MONTREAL - On the 30th anniversary of the patriation of Canada's constitution and the adoption of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, former Quebec Liberal cabinet minister Benoit Pelletier was surprised by the lack of pomp.
The Harper government only put out a press release to celebrate Canada's final step to becoming an independent country.
"I'm surprised that the federal government isn't doing more to celebrate the patriation of 1982 from a Canadian perspective," said Pelletier, who now teaches constitutional law at the University of Ottawa.
"The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is seen as a great Canadian value, it is seen as something that unites Canadians. I'm quite surprised."
One reason for the downplaying of the day could be an attempt to avoid provoking a negative reaction for Quebec. The province has never signed the document and the defeat of the Meech Lake Accord that followed patriation is still an open sore in Quebec.
For the full interview, view the video to the right.
