Canadians Sign Pact That ‘Brings Quebec Back Into the Family’
OTTAWA — Despite second thoughts and spirited opposition from former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, federal and provincial leaders emerged from a marathon 19 1/2 hours of talks today to sign an accord incorporating Quebec into the Canadian constitution.
Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, whom Trudeau called a “weakling†for sacrificing federal powers, appeared at dawn to announce a unanimous agreement “which brings Quebec back into the Canadian family.â€
The agreement to recognize Quebec’s French culture and special interests ends the province’s boycott of constitutional affairs.
The lack of constitutional safeguards for the promotion of the French language and culture led Quebec to boycott a 1981 accord that resulted in the repatriation of the Canadian constitution from Britain.
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