Document Information

Date: 1980-09-05
By: Government of Canada [?]
Citation: The Economic Union, New Composite Draft (5 September 1980).
Other formats: Click here to view the original document (PDF). There is a second copy with handwritten notes. (PDF)

CONFIDENTIAL

September 5, 1980

New Composite Draft

THE ECONOMIC UNION

Canadian Economic Union

121. (1) Canada is an economic union within which all persons may ·move without discrimination based on province or territory of residence or former residence, and within which all goods, services and capital may move without discrimination based on province or territory of origin or entry into Canada or of destination within or of export from Canada.

Commitment of Political Authorities

(2) Parliament and the legislatures, together with the Government of Canada and the Governments of the Provinces, are committed to

(a) the maintenance and enhancement of the Canadian economic union;

(b) the harmonization of federal and provincial laws, policies and practices that affect the Canadian economic union.

(3) Neither Canada nor a province shall by law or practice contravene the principle expressed in subsection (1)

Derogation

(4) Subsection (3) does not render invalid a law of Parliament or of a legislature enacted in the interests of public safety, order, health or morals.

Idem

(5) Subsection (3) does not render invalid a law of Parliament enacted

(a) in accordance with the principles of equalization and regional development recognized in section

or

(b) in relation to a matter that is declared by Parliament in the enactment to be of an overriding national interest.

Idem

(6) Subsection (3) does not render invalid a law of a legislature that, before it comes into force, is approved by the governments of six other provinces and the Government of Canada provided such law remains in force for no more than five years .

Customs union continued

(7) Nothing in subsections (4), (5) or (6) renders valid a law of Parliament or a legislature that impedes the admission free into any province of goods, services or capital originating in or imported into any other province or territory.

Legislative authority not extended

(8) Nothing in this section confers any legislative authority on Parliament or a legislature.