Should Quebec be a part of Canada?

Potential Essay Questions

• Describe major events associated with Quebec nationalism since World War Two.

• Evaluate the development of French Canadian and English

Canadian relations from throughout the period 1914 – 2000.

• Describe the development of French Canadian and English Canadian relations from throughout the period 1914 – 2000.

• textbook pages – 182-183, 217-221, 257-259, 262-264,

WW1 Conscription Crisis• Wartime Services Act

creates riots in Quebec– Soldiers not trained in

French– WW1 seen as a British war

not a Canadian or Canadien War

– WW1 united Canada but created divisions between French and English because of Conscription

• French accused of cowardice

• English accused of blindly wanting war

Rise of the Union Nationale

• Maurice Duplessis and the Union Nationale come to power in the Depression– Give Catholic Church

money for Public Education– Support Canadien Culture– Not Separatist!– Offer Farm Credits

• Protest Party

Conscription Crisis WW2

• Mackenzie King has a plebiscite on conscription– English Canada in favour– French Canada largely

opposed• Troops still largely trained

in English– Frustration in Quebec

but not as severe as WW1

The Great Darkness• The Union Nationale and

Maurice Duplessis in the 1950’s– Sent orphans to insane

asylums to get money from Federal Govt

– AntiUnion - Banned strikes to keep wages low

– Padlock Laws used to arrest those opposed to the Union Nationale

• Suggested all opposed were Communists

– Only ended when Duplessis died

The Quiet Revolution• Duplessis died and

Lesage took power

• A time of great change in Quebec in the 1960s– Pubic Schools no longer

Catholic– Major resources

nationalized (Hydro)– A separation movement

develops – Maitres chez nous – masters of our own house

Quebec Nationalism

A sense of pride in Canadien Culture– Leads some to favour a

separate Quebec– Others see Quebec as a

part of Canada but as a Distinct Society

Front de Liberation du Quebecois

• FLQ– A terrorist group using

violence to try to have Quebec separate from Canada

– Over 200 explosions during the 60’s and early 70’s

Bi and Bi Commission

• Lester Pearson in charge during Quiet Revolution, he recognized potential crisis if Canadiens didn't’t feel at home in Canada – set up bilingualism and

biculturalism commission– commission researched

situation and recommended that Canada become officially bilingual

Bilingualism

• Official Languages Act– Canada had English as an

official language only– Quebec was an ‘English’

province– Canada became officially

bilingual• An effort to recognize our

French heritage and to give rights to French Canadians

Bilingualism Debate

• some loved it and many across Canada enrolled children in French Immersion

• Westerners (BC) – felt French was being forced on them

• Quebecers – wanted “special status” for Quebec in confederation

October Crisis

• FLQ kidnap James Cross (British Diplomat)– Trudeau responds with

War Measures Act “just watch me”

• Troops on streets in Ottawa and Quebec

• Rights taken away– Pierre Laporte kidnapped

and murdered in responseFLQ also demanded manifesto be published

– Cross freed – • Kidnappers allowed to go to

Cuba

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSpJ6bmcHL8

1:15

Bill 22• French felt the official

languages act – not far enough. Bourassa (premier) passed Bill 22

• Language of services and business in Quebec was to be French– Public Schools to be

French– Led to hundreds of

thousands of English speaking Canadians leaving in Quebec

Parti Quebecois Elected

• PQ is a Provincial Party that is in favour of Quebec separating from Canada

– Premier was Rene Levesque

Parti Quebecois Elected

• PQ is a Provincial Party that is in favour of Quebec separating from Canada

– Premier was Rene Levesque

Bill 101• A Language law passed

by the PQ– Official Language of

Quebec • Courts • Government Service

– children of immigrants forced to attend Quebec schools

– Outlawed English signs• Notwithstanding clause

used in the future to allow this aspect of the law

Referendum – Sovereignty Association• 1980 the PQ called for a

referendum where Quebec would separate from Canada but still have economic ties– The referendum failed

partly because Trudeau and the Federal Govt promised to bring home (repatriate) the Constitution and give Quebec a better place within Canada

– only 40% of Quebecers voted “yes” this. #Fail

Quebec opposes Canada’s Constitution

• In order to bring Canada’s Constitution home Trudeau makes a deal with all of the premiers but Quebec– The Kitchen Accord– Includes the Amending Formula –

could only be changed if 7/10 provinces agreed with 50% of pop. this meant Quebec could be ignored if Ontario agreed.

– Quebec not seen as a distinct society

• Quebec does not ratify the Constitution– Flags flew at half mast when

Constitution came back to Canada

The Meech Lake Accord• Brian Mulroney (new

Conservative PM) tried to appease Quebec by amending the constitution with the Meech Lake Accord

• Accord failed as Elijah Harper (First Nations) were opposed– Not included in negotiations– Failure resulted in the

popularity of Quebec separatism and the creation of the separatist party – the Bloc Quebecois

Bloc Quebecois

• New Political Party forms after the failure of Meech Lake– Bloc Quebecois is a

Federal Party from Quebec in favour of a separate Quebec

The Charlottetown Accord - 1992• This Accord was the

second attempt to amend Canada’s Constitution and gain Quebec’s support– Included First Nations in

negotiations– Failed in a nationwide

referendum after Trudeau and others voiced their opposition

Referendum on Separation - 1995

• The second Referendum came after the failures to amend the Constitution at Meech Lake and Charlottetown– The vote was within a %– 49.4% were in favour of

leaving Canada– Referendum Failed

Quebec Today

• Still a % would favour separation and the BQ and PQ are active

• Most polls show that the question of separation is not one that Quebecers are interested in

Regionalism – National Energy Program (1980)

• In an effort to ease the cost of oil and gas on Canadians the Trudeau Liberal Govt passed the NEP– Set the price of oil and gas

below world prices– Extreme anger in Alberta– Some talked about creating

a Western Canadian Alliance to leave the country

Regionalism – The Collapse of the Cod Fishery (1992)

• Federal Govt halted the Cod fishery to try to save the fish stocks– Newfoundland’s

economy and culture threatened

– Many blamed govt for not managing the stock properly

– Some called for separation

Hot Air Balloon Activity

1995 Quebec Referendum

Official Languages Act

Meech lake Accord

October Crisis

Quebec Opposes Constitution

Bill 101

Significance to English and French relations in Canada. Most significant survives!