Word: trudeau
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...represents in roughest form the core of the Canadian constitutional debate. The possibility that at once embarrasses and frightens most Canadians right now is that the above debate will be played out not in Ottawa, but in London. London, England. Rather than the party led by prime minister Pierre Trudeau battling to a verdict with the party led by Joe Clark, the final decision on the status of a Canadian constitution may come to rest with the followers of Margaret Thatcher and the followers of Michael Foot...
...admirable record both abroad and at home, may be placing its destiny in the hands of Britain, evoking the days the empire was spelled with a capital "E." But that is the plausible consequence of the Canadian Supreme Court's recent decision, handed down September 28, which declared that Trudeau can legally proceed with his package of constitutional reforms, although he would violate convention if he did so without the expressed consent of most of the provinces. The ruling, often muddled in its reasoning but typically Canadian in its effort to compromise, in effect vindicated all sides in the contentious...
...issue was Trudeau's long-held belief that Canada requires a stronger central government and, in addition, a constitutional charter of rights guaranteeing equal freedoms for all the 24 million French-and English-speaking citizens, regardless of local jurisdiction. Both of Trudeau's aims are hotly disputed by the provincial premiers. They jealously guard the extensive powers granted them in 1867 by Canada's founding British North America Act, still held by Britain, which is the basis for Canada's self-government. Among other things, the premiers fear that Trudeau wants to impinge on such provincial...
...Trudeau finally decided to bypass the premiers, asking Britain to add his charter to the B.N.A. Act and then give authority over the document to Canada. The British were willing in principle, providing the Canadian Supreme Court agreed. In its ruling, the court said that Trudeau could ask for the B.N.A. Act. But it also ruled that any prior tinkering with the act would flout unwritten constitutional tradition unless it went hand in hand with "at least a substantial measure of provincial consent...
...Trudeau promptly proclaimed the judgment a victory. So did the opposing premiers. Trudeau intends to press on. He has invited the premiers to consult one more time. If that fails, he might send a request to Westminster to release the amended act, and challenge the premiers directly. The battle is far from ended...