<P> This issue has implications for judicial selection in Canada . S. 4 (2) of the Supreme Court Act specifies that the Governor in Council (federal cabinet) has the power to appoint judges to the Supreme Court . Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced that a new reformed selection process will be developed . If the new process binds the federal government, it will necessarily involve an amendment to s . 4 (2) of the Supreme Court Act . If the Act is "constitutionalized," this would require a constitutional amendment under the general amendment procedure, a significant hurdle requiring provincial cooperation . If the Act is not constitutionalized, Parliament can simply amend the legislation by a majority vote . </P> <P> This issue arose again in connection with Private Member's Bill C - 232, passed by the House of Commons in March 2010 . The Bill would have amended the Supreme Court Act to require all future appointees to the court to be able to understand both French and English without the assistance of an interpreter . If the Supreme Court Act is considered part of the Constitution, this change would require a constitutional amendment . Bill C - 323 died on the table when Parliament was dissolved for the May election . </P> <P> In Reference re Supreme Court Act, ss. 5 and 6 2014 SCC 21, a majority of the Supreme Court rule that clauses concerning the appointment of Justices from Quebec are entrenched . </P> <P> Amending the Canadian Constitution is a topic of great debate in Canada . There seems to be general agreement among provincial governments that some parts of the Constitution need to be amended to deal with long - standing demands from many provinces . There are demands by western provinces for a greater share of power at the federal level, and demands from Quebec for greater protection for its status as a "distinct society". Quebec, in particular, has not formally agreed to the Constitution Act, 1982, although this does not have affect on the legal applicability of the Act . </P>

How many times has the canadian constitution been amended