The 1982 Patriation of the Canadian Constitution: Canada Attains Complete National Sovereignty

Before 1982, Canada's constitution was the British North America Act. Any changes to this constitution required the approval of the British government. For years, Canadian
governments had considered patriating the constitution, but no agreement could be reached pertaining to the changes. In 1981, Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau decided it was time to act upon the ideas of his predecessors; thus, work started on the creation of a new Canadian constitution.
Less than a month after the Quebec referendum, Trudeau organized a conference with the provincial premiers; however, the premie…