While this bill may be consistent with formal constitutional amending procedures and may be legally enforceable, I believe it runs contrary to constitutional conventions and current practices of constitutional change.

the constitutional review process, where the Member States can provide valuable experience, and including support for ambitious measures relating to public information and dialogue with the people.

With the inclusion of section 35 in the Constitution Act, 1982, and with the constitutional amendment of 1983, which added sections 35(3), 35(4) and 35.1, it became clear that governments at all levels in Canada would have to acknowledge the reality of Aboriginal self-government as an " existing Aboriginal right which was recognized and affirmed" in the Constitution of Canada.

Mr. Jim Gouk (Kootenay West-Revelstoke, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions, each on the same subject, from residents of my riding and more particularly the towns of Trail, Nelson and Fruitvale (1210 ) The petitioners call on Parliament to recognize that as the legislature of Newfoundland has passed a resolution calling for a constitutional amendment to remove the rights of denominational classes of persons to operate their own schools and further, that if Parliament accedes to these proposals to amend the Constitution at the request of one provincial government, it would set a precedent for permitting any provincial government to ...[+++] suppress the rights of minorities.

A variety of tools is available to achieve this principle of consent: a constitutional convention; a motion in the House of Commons; a change to the Standing Orders; statutory changes to the Parliament of Canada Act; modifications to the letters patent; and constitutional amendment.

If rights are part of the Constitution, it takes a constitutional amendment to make a change, with eight provinces agreeing.