Charlottetown Accord (1992)

 It included:

• most of what was found in the Meech Lake Accord
• a "Canada Clause" which entrenched ethnic duality, rather than bilingual characteristics
• a "Triple-E" Senate (equal by province)
• a commitment to negotiate the right to self-government of First Nations
• a social charter to complement the "Canada Clause"

On October 26, 1992, separate referenda in Canada and in Québec rejected the accord by a large majority, albeit for different reasons. As a result, the Mulroney government and the Premiers let the accord "die."

On August 28 in 1992, Canada's first ministers reached an agreement on a new constitutional amendment in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The deal was called the Charlottetown Accord.

News gathering organizations gave a great deal of coverage to the Charlottetown Accord. Here is part of a CBC Radio News report from Alvin Cader. It begins with the voice of Clyde Wells, then the premier of Newfoundland. You'll also hear the voice of the former premier of Quebec, Robert Bourassa. [40kb]

On October 27th in 1992, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney went on radio and television to talk about the rejection of the Charlottetown Accord. More than half of Canadians who voted in a national referendum said "No" to a plan which would have changed the Canadian constitution by bringing Quebec into the agreement. Many voters felt Quebec would get special treatment under the accord, so they voted against it. Here is part of what Brian Mulroney said that day: [77kb]