Is it time we reopened the Constitution? Few English Canadians want to reopen the Constitution (except Mulcair it seems, at least among party leaders), yet so many want to reform the senate in principle. Of course one can't happen without the other. If we did reopen the Constitution, we could imagine Quebec bringing up its historically unresolved concerns, the indigenous peoples bringing up theirs with the recommendations of the TRC as added fodder, Arieh Waldman and others turning to the UN 's official criticism of the Separate Schools system, a much more ethnically diverse Canadian population possibly bringing official bilingualism back on the table (including indigenous peoples and, given that some Constitutions now include an official sign language, the Deaf communities too), among other reform proposals coming from all corners. Some human rights advocates will likely ask for the UDHR's Article on private property rights to be included in any new Canadian Constitution. Even Senate reform itself would be a complex issue, with some proposing abolition, others a triple-e senate, some a First Nations Assembly, and others proposing representation from stakeholders who are unlikely to win a seat as an MP due to discrimination (deaf, blind, wheelchair-bound, and other such candidates).
Also, if we do decide to reopen the Constitution, should we just jump in or prepare for it first? I could see the government establishing a Royal Commission on the Treaties and the Constitution to study various possible reforms and make recommendations. Though its recommendations would be non-binding, they would give the government ideas to work with before jumping in.
Given that religion (e.g. the separate school system, the right to wear religious symbols, etc.) and language (e.g. official bilingualism, Quebec's repeated requests that Federal government institutions in Quebec submit to Bill 101, and increased calls in Nunavut and on reserves for schooling in the local indigenous language) are likely to be particularly contentious, we might even want to create a separate Royal Commission on Religion and Language to study these matters separately from other Constitutional questions so that they don't bog the other commission down.
So, should we reopen the Constitution or just leave the senate as is? And if we do decide to open it, should we just jump in or prepare for it first? And if we decide to prepare for it first, how so? Your thoughts?
Also, if we do decide to reopen the Constitution, should we just jump in or prepare for it first? I could see the government establishing a Royal Commission on the Treaties and the Constitution to study various possible reforms and make recommendations. Though its recommendations would be non-binding, they would give the government ideas to work with before jumping in.
Given that religion (e.g. the separate school system, the right to wear religious symbols, etc.) and language (e.g. official bilingualism, Quebec's repeated requests that Federal government institutions in Quebec submit to Bill 101, and increased calls in Nunavut and on reserves for schooling in the local indigenous language) are likely to be particularly contentious, we might even want to create a separate Royal Commission on Religion and Language to study these matters separately from other Constitutional questions so that they don't bog the other commission down.
So, should we reopen the Constitution or just leave the senate as is? And if we do decide to open it, should we just jump in or prepare for it first? And if we decide to prepare for it first, how so? Your thoughts?
