Université de Montréal

The Canadian Confederation: Past, Present, and Future

May 16-18, 2017

The year 2017 marks the 150^th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation.  The passage of the Constitution Act (1867) opened a new chapter in the history of the Canadian people, providing them with a measure of self-determination that has served as a model of effective and stable government for more than a century and a half.  Although the road has not been without obstacles and some turbulence, Canada’s progress from a loose association of provinces governed by London to a nation that extends A Mari Usque Ad Mare — or more properly, “from sea to sea to sea,” — has served as an inspiration to movements for democratic reform throughout the world.

This conference will bring together scholars from around Canada, the Commonwealth, and the world to explore the origins, present state, and future prospects of the Canadian constitutional settlement.  Experts in law, history, politics, and economics will present papers on the history of the Confederation settlement, the role of Québec, the development of human rights and the Charter, federalism, parliamentary sovereignty, judicial review, private law in a federal system, as well as the role of Canada in the Commonwealth.

This content has been updated on 17 October 2016 at 20 h 39 min.