Frédéric Bastien

Frédéric Bastien is a Canadian author, historian, and journalist, best known for the book La Bataille de Londres. Dessous, secrets et coulisses du rapatriement constitutionnel, whose allegations surrounding the 1982 patriation of Canada's constitution caused political controversy in Quebec and led the Supreme Court of Canada to launch an internal probe.[1]

Biography

Bastien holds a PhD in history and international politics from the Institut universitaire de hautes études internationales in Geneva[2] and has authored two books dealing with Paris-Québec-Ottawa relations since the Quiet Revolution.[3] He is currently a history professor at Dawson College in Montreal, Canada.[4]

La Bataille de Londres

In La Bataille de Londres. Dessous, secrets et coulisses du rapatriement constitutionnel, Bastien alleges that the patriation of Canada's constitution in 1982 amounted to a "coup d'etat" because of interference by Canada's judiciary in the patriation process.[5] In particular, Bastien names then Chief Justice of Canada, Bora Laskin, as interfering in the process of patriation in such a way as to breach the separation of executive and judicial powers.[6]

These allegations were brought to the attention of the current Chief Justice of Canada, Beverley McLachlin, who undertook to review the matter. In April 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada launched an internal investigation into the book's claims.[7] However, the court concluded its review after failing to find relevant documents in its archives.[8]

Reaction

Alexandre Cloutier, Quebec Intergovernmental Affairs Minister, claimed La Bataille de Londres "shows just how far prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau was ready to go and what means he was willing to use to force the Constitution down the throat of Quebecers, gestures that are extremely serious."[9]

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, when asked about the controversy during a visit in Quebec, dismissed Bastien's allegations, saying "I think that the whole population is fed up with this discussion."[10]

The Dorchester Review commented that Bastien "has ... succeeded in challenging the historical legitimacy and ethics of the Trudeau government ... revealing a new insight into the chicanery with which the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was imposed on Canadians, who did not need it and never asked for it." "Trudeau's Chief Judicial Activist," The Dorchester Review (Spring/Summer 2013, p. 94)

Political career

Bastien ran to be leader of the Parti Québécois in the 2020 Parti Québécois leadership election, and came in fourth, losing to Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.[11]

Bibliography
  • Relations particulières: la France face au Québec après de Gaulle (1999), Éditions du Boréal ISBN 9782890529762
  • Le poids de la coopération:le rapport France-Québec (2006), Québec Amérique ISBN 9782764405123
  • La Bataille de Londres: Dessous, secrets et coulisses du rapatriement constitutionnel (2013), Éditions du Boréal ISBN 9782764622278
  • The Battle of London: Trudeau, Thatcher, and the Fight for Canada's Constitution (2014), Dundurn Press ISBN 9781459723290

References
  1. "Supreme Court launches probe over allegations of chief justice leaking details of constitutional talks". The Globe and Mail.com.
  2. Beaulieu, Isabelle. "Le prix de l'essai Richard-Arès pour Frédéric Bastien". Les Libraires.ca.
  3. "Great Women Who Made History". UOttawa.ca. University of Ottawa. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  4. "Frederic Bastien: Contributor Profile". Montreal Gazette.com.
  5. Hébert, Chantal. "New book raises troubling issues surrounding patriation of the Constitution: Hébert". Toronto Star.com. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  6. "Frederic Bastien raises questions about top court's review into Constitution allegations". Macleans.ca. Canadian Press. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  7. "Top court to investigate alleged judicial meddling in 1982 Constitution". www.cbc.ca. Canadian Press. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  8. "Top court says it has no docs on Constitution repatriation claims". www.cbc.ca. Canadian Press. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  9. Ouellet, Martin (April 9, 2013). "Probe called after book alleges Supreme Court interference into 1982 'constitutional coup d'état'". National Post. Canadian Press. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  10. "Harper says people 'fed up' with constitutional battles". CBC News Politics. Canadian Press. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  11. "Paul St-Pierre Plamondon elected as new Parti Quebecois leader". CTV News. Canadian Press. October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
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