AIM: how has the separatist movement in Quebec developed in the 1960s? DO NOW: review Meech Lake & Charlottetown assignment HAVE THIS OUT FOR A SPOT CHECK

Vive le Quebec libre!

motivations Preservation of unique culture, perceived as threatened by extinction via assimilation 78% of the province speaks French as their first language Unlike the rest of Canada, Quebec is mostly Catholic

motivations Separatists claim that Quebec has been “occupied” by Anglophone Canada since 1763, when… The movement was initially influenced by the decolonization of Africa & Asia during the 50s & 60s

Front de libération du Québec (FLQ) Est. 1964 Marxist Used terrorism to promote independence Disbanded after the October Crisis (1970)

1967 Charles de Gaulle visits Canada

Rene Levesque Quebec Premier 1976-85 Founder of Parti Qubecois Architect of the 1980 sovereignty referendum

Trudeau & the 1982 constitution One reason for the defeat of the 1980 referendum was that many Quebec voters believed that Trudeau would negotiate a “special status” for the province in the 1982 constitution this promise was not kept (Quebec was excluded from the negotiations between Ottawa & the other nine provinces) Quebec nationalists were angered. Support for separation rose.

…even in their moments of greatest mistrust, the Québécois never imagined that the pact of 1867 could ever be changed without their consent. Hence the impression they had in 1982 of a breach of trust, of a violation of the national bond's integrity. The descendants of George-Étienne Cartier did not expect this from the descendants of John Macdonald. Perceived as trickery in Quebec, the repatriation [sic] of 1982 has placed a time bomb in the political dynamics of this country". — Lucien Bouchard, former leader of the Bloc Québécois

Mulroney’s attempted constitutional reform Meech Lake Accords were an effort to do what Trudeau had not-- convince Quebec to ratify the 1982 constitution-- by offering concessions & exemptions Meech Lake was rejected by the other provinces mostly because it did exactly this. This further inflamed separatist opinion in Quebec

Bloc Quebecois National version of Parti Quebecois, organized to win seats in Ottawa (as opposed to fighting provincial elections) Formed in the aftermath of Meech Lake & Charlottetown fiascos

1995 referendum Originated in the sore feelings arising from the rejection of Meech Lake by the Anglophone provinces The “YES” side still lost, but only barely

21st century The pro-independence side seems to lack the unity necessary to win a referendum 2009 poll results: 32% believe Quebec has enough sovereignty and should remain part of Canada 28% thought they should separate 30% say they believe that Quebec does need greater sovereignty but should remain part of Canada