Canada’s Freedom
Dec 31, 2015
Before Confederation…
• Proclamation Act (Treaty of Paris) of 1763- All French land was handed over to the British after they won the 7 Years’ War.
• Quebec Act 1774- Made the French swear Oath of Allegiance, guaranteed free practice of Catholic faith
What’s its purpose?
• Lays out the rules and procedures for Canada’s government, H of C and Senate, roles of Federal and provincial governments,and their powers, taxation, laws.
Colonial Ties
• Canada was now self-governing but Britain still controlled our foreign affairs.
• Most Canadians were still proud to make everything British.
• Went and fought for Britain in:
Boer War (1899), WWI (1914), WWII (1939)
French Canadians and others soon pushed for more independence… and got it.
Statute of Westminster (1931)• Changed the role of the Governor-General
• More of a ceremonial role
• Canada given full control over its own laws.
• 2 things Britain still held until 1982:
1.Highest court of appeal in legal system
2.Canada’s constitution- (because federal and provincial governments couldn’t agree on method of making changes to it)
Bill of Rights, 1960
• Canada’s early version of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
• Passed by Diefenbaker• It was a Federal paper not a constitutional set of
laws, so they were hard to enforce and easy to change.
• Canada was also wanting something like the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights so in 1982, something was done about it.
Constitution Act, 1982
• In this Act, all remaining powers held by Britain were given over to Canada.
• Created in both official languages, signed by the queen, G.G and Pierre Trudeau