How did rising Quebec Nationalism challenge CANADA?

1. 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

2. 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 Church • support the French language • promote rural culture • rejected “progressive” ideas

3. 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”

4. a transformed Society • Lesagealso 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.

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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”

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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%)

11. How did Governments respond to the challenges of Québec separatism?

12. 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

13. OfficialBilingualism the Parti Quebecois1980 Referendum

14. 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 both • Parliamentary debates to be translated • Commissioner of official languages appointed • hear complaints • enforce the Act

15. 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, 1974 • product info. must be in both languages

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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