Political Science

Political Science

Constitutional Reforms in Canada

The constitutional history of Canada dates back to 1763. The 1763 Treaty of Paris was the treaty in which France gave over several portions of France to Great Britain. Canada was the colony located near the St Lawrence River. It was a part of the present day Quebec. The government of Canada went through several changes during that time period. In 1931, Canada got the legislative autonomy from the United Kingdom. In 1982, the constitution of Canada was patriated.

The Constitution of Canada provides a set of supreme laws designed for the country. The constitution of Cana is an integration of different codes and traditions. The constitution of Canada is considered to be one of the oldest constitutions in the world. The constitution of the country outlines its system of government, civil rights, and other important aspects. The interpretation of constitution is also known as Canadian Constitutional Law.

There have been several reforms that have occurred in the constitutional history of Canada. One of such reforms was Royal Proclamation (1763). The Royal Proclamation was considered to be the de facto constitution of Quebec. Under the constitution, the new governor of the colony was given the power to summon people's representatives when required. The reform gave governor the essential mandate to make and constitute laws. The Royal Proclamation consisted of different elements that offered Canadians the privilege to maintain their civil laws and to practice their religion.

Another major reform that occurred in the period from 1764 to 1774 was Restoration Movement. In 1754, a petition was submitted by Canadians demanding the availability of the King in French. Canadian demanded that they be allowed to take part in the government.

In the year 1773, a petition was submitted that consisted of different elements. The petition demanded the full restoration of ancient laws and customers. The petition also demanded the full extension of the province to its former boundaries. The third demand of the petition was the application of British laws without any discrimination or distinction. It was suggested that the house of assembly was not appropriate at that time. The colony was unable to afford the house of assembly; therefore, a larger council was suggested that comprised of new as well as old components.

The British North American Act, 1876 was the major reform in Canada. The reform united different colonies together including NS, Canada, and NB. The reform played a significant role in establishing federal government in the country. The reform also contributed towards the establishment of provincial governments. The constitution of Canada is similar to the constitution of the United Kingdom. The constitution resulted in the development of legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Under the constitution, legislative powers have been assigned equally at provincial and federal ranks. The natural resources as well as property were also divided between federal and provincial levels.

Access to Justice

From 1867 to 1949, the highest court in Canada was the Judicial Committee of the Privy ...