Ontario’s Position on Culture in the Charlottetown Accord, Ontario Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation (1992)

I was privileged to draft Ontario’s position working with colleagues at the Ontario Ministry of Culture. The Charlottetown Accord was a major constitutional reform proposal in Canada undertaken in 1992 seeking to resolve long-standing political tensions involving Quebec’s place in Canada, Indigenous self-government, and institutional reforms to federal governance.

This was Prime Minister Brian Mulroneys second attempt to achieve this goal. The Canadian constitution was framed in the 19th century institution and focused more on ports and transit routes more than 20th century priorities such as culture and communications. Most provisions in the Constitution designate powers as either Federal or Provincial. Ontario, together with several other Provinces, proposed a Concurrent or shared Federal and Provincial responsibility. Canadians ultimately rejected the accord in a national referendum.

The original signed copy of the Canadian Constitution, first patriated in 1982.