What happened to the Constitution in 1982?
- It created the Senate
- It made Canada a republic
- It was amended to entrench the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- It was replaced by the Quebec Act
Answer: It was amended to entrench the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
In 1982 the Constitution was amended to entrench the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which sets out fundamental freedoms and other rights. The change came after long negotiation, but without the agreement of Quebec. Until 1982, July 1 was called Dominion Day.
Learn more: Canada and Quebec
- The Quiet Revolution was an era of rapid change in Quebec in the 1960s. Many Quebecers sought to separate from Canada.
- In 1963 Parliament set up the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism.
- The Official Languages Act (1969) guarantees French and English services in the federal government across Canada.
- In 1970 Canada helped found La Francophonie, an international association of French-speaking countries.
- Quebec sovereignty was defeated in a provincial referendum in 1980 and again in a second referendum in 1995.
- In 1982 the Constitution was amended to entrench the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This was done without the agreement of Quebec.
- The autonomy of Quebec within Canada is still a lively topic.