The Constitution

Constitutional History

(Source: Privy Council Office, Government of Canada)

This brief history of Canada's constitutional development is intended to provide readers with both an historical perspective and background information on current efforts to reform the Constitution.

The section will look at Canada's constitutional history, from the pre-Confederation era until today. It is divided into the following categories:

• Pre-Confederation Period
• Confederation
• Evolution since Confederation
• Judicial Interpretation of the Constitution
• Patriation, the Amending Formula, and Constitutional Renewal
• The Accords
• Amendments since 1982
• Recent Non-Constitutional Evolution