why were provincial premiers opposed to the charter or rights and freedoms?
http://www.cbc.ca/history/EPISCONTENTSE1EP17CH1PA3LE.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Charter_of_Rights_and_Freedoms#Criticism
The opposition of provincial premiers towards the Charter of Rights and Freedoms can be attributed to a variety of factors. It is important to note that not all provincial premiers were opposed to the Charter, but there were certainly concerns expressed by some.
1. Division of Powers: One of the primary reasons for their opposition was the concern that the Charter would undermine the division of powers between the federal government and the provinces. The Charter places certain fundamental rights and freedoms under federal jurisdiction, potentially limiting the authority of the provinces in these areas.
2. Centralization of Power: The premiers feared that the Charter would lead to a concentration of power in the federal government, as it gave the judiciary the power to strike down laws that violated the Charter. This could potentially limit the legislative autonomy of the provinces and allow the courts to override provincial decisions.
3. Social Policy Concerns: Some provincial premiers were concerned that the Charter might impose new obligations on the provinces in certain social policy areas, such as education, healthcare, and language rights. They believed that this could lead to increased costs and reduced control over these issues.
4. Amendments Process: The Charter is part of the Canadian Constitution and can only be amended with the consent of both the federal government and a certain number of provinces representing a specific population threshold. Some premiers were concerned that this amendment process would make it difficult to make changes to the Charter in the future if needed.
It is worth noting that despite the initial opposition, the Charter was ultimately implemented in 1982 and has since become an important part of Canada's legal framework, protecting the rights and freedoms of Canadian citizens.