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 response
FLQ also demanded
manifesto be published
– Cross freed –
• Kidnappers allowed to go to
Cuba
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSpJ6bmcH
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
October Crisis
1995 Quebec
Referendum
Quebec Opposes
Constitution
Official Languages Act
Bill 101
Meech lake Accord
Significance to English and French relations in Canada. Most significant survives!