Document Information

Date: 1975-10-10
By: R.G. Robertson
Citation: Memorandum from R.G. Robertson to Mrs. Reed (10 October 1975).
Other formats: Click here to view the original document (PDF).

CONFIDENTIAL
October 10th, 1975.

MEMORANDUM FOR MRS. REED:

Reaction from Quebec to our latest drafts
for the proclamation on the constitution

Please let me have your views on any
aspect of the attached memorandum. I think it is
self-explanatory. I would particularly like to
have your comments on Chouinard’s proposal about making
the amending formula applicable to the proclamation as
well as to other parts of “the constitution of Canada”.

I think we are getting to the point where
it would be useful to have these documents in complete
form – with the spelling out of paragraphs 1 and 2
plus the addition of whatever is required to define
“the constitution of Canada”. You will recall that we
discussed this two or three weeks ago.

What do you think about the idea of
referring the proclamation to the courts for an
opinion? Chouinard told me that, if
there were to be a reference to the Court of Appeal
of Quebec, there would have to be legislation in
Quebec to direct or permit this. If there were
to be reference to the Supreme Court of Canada done,
presumably the federal government could do this under powers it
now has. I would welcome your thoughts on the wisdom
of such action, on the probable legal result, and on the
sort of timetable that might realistically emerge if such
a reference were to take place.

Secretary to the Cabinet
for Federal-Provincial Relations

Secrétaire du Cabinet
pour les relations fédérales-provinciales

le 10 octobre 1975.

Cher Julien ,

Suite à notre conversation télé-
phonique du 8 octobre, je t’envoie ci-inclus
des copies en français et en anglais de la
Charte de Victoria.

Je n’ai pas eu d’occasions jusqu’ici
de parler au Premier ministre concernant les
questions soulevées dans notre conversation.
Comme je te l’ai dit l’autre jour, je crois qu’il
sera presque impossible pour le Premier ministre
de trouver un moment pour cette matière avant
l’ouverture de la session parlementaire le 14
octobre. Certainement, je vais lui parler
aussitôt que possible et après ça je vais te
téléphoner immédiatement.

En tout amitié,

L’honorable Juge Julien Chouinard
420, Lemesurier
Québec (Québec)
G1S 1P9

Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A3