FRENCH.ENGLISE RELATIONS
- 1944 TO 1969
The Conscription Crisis during the Second \Yorld War had once again angered
many French-Canadiens who did not want to join the fght in army. Conscription
seemed to be a betrayal and the desires of these mary French-Caladians qeemed to
once again be secondary to the wants of the English ipeaking majrority Luckily the
war ended soon after and reiieved some of the tensiou.
\Fry
since Quebec had become a Britisb
the maj,sy issue had been La
"otour,
or survival of the French language, culture,?eligion,
and identilv.
From 1944 to 1959 the leader otine Unlon Nationale, Maurice Du.plesis, dominated
French-Canadien politics, protecting Quebec from conamunism and helped.cieate
French Canadian Nationalism.
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s.;i;";t.i.iiiiF!'ffi''l'1::i':'
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However,.hedidnotprotecttheeconomy,se|IingouttoAmerican,andEngIish.
.sp9akingCanadian.busiqessnenwhora1theFrench.Canadianecotromy..High
, ', ':pdid:jobl rvent
led to a lower stindard of living.
.which
. In the 1960is the liberal government started the Quiet Revolution in order to
modernize the econo*y
prornote'the French language, Iiterature and traditions. ,.,
"nd
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Reforms helped gave more Fren,ch-sp,ea,kin,g peoplc better access importait jobs.
This also led to r new attitud,e of Maitrez ch": nous (Masters in our own,house) and
,i ,
people began to tbink that Qrlebec was :r nation, not a province.
l
Symbols like the Quebec flag, an,d French heroes-like Maurice "the Rocket" Richard
fueled this s€nse of Quebec uation,alism, and led to a separatist movement.
o
The Parti Quebeccis, a separatist political partv came to polyer. Led by Rene
Levesquc tliey attempied to achieve sovereignh'-associ,aiion, which woul.d make
them separate fror.n Canada, but maintain strong econoinic ties-
'
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languages act making French equal with English, and encouragin! gov"ro-"ot
o{Iicials to be bilingual. Ile also poured money into Quebec to try to ease tensions
The Front de Liberation du Quebec ffLQ) was created, and was led by the slogan
Independence or Death'. They began by plantiug s4ratl b'ombs in m;ailbdxes ib
English speaking areas and government buildings, kilfing five and rnju'ring many
others.
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ENGLISH-FRENCH RELATIONS BETWEEN 1970 AND
2OOO
Since Quebec had become a British colony, the major issue had been La Suryivance,
or survival of the French language, culture, rerigion, and identify.
From 1944 to 1959 the leader of the Union Nationale, Maurice Duplesis, dominated
French-Canadian p_olitics, protecting Quebec from communism and nelpea create
French Canadian Nationalism.
However, he did not protect the economy, selling out to American, and Englishspeaking Canadian businessmen who ran the French-Canadian economy.
High
paid jobs went to others, while francophones worked lower paid blue collar jobs,
which led to a lower standard of living.
In the 1960's the liberal government started the Quiet Revolution in order ro
modernize the economy and promote the French language, Iiterature and traditions.
Reforms helped gave more French-speaking people befter access important jobs.
This also led to a new attitude of Maitrez chez nous (Masters in our own house) and
people began to think that Quebec was a nation, not a province.
Symbols like the Quebec flag, and French heroes like Maurice ',the Rocket'Richard
fueled this sense of Quebec nationalism, and led to a separatist movement.
The Parti Quebecois, a separatist political parry came to power. Led by Rene
Levesque they attempted to achieve sovereignff-association, which ,ro,,id make
them separate from canada, but maintain strong economic ties.
Liberal Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau tried to ease tensions by passing the Oflicial
languages act making French equal with English, and encouraging government
officials to be bilingual. He also poured money into
Quebec to trylo ease tensions
The Front de Liberation du Quebec (FLQ) was created, and was led by the
slogan
"Independence or Death". They began by planting small bombs in mailboxes in
English speaking areas and government buildings, killing five and injuring many
others.
The October Crisis of 1970 began with two separate kidnappings by different
members of the fLQ. The lirst person was British Trade Commissioner James
Cross, the second Quebec cabinet minister Pierre Laporte. The FLQ began rallies
and demonstrations.
.
The provincial government asked the Federal government to interuene, and the
military was called in to maintain law and order. The war measure Act was
inacted, banning the FLQ, taking away normal civil liberties, and allowing people to
be held in custody without charges being laid against them.
Laporte was found dead, and his killers were jailed, while Cross was released in
return for a plain to Cuba. The violence ended, and the struggle for sovereignty
went to Ottawa.
In befween, therewas
a short easing of tension and a growth of national pride as the
Canadian Hockey team beat their Cold War enemies the Soviet Union (Russia) in
the L972 Summit series.
Under the Unione Nationale government, their leader Robert Bourassa passed Bill
22, making French the language of provincial government members, the workplace,
and limited the expansion of English schools, and the people who could go. This
angered English speaking people, and separatists who felt that it hadn't gone far
enough.
As a result, the Parti-Quebecois came to power, gaining the vote of both separatists,
and those who just wanted a strong provincial governmenl
Once in power they scrapped Bill 22r rnd passes Bill 101, which made French the
only visible language in Quebec, and further limited the number of people who
could be schooled in English. Many English speaking people Ieft Quebec.
On May 20th, 1980 a Quebec, province wide referendum was held on whether or not
to pursue sovereignfy-association (independence, while maintaining strong economic
links). Separatists campaigned, while Canadian Nationalists and the Federal
government campaigned against separation . ti6W of people voted against
separation.
Pierre Trudeau had long tried to create an amending formula which would se,rye as
a way to change our constitution, but had received major opposition in Quebec. He
successfully created a new constitution on April L7'h 1982, called the Canada Act,
which replaced the old BNA act. Canada celebrated, except in Quebec, where they
wanted more provincial control.
By 1985 conservative leader Brian Mulroney had replaced Trudeau, and in Quebec
Robert Bourassa had become part of the Liberals, as the Union Nationale had since
been disbanded. Mulroney wanted Quebec to sign the constitution and together
they helped create the Meech Lake Accord.
The Meech Lake Accord was a proposal to change the constitution by giving
provinces increased power over immigration, giving provinces veto rights on
constitutional amendments, and it would recognize Quebec as a distinct society.
This amendment had to be passed in all ten provinces, but failed in Manitoba, and
Newfoundland. Many Quebecois people were angry.
A similar attempt was made when a national referendum was held on October, 30'0,
1995 called the Charlottetown Accord. This proposal kept the same ideas as Meech
Lake, but added several areas which appealed to native Canadians, including some
self government. It was also defeated, when 55% of people voted against the
proposal.
Soon afterwards the separatist movement reawakened, Ied by Jacques Parizeau.
Another referendum on pursuing sovereignty association was held in Quebec. 947o
of Quebeckers yoted. The NO side barely won by \.2oA, and Quebec remained part
of Canada.
30 days later Prime Minister Jean Chretian passed the Clarify Bill, wbich set down
rules which would limit the abilify of Quebec to become independent, unless a
certain measure of things took place. The Quebec premier Lucien Bouchard
declared that he would not be bound by the bill.
The movement lost some support, but still remains alive and well in Quebec.
FRENCI{-CANADIAN CHRONOLOGY - 195O.2OOO
Put the following events in chronological order and describe each in at least one
sentence from which you will be able to study for your exam.
1. Charlottetown Accord
2. Clarify Bill
3. Quiet Revolution
4. Oflicial Languages Act
5. creation of the Part-Quebecois
6. FLQ becomes active
7. Meech Lake Accord
8. l't sovereignty association referendum in Quebec
9. 2od sovereignty association referendum in Quebec
10. October Crisis
11. Biil 101
12.Bill22
13. War Measures Act
14.La Sunivance