Abstract

On request by the federal government, in August 1998 the constitutional judges of the Canadian Supreme Court issued a advisory opinion on the Quebec Secession Reference ("Renvoi") regarded as being of historic importance because it defines the legal and political rules applicable if, following a referendum, a Province decides to secede from the Federation. The decision is of especial significance with regard to development of the always rather difficult relations between Quebec and the Canadian Federation. The author reconstructs the history of these relationships, investigating the political origins of the consultative opinion issued by the Supreme Court and the legislative repercussions of the Renvoi at both the federal level and in the institutional and political response of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec.