Inside Politics

UPDATED - Orders of the Day - Happy 30th anniversary, Charter of Rights and Freedoms!

by Kady O'Malley Posted: April 17, 2012 9:15 AM Last Updated: April 17, 2012 4:12 PM
All things considered, it's been a lively three decades. Here's to many more!

To mark the occasion, the Canadian Bar Association is throwing a day-long celebration in downtown Ottawa, which will include a half-day session for high school students under the theme "Access to Justice," with a mock trial on cyber-bullying, a demonstration of the superior sniffing skills of Canada Border Services Agency canine agent Becky and a career panel.

The highlight, however, may turn out to be the closing event:  a "flash mob" at the corner of Sparks and Metcalfe, during which "local lawyers and legal professionals" will hit the pavement to the tune of a "custom, danceable version" of O Canada that has been commissioned for the occasion.

Meanwhile, in Toronto, former prime minister Jean Chretien will be the guest of honour at a Liberal Party-hosted reception in celebration of the 30th anniversary, which will cap off a day of Charter-centric festivities. According to the advisory, interim party leader Bob Rae will also be in attendance, which likely result in still more pointed questions -- and, unless he changes tack, more ambiguity-laced non-answers -- on his future intentions. 

UPDATE: According to the programme, Bob Rae will also make an appearance at "Checking Our Constitution @ 30", a two-day conference hosted by the Association of Canadian Studies at the University of Ottawa. 

As for the government, it is expected to issue a statement marking the occasion later this morning, likely under the moniker of Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore, but beyond that, no official recognition of the Charter's 30th anniversary is expected. 

UPDATE: As promised, here's that statement, which came out just after 10am under the names of both Moore and Justice Minister Rob Nicholson. As yet, the release does not appear to be available online, so I've included the full text for your reading pleasure: 

Today marks the 30th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Constitution Act of 1982, which was formally signed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on April 17, 1982, in the presence of tens of thousands of Canadians on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. 

This anniversary marks an important step in the development of Canada's human rights policy. Building on Diefenbaker's Canadian Bill of Rights of 1960, the Constitution Act of 1982 enshrined certain rights and freedoms that had historically been at the heart of Canadian society into a constitutional document known as the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Constitution Act of 1982 empowered our government to amend every part of Canada's constitution, for the very first time. 

 As we look ahead to Canada's 150th Anniversary in 2017, we encourage all Canadians to commemorate the milestones that have built our nation and made us the great country we are today.

Finally, nostalgic readers can  relive the moment when Canada's Constitution came home via the indispensable (and irresistible)  CBC Archives.

Back on the Hill, the Canadian Dental Association leads a coalition of concerned health groups to the National Press Theatre, where they will sound the alarm over what "drastic" budget cuts could mean for the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy.

Outside the precinct, the ministerial good news circuit hits full throttle, with more than a dozen events across the country, but the only one arousing anything beyond mild interest would appear to be Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver's unspecified announcement at a Toronto pipeline coating manufacturer, at which he will reportedly reveal the government's plan to speed up the environmental review process for pipelines.

(Interestingly, this is the second time in three weeks that the minister has made an appearance at that particular plant.)

For up to the minute dispatches from the precinct and beyond, keep your eye on the Parliament Hill Ticker below -- or, alternatively, bookmark it and check back throughout the day. 

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Tags: blackberry jungle, orders of the day