A fresh look at the people and events behind the 1981 agreement to “patriate” Canada’s constitution and the long-term political consequences of that agreement.
Description
Few moments in Canadian history are as intriguing as the political battle between Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and the “Gang of Eight” provincial premiers who opposed his plans to “patriate” Canada’s constitution from Britain. Patriation and Its Consequences revisits these constitutional negotiations, including the personalities, visions, and political struggles that shaped the resulting constitutional agreement. Focusing on the players behind the process, as well as First Nations and feminist activists, this volume explores the long shadow of patriation: the alienation of Quebec, the character of Canadian federalism, Aboriginal treaty rights, and the struggle to ensure gender equality.