Quebec - Two Solitudes.docx

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Quebec: Two Solitudes

Parochialism

In the historiography of pre-Quiet Revolution Quebec, the Duplessis period is all darkness, atime of autocratic politics in service of a repressive Catholic Church that kept les Quebecois

backward and poor.

This was a time when Quebec was under the autocratic leadership of Maurice Duplessis.Post-war Quebec

The situation in Quebec after the war was one of inequality. The major corporations were run by English. The language of business was English. Even Crown Corporations (supposedly owned by the people) were dominated by English. The Quebecois was relegated to the status of a second class citizen in their own land. Life for the average Quebecois was difficult. The majority of the Quebecois were rural. The Catholic religion dominated the socio-cultural milieu.

The Great Darkness

Maurice Duplessis was the leader of the Union Nationale, a Quebec political party that wasfounded during the depression.

Duplessis was very conservative and favoured business and the Catholic Church. The Church responded by providing uncritical support of the Duplessis regime. Duplessis pro-business environment encouraged a lot of growth in the province, particularly

from foreign investment.

Regardless of the growth of the foreign investment, the life of the average Quebecois did notparticipate in the economic growth of the province.

The Quebecois were the taxi drivers, the janitors, store clerks, and other menial labour jobs. This inequity was never addressed by Duplessis. Duplessis stated that the problem was not due to access, but rather, due to overpopulation of

the English.

La Revanche de la Berceaux

According to Duplessis, the problems in Quebec would be solved by having more babies. He thought that by outnumbering the English, the Quebecois would eventually rise to take

advantage of the economic growth.

This policy had some disastrous consequences: The results of this policy led to very large families.

Some women were having 8-12 children. Poverty was increasing among the Quebecois. The Duplessis orphanages treated children very poorly.


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The Duplessis orphanages were terrible places. In many cases, children were diagnosed as having mental problems. This allowed the older children to be kept in institutions. Many of the children were subjected to bad treatment, including lobotomies and

electro-shock therapy.

The inequity in pay was still great. Quebecois were still underrepresented in the better jobs.

A New Era

Backlash from the Duplessis era began in the political and intellectual circles. Led by intellectuals like Jean Marchand, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Rene Levesque, and Jean

Lesage, a new movement begins stirring in Quebec.

The center for intellectual discourse is the newspaperLe Devoir. In 1958, Jean Lesage is elected to the Liberal leadership in Quebec.

Questions

Where did Duplessis get the majority of his political support? the Catholic Church Why would the average Quebecois support the Union Nationale? What is their motivation?

they believe it is their duty as a good Catholic

La Revolution Tranquil

The period known as the Great Darkness was coming to an end. In 1960, the province rebelled against the parochialism of Duplessis. The Quiet Revolution

begins with Lesage being elected Premier. This was the beginning of separatist ideas.

Jean Lesage and the Liberal Party are voted into office. His government would herald great changes:

1. Nationalization of Quebec Hydro2. Creation of a secular public school system, public hospitals/health3. Improvement to labour laws in general

In 2 years, the Lesage government managed to carry out or plan many reforms. The government attacked political patronage and changed the electoral map to provide

better representation for urban areas.

This period of social and political change would become known as the Quiet Revolution. The pressures exerted by the BABY BOOM generation, which had now reached adolescence,

created a dramatic situation and pushed Quebecs weak education system to the breaking

point. The government introduced new legislation on education and established a commission of

inquiry on education.

In recommending the creation of a department of education, it questioned the role of theCatholic Church, which controlled the public Catholic school system.

The Church resisted recommended changes, but without success.


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The Parent Report contributed significantly to creating a unified, democratic, modern schoolsystem accessible to the entire population.

In 1964, it introduced 3 major pieces of legislation: an extensive revision of the labour code Bill 16, which abolished a married womans judicial handicap by which her legal status

was that of a minor a pension plan

The governments most spectacular accomplishment in economics was thenationalization of private electricity companies.

The Nationalization of Quebec Hydro was to be the Lesage governments most spectacularand controversial move.

The many independent and private power companies fought against the move. They claimed that a nationalized power company could never provide the same service for a

better price.They were correct: nationalization provided better service at a better price.

Power in Quebec was often unreliable. Brownouts (partial light) were common. Once the Quebec power company was running, it proved to be far more efficient and cheaper

than that provided by the private companies.

Quebec was becoming more in control of its own destiny. The new slogan of the Quiet Revolution was to become Matre Chez Nous - masters of our

own house.

This was to be the defining characteristic of the new state of affairs in Quebec. Intellectuals began to discuss new ideas for the political future of Quebec. They would discuss their ideas in the newspaperLe Devoir.

Matre Chez Nous

The new intellectuals were people like Jean Marchand, Rene Levesque, Pierre Trudeau, andRobert Bourassa.

Prime Minster Pearson meets Jean Lesage. Pierre Trudeau and Jean Marchand are interviewed on CBC radio.

The Revolution Grows

The movement in Quebec did not slow down. The new leaders in Quebec began to grow apart. Trudeau and Bourassa began to push a staunchly federalist agenda. They saw a more united Canada with Quebec included. They fought against special status and rights for any group.

The Division

Other leaders like Rene Levesque sought a more distinct status for Quebec. For the first time in modern Canadian history, the word separation was being used. Levesque would become disenchanted with the Trudeau camp.


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After the Liberals dropped him, he would go on to form the political group The PartiQuebecois. This party would have separation as its agenda. During the 1970 elections, they

were outraged to receive only 6% of the seats despite winning 24% of the votes.

Miscellaneous Notes

Scabs: person hired to do the work of strikers, a traitor who does not respect their right todemand better working conditions

Federalists: believe Quebec should be strong, but within Canada Pierre Trudeau Jean Marchand Grard Pelletier

1963: rise ofFront de la Libration de Qubec (FLQ), a Canadian terrorist organizationwhich wanted total independence from Canada

Where did they plant bombs? at federal institutions and symbols of British influence eg. RCMP, Royal Canadian Air Force, the Canadian National Railway, post offices and

mailboxes in Westmount (where rich English people lived), Queen Victoria Monument

their intention was to make a statement: in 7 years, 6 people were killed The Liberals lost the next election: people resented the public schools because they had to

pay higher taxes. Rural parents did not like having their kids away for the entire day.

de Gaulleswords, Vive le Quebec libre! angered the government because they implied theQuebecois were not free.

TheParti Quebecois is provincial, while theBloc Quebecois is a federal party. SDS = Students for a Democratic Society: radical movement in the US for democratic change Manifesto = a formal statement of political intent

The FLQ: Crisis in Quebec

Discontent in Quebec

For many Quebecois, the changes coming to Quebec society were not enough. The 1960s were a period of change. People began to develop a social conscience. Youth were becoming more involved in charting their own destiny. University campuses were home to new ideas in political reform. In Quebec, thoughts turned to life without Canada. There were many new groups rising up in the 60s. Most of these groups used terrorism and intimidation to get their way.

Terrorism Around the Globe

In Spain, the Basque separatist group ETA used bombing to force the Spanish government torecognize their concerns.

In Ireland, the IRA were killing British soldiers and innocent civilians. Around the globe, the PLO used hijacking and terror to fight against the Israelis. In the USA, the SLA kidnapped the daughter of media mogul Randolph Hearst. In Germany, the Badher-Meinhof terrorist group kidnapped and killed several people.


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In Italy, the Red Brigade was trying to overthrow the government. In Canada, the FLQ began to show up. The FLQ - Front de Liberation du Quebec developed

several cells to fight for the separation of Quebec from Canada:

1960-1963: Dissatisfaction grows among the youth of Quebec. Images on the television show armed revolt happening around the globe. Several radical elements create the FLQ: their goal is the independence of Quebec. The FLQ begin attacking symbols of Canadian federalism (and British monarchy).

The October Crisis

1963-1970: the FLQ begin a bombing campaign in Quebec. What examples of Canadian federalism would be targeted?

mailboxes army recruitment centers

hotels catering to federal employees names with royal

A New Flag

1965: On February 15, Canada raised a new flag on Parliament Hill. After much controversy and a competition to find the best design, Canada gave up its old flag

with the British Red Ensign in the corner and began to fly its distinctive red maple leaf.

Prime Minister Lester Pearson thought a new flag without British references would be betterfor Canadian unity, but some people regretted the loss of this symbol of the British

connection in our history.

The most popular design:

Due to the controversy, the liberal government allowed the conservatives to choose from thetop designs.

Canadian flag 1800s to 1965: Canadian flag 1965-present:


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Rumblings of Change

July 1967: celebrations in Quebec for Expo 67. The whole country is watching. The guest speaker is French President Charles de Gaulle. He is a decorated war hero. He greets the crowd on the steps of the City Hall. He says one phrase that will electrify the country:

In his speech, he says, Vive le Quebec There is a pause He then says, Vive le Quebec libre!

Towards Change

De Gaulles words electrify Quebec and the country. Pearson is furious. He goes on TV to say that all Canadians are free. The Quebecois, however, are invigorated: they feel that their cause is justified.

The October Crisis

The FLQ is not getting the attention that they had hoped for. Their attacks always come with a warning so as not to kill civilians. Some civilians are still killed during the bombings. In 1970, the FLQ step up their attacks:

October 5th, 1970: British diplomat James Cross is kidnapped by the Liberation cell ofthe FLQ. The FLQ demand the release of political prisoners.

October 6th: PM Pierre Trudeau offers to assist the provincial government in any way.His offer is received with approval by Premier Robert Bourassa.

October 8th: In an attempt to diminish tensions, Radio Canada reads the FLQ manifestoon the air.

October 10th: Bourassas deputy Premier Pierre Laporte is kidnapped from his Montrealhome. His kidnappers are from the Chernier Cell of the FLQ.

October 12th: His wife receives a letter from the kidnappers. October 15th: Premier Bourassa announces that he has asked Ottawa for help. A rally is held at the Laval arena where about 3 000 students meet to express their

concern over the impending imposition of the War Measures Act.

Questions What is a cell? Why does a terrorist group operate in cells?

a small group acting as a unit within a larger organization "to insure operational security the members of adjacent terrorist cells usually don't

know each other or the identity of their leadership"

Describe the goals and attitudes of the three branches of Quebec political change: Federalists: strong and united country with Quebec included; did not like terrorism Nationalists (eg. Levesque, Parti Quebecois): separation through political means;

believe change is not happening fast enough; not happy about terrorism, but

sympathetic to the cause


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Terrorists: separation through any means possibleCrisis in Canada: The War Measures Act

After Bourassa called Ottawa for help, Trudeau reacted. October 16th: Trudeau imposes the War Measures Act. His rationale is the existence of a state

of apprehended insurrection. Under the War Measures Act, civil liberties are suspended.

The War Measures Act is a federal act. Once imposed, it goes into effect across the entirecountry. In Vancouver, Mayor Owen uses the Act to clean up the streets: The Vancouver

police arrest and detain many hippies without due cause.

Two lead member of the Chernier cell are Paul Rose and Marc Carboneau: they become themost wanted men in Canada.

The Crisis comes to an end at the discovery of Pierre Laportes body at the airport. Shortlyafter, James Cross is released. The FLQ crisis ends, but the country has changed.

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Quebec - Two Solitudes.docx