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Canada patriates its constitution
Canada's constitution was until 1982 an act of the British parliament, and only London could amend it. The Charter made Canadian courts far more powerful and has become one of the most copied rights texts in the world. It also contains a notwithstanding clause allowing legislatures to set aside certain rights for five years at a time — a compromise that has been used more since than anyone anticipated. Section 35 recognised Indigenous and Métis rights in the constitution for the first time.
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