Repatriation of Constitution in 1982: Quebec demands that feds open their books

QUEBEC – The Parti Quebecois government is urging Ottawa to “open its books” on the events that led to the repatriation of the Constitution by Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s Liberal government in 1982.

The call by Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Alexandre Cloutier comes after the publication of a book that alleges the Supreme Court of Canada interfered in the political process.

The book was written by historian and journalist Frederic Bastien.

Bastien writes that Bora Laskin, then chief justice of the Supreme Court, provided information to the Canadian and British governments on the discussions between magistrates about the legality of repatriation.

Bastien suggests that Laskin violated the principle of separation of executive and judicial powers.

Cloutier wants the federal government to make public all the documents relating to the repatriation.