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The Saskatchewan Institute of Public Policy
CALL FOR PAPERS/PANELS
The Constitution Act, 1982 and
Canada’s Continuing Constitutional Evolution
Regina, Saskatchewan, May 23-25, 2007
April 17, 1982 in many ways marked the culmination of Canada’s constitutional evolution as a self-governing, liberal democratic federation. With the proclamation of the Constitution Act, 1982 by Queen Elizabeth II, Canada had achieved a domestic formula for amending its constitution, a constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and treaty rights for the Aboriginal peoples of Canada, and a constitutionally protected Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Yet the evolution of our constitutional and political norms have not, in fact, ended with the proclamation of the 1982 Constitution; instead, it may even be accelerating as a consequence of the new constitutional principles enshrined in the text of that Act.
In honour of the 25th anniversary of the proclamation of the Constitution Act, 1982, the Saskatchewan Institute of Public Policy (SIPP) is organizing a conference “The Constitution Act, 1982 and Canada’s Continuing Constitutional Evolution” to be held in Regina on May 23-25, 2007. SIPP seeks to advance the public policy discourse on Canada’s continuing constitutional development by providing a forum in which scholars, practitioners, and the policy community can openly evaluate the impact that the 1982 Constitution has had on public policy and democratic politics in Canada to date and how it might continue to influence our evolution as a political community.
The Institute is seeking proposals for papers or panels (normally three thematically linked papers) that would stimulate discussion on these and related issues, including the following topics:
the political and social forces that led to the negotiation of the Constitution Act, 1982;
the effect of the Constitution Act, 1982 on subsequent debates over Canadian federalism and the management of intergovernmental relations;
the roles of judges, legislators, the executive, and the public in the policy process in the Charter of Rights era;
the effect of the Charter of Rights on Canadian notions of liberalism and political discourse about human rights, equality, and fundamental freedoms;
the role of the Constitution Act, 1982 in the emergence of a political consciousness about Aboriginal rights and the role of Aboriginal peoples in the Canadian state;
the effect of the 1982 amending formula on Canada’s prospects for future constitutional amendment and the need for informal constitutional evolution; and
the influence of Canada’s constitutional evolution since 1982 on the development of other liberal democracies.
For those already planning to attend the Congresses of the Humanities and Social Sciences in Saskatoon in 2007, we would encourage you to come to Saskatchewan early and attend what promises to be an extremely interesting conference.
Please send paper abstracts of 500 to 1000 words and a one-page curriculum vitae by June 30, 2006 to sipp@uregina.ca. Enquiries can also be addressed to sipp@uregina.ca.
To receive a copy of this Call in French, please contact sipp@uregina.ca
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