A charter entrenched in the constitution was correctly seen to be a huge qualitative advance over the largely symbolic bill of rights adopted by parliament under Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, although credit is due to Mr. Diefenbaker for helping the idea along. As one who was in parliament 20 years ago and who was privy to much of the
dialogue between my party, the NDP, and the Liberal government of the day as the charter proceeded from draft to reality, I want to give credit t
o my leader at that time ...[+++], Ed Broadbent, and to the NDP caucus of that parliament.
Une charte inscrite dans la Constitution était, avec raison, considérée comme étant nettement supérieure à la déclaration des droits, en grande partie symbolique, adoptée par le Parlement sous le gouvernement du premier ministre John Diefenbaker, même s'il faut savoir gré à M. Diefenbaker d'avoir fait avancer l'idée.