April 17, 1982 - Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Human Rights a Day

Canada’s new constitution puts Charter of Rights and Freedoms into effect. For decades, Canadian politicians who wanted to cut constitutional ties with England made unsuccessful attempts to amend the country’s constitution. After nine short months on the opposition benches of parliament, Pierre Trudeau and his Liberals came back into power in 1980. From that point forward, Trudeau put much of his energy into patriating the constitution once and for all. After much debate and wrangling, the federal government and all provinces except Quebec agreed to a new constitutional amending formula and to a new Charter of Rights and Freedoms which stirred great controversy. Where in the past, Parliament had always had the final say on legislation, the Charter gave Canadian courts the ability to strike down or alter legislation that conflicted with the substance of the constitution. On April 17, 1982, the queen ushered in the new constitution by signing it into law in an historic ceremony on the steps of Ottawa’s House of Commons. Today, while still controversial to some, the equality provisions of the charter are one of the most revered pieces of Canada’s Constitution.