Document Information

Date: 1981-05-28
By: Canada (Parliament)
Citation: Canada, Senate Debates, 32nd Parl, 1st Sess, 1981 at 2476-2477.
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2476 SENATE DEBATES May 28, 1981

THE CONSTITUTION
MOTION FOR AN ADDRESS TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN~
PENDING JUDGMENT OF SUPREME COURT OF CANADA-—
ALLEGED STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF JUSTICE
Hon. Raymond J. Perrault (Leader of the Government):
Honourable senators, on Tuesday last, a question was asked by
Senator Asselin regarding a statement attributed to the Hon-
ourable the Minister of Justice. Inquiries in this connection
went forward.

May 28, I981 SENATE
DEBATES 2477
The reply received from the Minister of Justice is to the
effect that he was saying that, if we cannot reach agreement
with the provinces, it will be the Supreme Court which will
have to decide where the law lies. Reference to the Supreme
Court of the question of offshore resources would be an
example.
The office of the minister has provided a comment, also, to
the effect that we have a Constitution, which is the prime law
of the land. For the Minister of Justice to say that this act
must be respected and judged by the Supreme Court of
Canada does not constitute any threat. It is a correct interpre-
tation of the legal situation.