Go Deeper

It’s time to dig deeper! Better understand the Canadian constitution, and the issues and events that keep evolving our nation’s legal foundation.

Hopefully these presentations helped you acquire a deeper base of knowledge, but if you want to learn more, have a look at The Canada Guide to understand our constitution in more detail.

Part One

Before we have some fun, first let’s make sure you understand the constitution and why it matters. Answer these questions:

1. What is the constitution?
2. Why was the constitution created?
3. What happened in 1982 with regards to the constitution?
4. What are the benefits of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
5. What is Section 35?
6. Describe in your own words what the Crown’s duty to consult means, and its impact on today’s society?
7. How is the economy addressed in the constitution?
8. How is the environment addressed in the constitution?
9. What is the legal distribution of legislative powers afforded by the constitution?
10. What did the Meech Lake Accord seek to achieve, and why did it fail?
11. What did Charlottetown Accord seek to achieve, and why did it fail?
12. What aspects of the constitution are still controversial?
13. What aspects of the constitution are still being evolved through court cases?
14. What do you think is missing in our constitution?
15. What specific amendments would you make to the constitution, and how would you avoid the same fate as Meech Lake and Charlottetown?

Part Two

Now that you understand the constitution, and why past constitutional amendments have failed, it’s time for some fun.

1. Gather as a class and discuss how you would improve the constitution. What about the constitution is controversial? What isn’t clear? What goes too far? And what doesn’t go far enough?
2. Based on the class discussion, decide on a series of amendments to the constitution that you think would best address each issue that was raised.
3. Now vote!
4. Did you get unanimous support for all amendments? Why or why not? Remember, Meech Lake and Charlottetown required the unanimous support of parliament and every provincial legislature (Charlottetown, of course, also required majority support from the public in a national referendum, which failed).
5. If your class did unanimously pass your amendments, discuss whether you think nine other classrooms in the nine other provinces would unanimously support your amendments as well? Why or why not? Be honest, and reflect on what you learned in Chapter Two and in this chapter.
6. Now, as a class, discuss whether you think constitutional change is actually feasible and, if not, how best Canada can address the concerns raised by your amendments within the parameters of our existing political system. In other words, how do we pull together as a country, rather than pull apart?