Why Meech Failed

Canada's current exercise in changing the Constitution is reaching a critical stage; decisions made during 1992 could be fundamental for the country's future. The last attempt at constitutional change, the Meech Lake Accord, collapsed in dramatic fashion because the political authorities failed to take due account of the risks inherent in constitutionmaking in the Canadian context and to adopt strategies to minimize them. In *Why Meech Failed*, Raymond Breton examines several aspects of constitutional change in Canada: symbolism and the need to avoid ambiguous statements; the need for changes to acquire public legitimacy, instead of being left in the hands of politicians and legal experts; the need to avoid spiraling conflict among competing and increasingly vocal special interests; and, finally, the need to recognize and accommodate the inherent contradictions in Canadian society. Breton warns that a constitution is not an appropriate tool for regular sociopolitical bargaining in a complex heterogeneous, federal society such as Canada. Drawing on the mistakes made during Meech Lake, he offers lessons to help guide Canadians through the next round of constitutional negotiations.