Sunday, April 17, 2016

34 Years: Patriation

From Wikipedia:
"Patriation"
 

 
 
Patriation was the political process that led to Canadian sovereignty, culminating in 1982. Until that date, Canada was governed by a constitution composed of British laws that could be changed only by acts of the British parliament, albeit only with the consent of the Canadian government.The patriation process saw the provinces granted influence in constitutional matters and resulted in the constitution being amendable by Canada only and according to the Canadian amending formula, with no role for the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Hence, patriation is associated with the acquisition of full sovereignty. With the agreement of the majority of provincial governments, the Canada Act 1982 and the Constitution Act, 1982 were formally approved by the governments of the United Kingdom and Canada. By a joint resolution of the Canadian House of Commons and Senate, the Canadian parliament requested that the Queen cause to be introduced in the British parliament the necessary legislation to patriate the constitution. The resolution contained the text of what was to become the Canada Act, 1982, and the Constitution Act, 1982. The British parliament then passed the Canada Act, 1982, and Queen Elizabeth II, as Queen of the United Kingdom, granted it Royal Assent on March 29, 1982, 115 years to the day since Queen Victoria gave assent to the British North America Act, 1867. The Canada Act contained the Constitution Act, 1982, which itself included an amending formula involving only Canadian governments and legislatures. Section 2 of the Canada Act states that no subsequent UK law "shall extend to Canada as part of its law", while item 17 of its schedule also amends the Statute of Westminster removing the "request and consent" provision.  Elizabeth II then, as Queen of Canada, proclaimed the patriated constitution in Ottawa on April 17, 1982.
 

^ It has been 34 years since Canada has gained full independence! Before 1982 Canadian laws had to be approved by the British Parliament in London and then signed by the King/Queen of the United Kingdom before they could go into force within Canada. Since 1982 Canadian laws are only regulated by the Canadian Provinces and Territories as well as the Federal Government in Ottawa before being signed by either the Governor-General of Canada or the Queen of Canada. It was the last milestone of creating a separate Canadian citizenship, culture, identity and country with no one, except for Canadians, being allowed to tell other Canadians what to so. ^
 
 

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