria Charter


• 1971: The Victoria Charter– no unanimous consent required


• 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

VS.


VS.

Results: 60% “Non” 40% “Oui”


VS.

Results: 60% “Non” 40% “Oui”

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


• Sept. 1980: First Ministers’ Conference


• 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



• 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




• 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



– 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


• 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




• ss. 40-45 use different formula

• s. 41 - unanimous consent


Meech Lake, 1987-90

1984

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


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


• 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


• Charlottetown Accord, August 1992

• national referendum, October 1992


• Referendum Results

NO YES 54.2%

44.8%



NO YESNational 54.2% 44.8%

Quebec: 55.4% 42.4%




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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