Today marks the 800th anniversary of the signing of (or rather the seal being affixed to) the Magna Carta by a reluctant King John. It was not smooth sailing for the document from that day on however. In fact the Magna Carta was repudiated by the King shortly after, and once revived, it had sections slashed out of it and altered with each revision.
Some say the importance of the document is overstated, yet the twittersphere, bloggers, and other media sources are buzzing about the landmark anniversary. Perhaps the Magna Carta is not the first or only document to limit the monarchy's power, but every effort by citizens to use law as a limit on unchecked state power is commendable, especially in 1215. And perhaps the drafters did not aim to protect civil liberties or act as a model for subsequent human rights legislation, but even an unintended consequence must certainly be celebrated.
Today a copy of the Magna Carta is displayed in Ottawa, and in several months the Magna Carta will make its way to Edmonton to be exhibited in the Legislature building. Stay tuned to learn about the various events that we are planning to coincide with the Edmonton tour of the historical document!
