The Road to Patriation

The Road to Patriation

94 mins | Documentary | April 14, 1982

This feature documentary retraces the century of haggling by successive federal and provincial governments to agree on a formula to bring home the Canadian Constitution from England. This film concentrates on the politicking and lobbying that finally led to its patriation in 1982. Five prime ministers had failed before Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau took up the challenge in the early 1970s. Principal players in this documentary are federal Minister of Justice Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister Trudeau, 10 provincial premiers and a host of journalists, politicians, lawyers, and diplomats on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Road to Patriation

94 mins | Documentary | April 14, 1982

The Road to Patriation
This feature documentary retraces the century of haggling by successive federal and provincial governments to agree on a formula to bring home the Canadian Constitution from England. This film concentrates on the politicking and lobbying that finally led to its patriation in 1982. Five prime ministers had failed before Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau took up the challenge in the early 1970s. Principal players in this documentary are federal Minister of Justice Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister Trudeau, 10 provincial premiers and a host of journalists, politicians, lawyers, and diplomats on both sides of the Atlantic.
Producers National Film Board of Canada
Original title The Road to Patriation
Directors Robert A. Duncan
Writers Robert A. Duncan

Cast

Alan Maitland

as Narrator (voice)

Pierre Elliott Trudeau

as Self (archive footage)

Jean Chrétien

as Self (archive footage)