Quebec and the Rise of Separatism

1. Quebec and the Rise of Separatism

2. Roots of Quebec Nationalism • Date to the Duplessis era of Quebec politics • Leader of the Union Nationale, Duplessis was a strong Que. Nationalist • Believed Que. was a distinct society, a nation rather than a province due to its heritage • Introduced a new flag for Quebec bearing the French symbol – the fleur-de-lis • The Catholic Church had a key role in this time, maintaining traditional society: farm, faith, family • Not a great deal of emphasis on modernizing Que. – very limited amount of new engineers etc • Quebec falls behind in a sense

3. The Quiet Revolution • 1960, Duplessis dies, and is replaced by Jean Lesage • “Time for a change” was the new slogan • Quebec needed to end corruption in government and award merit – first step taken by Lesage • Unions, which Duplessis had repressed, were now accepted • Also, government moves to modernize – increased educational emphasis on science and technology • Citizens of the 20th century now – Church loses influence • “Maitres chez nous” becomes the new slogan – masters in our own house – Quebec needed to take control of its economy • Hydro Quebec (hydro-companies bought out and turned into large, provincially owned) is created, giving further independence

4. Birth of Separatism • Nationalistic pride begins to swell in Quebec during the 60’s • Anger rises at perceived injustices of English Canada – Why was Ottawa overwhelmingly English? Why were so few Quebecers in Cabinet? Why no French schools and hospitals in English Canada? Why was English the language of work and business in B.C.?

5. Separatism cont… • Some saw the only solution for these problems was separation from Canada • Groups like the: • FLQ (Front de liberation du Quebec) form – radical and willing to use violence • Also, in 1967, Rene Levesque leaves the Federal Liberals and creates a new party – the Parti Quebecois (PQ) – he is considered the founder of the modern separatist movement • Levesque and the PQ believed Canada and Quebec would be best served to peacefully divorce – it was a marriage that no longer worked in their view

6. Federal Response • Pearson does 2 major things to deal make Quebec feel more at home in Canada • 1) Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism – recommends Canada should officially become bilingual • 2) New Canadian flag – less emphasis on British symbols – stirs furious debate; at first English Canada resents and blasts the new flag, French Canada becomes disillusioned by the bitterness and keeps the fleur-de-lis

7. The Trudeau Era and Quebec • Trudeau himself was French • Convinced that gov’t should do more to persuade Quebeckers that their future lay with Canada • Official Languages Act passed – Canada officially bilingual • Civil servants had to learn French • More French Canadians appointed to senior government positions

8. Can’t please anyone!? • Western Canada dislikes these moves – too much emphasis on Quebec’s concerns, French is being forced on the west • Quebeckers feel the need for a “special status” in Confederation and the gov’t isn’t doing enough to meet Quebec’s needs • Trudeau maintains Quebec is a province like all the rest

9. The October Crisis • October of 1970 the crisis begins - headline story • Oct. 5, FLQ members kidnap James Cross, British diplomat in Montreal – a series of demands made, including exchange of jailed FLQ members released in exchange for Cross – Que. Gov’t won’t give on that point • Oct. 10, FLQ kidnaps Que. Labor minister Pierre Laporte – later found dead in trunk of car • Trudeau claims Quebec is on the verge of a violent revolution – War Measures Act is imposed • (Act that gave federal cabinet emergency powers in time of war)

10. Unprecedented Action • Never before had the WMA been used in peace time • Civil rights are suspended – arrest and detainment without being charged. • Asked about how far Trudeau would go to combat the FLQ, he famously says: “Just watch me.” • Oct. 16, troops are sent to patrol the streets of Ottawa and Montreal • Hundreds of pro-separatists are arrested w/o charge

11. The End of the Crisis • Oct. 17, Laporte’s body discovered • Canadians are horrified, increases public pressure to crack down on the FLQ • Cross is found alive 2 months later – his kidnappers granted asylum to Cuba • 450 had been detained – finally released, only 25 ever charged

12. The Rise of the PQParti Quebecois • Elected to office as Quebec’s provincial gov’t in 1976 • Levesque promises to ask the people if they want separation from Canada in a referendum • The 1st time that a separatist party is elected in Canada • Also, they pass Bill 101 – French is the only official language of Quebec – gov’t, education of immigrants, and outdoor signs must be French • The rest of Canada is not happy with this move – too extreme – and looks to Feds to do something

13. Key Points • Duplessis era – fosters the spirit of “distinct society”, defended traditional Quebec society • Quiet Revolution – emphasizes change and modernization, Quebeckers discover a new pride and want to be “Masters in our own house” • Separatism – grows out of discontentment towards English Canada, lack of French influence in Canada, rise of FLQ • Fed Response – “Bi and Bi Commission” recommends bilingualism in Canada, new flag created (less Brit symbolism

14. Key Points Cont… • October Crisis – kidnappings by FLQ terrorists, WMA enacted for first time during peace • Trudeau – fed gov’t should do more to persuade Que. it’s future was in Canada, did not believe in “special status” for Que. • PQ – Rene Levesque leader, first separatist party elected, Bill 101 making French official lang. of Que.