Meech Lake Accord

Meech Lake Accord set of constitutional reforms designed to induce Quebec to accept the Canada Act . The Accord's five basic points, proposed by Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa, include a guarantee of Quebec's special status as a "distinct society" and a commitment to Canada's linguistic duality. Other provisions increase provincial powers in immigration, provide for provincial input in appointing supreme court judges, restrict federal spending power, and restore the provincial right to constitutional veto. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and all the provincial premiers agreed to the Accord on Apr. 30, 1987, though strong doubts were expressed by the premiers of Ontario and Manitoba, and by several women's and Native American rights groups. The Accord died on June 22, 1990, when Newfoundland and Manitoba failed to approve it, leading many Quebeckers to reconsider independence (see Bouchard, Lucien ).

Meech Lake Accord (April 1987) An abortive Canadian constitutional settlement, arising out of Quebec's opposition to the patriation of the Canadian Constitution in 1982. To satisfy Quebec's demands for recognition of more rights, Prime Minister Mulroney and the premiers of all Canadian provinces met at Meech Lake (Quebec) to agree on a compromise. Quebec was recognized as having a ‘distinct’ society, while all of Canada was recognized as a bilingual country. Provincial rights were to be increased in aspects of immigration, constitutional rights, and federal spending programmes. The accord was fiercely criticized by some of the weaker provinces, who benefited from a strong Federal state, as well as by Canadian Indians, whose plea for national constitutional recognition would have been hampered by the agreement. It broke down on 1 July 1990, after the provinces of Newfoundland and Manitoba had failed to ratify it within the necessary three-year period.

Mulroney, (Martin) Brian (1939– ) Canadian statesman, prime minister (1984–93). In 1983, Mulroney became an MP and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party. In his first term, he signed the Meech Lake Accord (1985), which constitutionally made Québec a ‘distinct society’. In 1987 he negotiated a free trade treaty with the US, which led to the 1992 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The status of Québec continued to vex his administration and, following defeat in a national referendum, Mulroney resigned. Kim Campbell succeeded him as prime minister and party leader.

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