HOW DID RISING QUEBEC NATIONALISM CHALLENGE CANADA?

• Nationalism of French Canadians based on long standing belief that French language and culture were threatened

•Alberta made French illegal in business, education and the court system

• Conscription crises

1. THE QUIET REVOLUTION many historians believe the death of

Maurice Duplessis (1959) was beginning of the Quiet Revolution

Premier of Quebec and known as “le chef”

Union Nationale controlled the province support Catholic Churchsupport the French languagepromote rural culturerejected “progressive” ideas

social conditions in Quebec had fallen behind the rest of the country women couldn’t vote

less than a year later Liberal leader Jean Lesage became premier society became more secular people openly questioned social standards education & healthcare transformed labour groups played a more important role provincial pension plan introduced

As a result of these changes, Lesage became one of the “fathers of the Quiet Revolution”

A TRANSFORMED SOCIETY Lesage also encouraged francophones to

play a larger role in the economy created Hydro-Quebec symbol of new Quebec source of pride

period of change encouraged Quebecois to question their province’s role in Canada

equal status in Confederation greater autonomy for Que.

1962 election slogan = “Maîtres chez nous”

Lesage’s changes were expensive taxes very high

some felt changes too much, some felt not enough

1966 Union National back in power

2. BILINGUALISM AND BICULTURALISM

developing sense of French nationalism becoming “separatism”

led PM Pearson to act on the suggestion of Andre Laurendeau (writer for Le Devoir)

1963 Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism (B&B) examine state of French and English languages in Canada recommendations to ensure both languages remained vital

found out that: opportunities for Francophones were limited federal civil servants knew little/no French private businesses offered no services in French

recommended that: Both English and French be declared official languages Ontario and New Brunswick should becoming officially bilingual Regions with at least 10% francophone population should be declared

bilingual parents should have the right choose education in either language

Report introduced the idea of Quebec as “a distinct society”

RESPONSES TO THE B&B COMMISSION

Many francophones believed focus on language hid bigger issues

Some anglophones felt that bilingualism was being forced on them

some allophones felt that they were pushed to the side

Canadians eventually accepted the concept of language equality

How important is it to you that your children/children in your community learn to speak a language other than English (French in Quebec)?

• 83% important

How important is it to you that your children/children in your community learn to speak a language other than English (French in Quebec)?

• 83% important

WHICH SECOND LANGUAGE?

Q.7 - If your children / children in your community were to learn to speak another language, which language other than English (French in Quebec) would it be most important for them to learn?

Please note: For this question, Quebec numbers are based on Francophone respondents only.

Those saying French in: Atlantic Canada: 90% ON: 71% (Spanish: 5%, Chinese: 7%) MB/SK: 64% (Spanish: 6%, Chinese: 5%) AB: 57% (Spanish: 15%, Chinese: 6%) BC: 44% (Chinese: 13%, Spanish: 7%)

HOW DID GOVERNMENTS RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGES OF QUÉBEC SEPARATISM?

LE FRONT DE LIBÉRATION DU QUÉBEC The Quiet Revolution inspired

some Quebecois to embrace the idea of Quebec becoming an independent state.

Most wanted to do this peacefully but others advocated the use of violence to separate

1963 – the Front de liberation du Quebec (FLQ) launched a campaign of terror in Quebec

Carried out bombings and bank robberies, most in Montreal

Targeted English owned businesses and homes

Bombed Montreal Stock Exchange, McGill U and threatened Queen Elizabeth II before royal visit

OFFICIALBILINGUALISM

THE PARTI QUEBECOIS

1980 REFERENDUM

3. OFFICIAL BILINGUALISM Official Languages Act, 1969

French and English had equal status

Government services must be offered in either language

federal laws provided in bothParliamentary debates to be

translated

Commissioner of official languages appointedhear complaintsenforce the Act

Civil servants encouraged to become bilingual

Education was key, but under provincial jurisdiction

New Brunswick was the only officially bilingual province in Canada

Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, 1974product info. must be in both languages

4. THE PARTI QUÉBÉCOIS IN POWER

Parti Quebec formed in 1968 by Rene Levesque

Gradually gained support in Quebec

Goal was to run Quebec for Quebecois and separate from Canada

Came to power in 1976 after corruption and scandal discredited the ruling Liberals

CHARTER OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE

1974 French declared only official language in Quebec After PQ came to power they passed Bill 101 which

went further – only French was to be used in workplaces and schools

1980 SOVEREIGNTY REFERENDUM Many in Quebec wanted a

new relationship with Canada but not outright separation

Levesque proposed sovereignty-association

Quebec keep Canadian currency and trade agreements but have own laws, citizenship and immigration policies

PQ had promised a referendum on sovereignty-association if elected

P.E.Trudeau defeated by Joe Clark in ’79, without P.E.Trudeau to oppose the idea Levesque thinks the time is right for a referendum

1980 SOVEREIGNTY REFERENDUM

Referendum question carefully crafted - asked voters if they would agree to a give the Quebec government “a mandate to negotiate sovereignty-association with Canada”

Made to convince voters that independent would be slow and cautious

After 6 months out of office, P.E.Trudeau is voted back in as PM – Levesque very disappointed

P.E.Trudeau launches a massive appeal to Quebec to stay in Canada – promises to bring home constitution from Britain if Quebec rejects separation

May 20,1980 – 85% of eligible voters turn out for vote

Results: NO: wins just under 60% of vote (almost 50-50 for Fr. Speakers

only) Avoid separation Quebec becoming prominent in Canadian affairs P.E.Trudeau must keep promise to Quebec