In 1976, the Parti Quebecois (PQ) won an election and became the provincial government of Quebec. Their leader, Rene Levesque, was now Quebec’s premier.  They had ONE major GOAL:  Separating Quebec from Canada! The question was HOW???

Step 1 They began by strengthening the position of the French language in Quebec:  The PQ passed a law called Bill 101 which made French the only official language in Quebec.

Step 2 They began to organize a referendum on separation.  This was actually carried out 4 years later (1980)  During this referendum, Quebeckers were asked to vote yes to giving Levesque the right to negotiate a sovereignty-association agreement with Canada.

What is sovereignty-association? Quebec wants to be politically independent  They make their own decisions about everything. But Quebec’s economy is still connected to the Canadian economy  They continue to benefit from trade with the rest of Canada, the Canadian dollar...

How do you think the rest of Canada felt about this? Why?

Build up to the referendum: In the months prior to the referendum, many worried that the yes side would win! Result:  Trudeau takes action:  Promises Quebec that if the “no” side wins, Canada will change  Promises to give Quebec a new constitution, but he never explained what this constitution would be like.

Result: Only 40% of voters voted yes! Why:  Most Quebeckers turned against the separatists in the final days before the referendum because of  Trudeau’s promises  Fear of the unknown  Levesque and the FLQ accepted defeat but vowed not to give up.

What do you think the consequences of a yes vote would have been? How would Canada and BC be different today if the yes side had won the referendum?