Quebec parties unanimous in calling on Ottawa to release Constitution archives

QUEBEC – Quebec’s national assembly has unanimously adopted a motion calling on Ottawa to release constitutional archives from the early 1980s.

The motion comes a week after a historian wrote that the Supreme Court chief justice at the time provided information to the Canadian and British governments on the discussions between magistrates about the legality of repatriation.

Historian Frederic Bastien suggests that Bora Laskin and another Supreme Court justice violated the principle of separation of executive and judicial powers.

Quebec is the only province that did not sign the Constitution in 1982.

All 108 members of Quebec’s legislature voted today in favour of the motion. They represent the Parti Quebecois, the Liberals, the Coalition for Quebec’s Future, and Quebec solidaire.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper has already dismissed a Quebec government request to have the documents made public. The Supreme Court is examining the allegations.