Abstracts
Abstract
While Canada is widely seen as a leader in accommodating different forms of diversity, the unique needs of official language minority communities (OLMCs) are not adequately recognized in the constitution, and often fall through the cracks of the “Canadian model”. Can we imagine a new deal for OLMCs, perhaps in the form of new legislation or even a new constitutional provision that would provide stronger recognition of their national status, their collective rights, and their political autonomy? While I share the political objectives of achieving greater recognition and autonomy, this paper identifies a number of potential pitfalls and dead-ends that need to be avoided in the pursuit of such a new deal. I focus in particular on a) the role of legal categories, b) the limits of international law, and c) the constraints on constitutional reform.
Keywords:
- autonomy,
- multiculturalism,
- nationalism,
- official language minority communities,
- Canada
Résumé
Même si le Canada est largement perçu comme un chef de file en matière d’accommodement de différentes formes de diversité, les besoins particuliers de ses communautés de langue officielle en situation minoritaire (CLOSM) ne sont pas adéquatement reconnus dans sa constitution et sont souvent laissés pour compte dans le « modèle canadien ». Est-il possible d’imaginer un nouveau pacte pour les CLOSM, peut-être sous la forme d’une nouvelle loi ou d’une nouvelle disposition constitutionnelle qui assurerait une reconnaissance accrue de leur statut national, de leurs droits collectifs et de leur autonomie politique ? Bien que je partage les objectifs politiques d’une reconnaissance et d’une autonomie accrues, le présent article relève un certain nombre d’embûches et d’impasses possibles qu’il importe d’éviter dans la recherche d’un tel nouveau pacte. Je m’intéresse principalement a) au rôle des catégories de groupes d’un point de vue juridique, b) aux limites du droit international et c) aux contraintes exercées sur une réforme constitutionnelle.
Mots-clés :
- autonomie,
- multiculturalisme,
- nationalisme,
- communautés minoritiares de langue officielle,
- Canada
Appendices
Bibliography
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