Constitution of Canada
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official2386
- Date
- 1981 November 11-13
- Type
- Resolution
- Mover
- Rt. Rev. J.R. Sperry
- Seconder
- Rt. Rev. C.J. Lawrence
- Text of motion
- That this National Executive Council of the Anglican Church of Canada currently in session, expresses thanksgiving that substantial progress has been achieved in the resolution of Canada's constitutional problem, and continues to hope that further negotiations may enable the Province of Quebec to feel itself a constituting part of our nationhood; but also expresses deep concern that:
- 1. the elimination of the recognition of the aboriginal and treaty rights of the Indian, Inuit and Metis people of Canada constitutes a crisis as significant as, and equivalent to, that between the Federal and Provincial governments;
- 2. failure to remedy this situation can only appear to our aboriginal people as calculated contempt for their rights by those who have the moral and constitutional responsibility to safeguard and honour them;
- 3. Canada will be identified in the eyes of the world as racially oppressive;
- 4. in our country fundamental moral principles could be sacrificed for political expediency; and above all
- 5. abdication of moral responsibility is fundamentally abhorrent and ultimately self-defeating,
- and therefore urges that the Federal and Provincial governments re-instate the inherent rights of the aboriginal peoples in all appropriate legislation in the constitutional process. CARRIED
- Notes
- Copies of a letter were circulated, signed on behalf of Native people, addressed to all Christian leaders calling for support with their concern with the Constitution.
- Subjects
- Canada - Constitution
- Quebec (Province) - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Indigenous peoples - Canada - Anglican Church of Canada
- Indigenous peoples - Canada - Government relations - 1951-
- Indigenous peoples - Canada