Canadian Federalism in the 1990s: Once More in Question

Failure to ratify the Meech Lake Accord in 1990 has produced a constitutional crisis in Canada and sharpened the polarization between Quebec and the rest of Canada. The future of Canadian federalism and of Canada as a nation is now in question. Procedural factors contributing to the failure of Meech Lake included flaws in the constitutional amendment process, inadequate public involvement, distrust of executive federalism, inept political leadership, and ratification of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. More fundamental factors, however, involve significant social and political changes within Quebec and the rest of Canada. The crisis is expected to reach a peak by the fall of 1992 when Quebec may hold a referendum on sovereignty.