# April 17, 1982 - Forty years since the Patriation of the Constitution of Canada **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 17, 2022, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961 "2022-04-17T19:15:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2022, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/1 "2022-04-17T19:15:26Z")
I really can’t believe it’s been 40 years since Her Majesty signed the Proclamation on a rainy day on Parliament Hill, bringing the Constitution home and ending the remnants of British legislative powers over Canada. 🇨🇦 In typical Canadian fashion, it’s not a holiday or anything. Just a few politics and law geeks notice it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2022, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/2 "2022-04-17T19:29:27Z")
It is an impressive document and very significant accomplishment. More people should understand it. I do not think we ever learned anything at all about it in school. I have only looked into it over the last few years and it balances some very complex considerations. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2022, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/3 "2022-04-17T19:38:28Z")
It’ll be better celebrated in 10 more years. Also it probably is downplayed due to Quebec not signing on and the failures of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords. It’s really a story with an open chapter… a political hot potato. Not burning hot, but an equation that needs to be squared (in a future safer time). So far everyone is happy with its current function to **not** throw the country back into severe political crisis trying to hammer out an agreeable amendment. A third failed accord would be very bad for Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2022, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/4 "2022-04-17T20:27:53Z")
Also, the Canadian Constitution, like most modern constitutions, has its charter of rights based on the UN’s [UDHR](https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights). Did anyone else know that 😉 🙂 ? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/5 "2022-04-18T01:02:23Z")
No, because it’s not correct. Some of the Charter is based on the Canadian Bill of Rights, some is based on experience with court decisions on the Bill of Rights, a lot based on Canada’s history of English and French language rights, and several sections illustrate how the Charter is to be read with the pre-existing provisions of the Constitution. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/6 "2022-04-18T05:19:17Z")
Agree with @Northern_Piper . Today’s Charter takes into account a lot of prior Canadian statutes and jurisprudence, and Canadian history. Wasn’t it ten years ago, @Northern_Piper , on the Charter’s 30th anniversary, that you and I and @Muffin hosted an “Ask Us Anything” about the Charter? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/7 "2022-04-18T13:14:54Z")
Quite so. Here it is: > [@Ask the Canuck law-talkin' guys about the Constitution of Canada!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-canuck-law-talkin-guys-about-the-constitution-of-canada/619073): > > Hi, all, Today, April 17, is the 30th anniversary of the [Patriation of the Constitution of Canada](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=canada+1982+constitution+proclamation&hl=en&biw=1276&bih=573&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=xusCfli2j4oSqM:&imgrefurl=http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1160497--constitution-anniversary-leaves-tories-cold&docid=5IC3U_9suisXlM&imgurl=http://i.thestar.com/images/ec/ba/5e94f0e641248a6b5f8571677720.jpg&w=615&h=414&ei=nruNT6zkKcjd0QHk3s3IDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=79&vpy=144&dur=142&hovh=184&hovw=274&tx=159&ty=125&sig=109139528408148685446&page=1&tbnh=114&tbnw=152&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:69), and the enactment of the [Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms](http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/charter/page-1.html). To mark the day, some of us Canuck law-talkin’ guys have decided to start a thread for questions about the Constitution of Canada. Spoons and Malthus are on-side, and I hope Muffin will join in as well. Any other Canuck law-talkin’ guys (or gals, of course) who want to join in, please do so. We just have two guiding principles f… Time flies when you’re having fun! ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/8 "2022-04-18T13:46:10Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Time flies when you’re having fun! Is _that_ what we’ve been doing these last ten years? ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/9 "2022-04-18T19:07:56Z")
I know that the 1982 constitution uses a little bit of the language from the UDHR. Read them both, and decide for yourself 🙂 . But you’re right too. It is a beautiful amalgam of all pertinent documents to date. Just beautiful 🙂 . ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/10 "2022-04-18T19:11:47Z")
Here, I’ll even make it easy for you to compare: the [UDHR](https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights) and the Canadian [Charter of Rights](https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/page-12.html) 🙂 EDIT: For example, _Freedom of thought_ and _Freedom of Association_. Where on earth is that found in English common law or the US bill of rights? They obviously got that from the UN UDHR 🙂 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/11 "2022-04-18T23:17:37Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > Where on earth is that found in English common law or the US bill of rights? Seems to be scattered quite liberally in the US Constitution. > **[Freedom of Association](https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/freedom-of-association/)** > > The Supreme Court has recognized expressive association and intimate association under the First Amendment. It has also recognized the right not to associate. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/12 "2022-04-18T23:54:03Z")
@BippityBoppityBoo Relevant Amendment: \* Amendment I\* _Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances._ I certainly see no mention of right to associate there 🙂 There’s a right to peaceably assemble. But you do realize that is not, at least literally, a right to associate. Freedom of thought is not mentioned either. If you find it (in the actual text of the US Constitution, I mean 🙂 ) QUOTE IT to us 🙂 I agree the SCOTUS has added more rights over the years. And they probably were right to do so. But sadly, as justices retire, even that may change. EDIT: I now see that was evident in your cite. Well, it’s still not literally in the US Constitution. And where is it, in English Common Law. (Remember too, Canada follows _English_ common law, not American. Technically speaking, they have ignored us since 1776. At least formally.) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/13 "2022-04-19T00:37:06Z")
I liked this article. > **[The Charter at 40: 10 important court cases that shaped Canada's rights and...](https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/charter-of-rights-and-freedoms-anniversary-10-important-cases)** > > Thousands of court cases have been decided based on the principles in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Learn more about the most important ones ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/14 "2022-04-19T01:07:48Z")
Canada is its own country now, huh? Good for you guys. Maybe one day you’ll be good enough to be a 51st state. \*ducks. 🙂 JK ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/15 "2022-04-19T04:31:05Z")
It’s pretty unlikely that Canada will end up as “North Virginia” or even one of the important states. Countries invading Canada tend to get bogged down by harsh winters, deep mud, medieval French, annoying black flies and biting sarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/16 "2022-04-19T06:19:08Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > (Remember too, Canada follows _English_ common law, not American. Technically speaking, they have ignored us since 1776. At least formally.) I’m unsure what you mean here. I can parse a few meanings. Do you mean that English common law is binding in Canada? Do you mean that American common law is ignored in Canada? Could you clarify? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/17 "2022-04-19T07:58:56Z")
We’re safe. Anybody taking over Canada would have to deal with Quebec, and no one wants that! ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/18 "2022-04-19T13:04:56Z")
It’s more likely - though not very - that a few liberal, disgruntled northeastern states will ask for admission to Canada than it is for Canada to seek admission to the US. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/19 "2022-04-19T14:22:26Z")
If Poilievre wins, and he could, some Canadians will threaten to emigrate to the US! Of course, they won’t actually do that. Freedom! ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961/20 "2022-04-19T20:16:56Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > I do not think we ever learned anything at all about it in school. I think we got something to commemorate it when I was in school. Maybe a certificate or a small Canadian flag pin? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-17-1982-forty-years-since-the-patriation-of-the-constitution-of-canada/962961.md?page=2)