1. French English Relations 1968 - 2000

2. A Long Long Time Ago…
The Plains of Abraham 1759– The British defeated the French army at Quebec City. France gives up all their land claims in present day Canada.
However the French culture does not disappear.
Many schools and hospitals are run by French priests and nuns.

3. The Quiet Revolution – 1960's
A period of modernization in Quebec
The provincial state replaced the church at the heart of Quebec’s political life
Linguistic division of labour – Hydro-Quebec
Quebec’s provincial government became more assertive about Quebec’s place in Canada and federalism.
Quebecois, not French Canadian, nationalism.

4. What Did Quebec Want? Full control over provincial jurisdiction
The federal government to remove itself from provincial jurisdiction
Greater provincial power
Increased say over federal institutions
Recognition of “special status”

5. Where We Begin
1969 – Trudeau and his government passes the Official Languages Act . We are now officially Bilingual.
It was Trudeau’s attempt at creating better English – French relations.
Promoting linguistic minorities and personal bilingualism
A rejection of any special recognition of Quebec
With this bill, all provinces and territories have to be able to deal in both French and English.
All products have to be in both English and French.
Schools now offer French in every level of education, such as immersion programs.

6. However several people believed that it didn’t go far enough.
Quebec’s response was Bill 22
Quebec Nationalism Grows – Turns into separatism
Bill 22 – made French sole official language of Quebec

7. The FLQ The Front de Liberation du Quebec A socialist extremist group
that committed over 200
violent acts between
1963 – 1970.
October Crisis
October crisis – October 5, 1970, FLQ kidnap James cross – British trade commissioner and Quebec minister of labour Pierre laporte.
October 15 – Quebec asks federal government for help
October 16 – war measures act enacted.
How far are you going to go - “just watch me”
October 17, Laporte executed – strangled.
Over 450 people arrested
December 1970 – James Cross found, they negotiate his release, give them passage to Cuba.

8. The Parti Quebecois
Parti Quebecois (PQ) founded by dissidents who left the provincial Liberal party
Led by Rene Levesque
PQ grew steadily in support
Won the 1976 provincial
election with 41% of the
vote and a majority
government

9. Taking It One Step At A Time
PQ settled on a step by step approach to sovereignty
Govern well (Bill 101)
Call a referendum to get a mandate to negotiate with Ottawa
Negotiate with Ottawa
Have the outcome of the negotiations ratified in another referendum
Bill 101 – limits English, French to be used in government, courts, and in businesses. Limits access to English in school forces all signs to be in French, helps French language survive, so English speaking people don’t take over. English businesses move to Toronto.

10. Referendum!
A soft question: asked for a mandate to negotiate sovereignty association
Bitter, divisive campaign
60% “Non” – 40% “Oui”
Economic fears loomed large in the vote
PQ may have miscalculated in its referendum strategy, Trudeau promised new Constitution.
PQ re-elected in 1981
p.376 bitter campaign, 372 “no” rally.

11. Constitutional Negotiation
Canada did not control the amendment of its own constitution
Trudeau wanted to replace the constitution with a Charter of Rights
8 provincial governments, including Quebec’s opposed Trudeau
Compromise reached, but Quebec did not agree
Quebec has never formally agreed to the act.

12. Constitution Act, 1982
Applies to all of Canada, including Quebec, even though Quebec did not agree
Charter of Rights stats both English and French are equal.
Enhanced the idea of provincial equality: Quebec did not achieve recognition of special status or increased power

13. A New Sheriff In Town
Brian Mulroney takes over as Prime Minister in 1984: wants to bring Quebec into the constitution
Now a Liberal provincial government, led by Robert Bourassa
Bourassa outlines five conditions for Quebec to sign the constitution

14. They Are… Recognition as a “distinct society”
Limitation on federal government intrusion in provincial jurisdiction
Role in appointing justices to the Supreme Court of Canada
Increased power over immigration
A veto over any constitutional change

15. Meech Lake Accord
Mulroney wins agreement of all ten premiers to change the constitution
Enshrines Quebec’s five conditions in the constitution
Ten provincial governments and the federal government have to ratify the agreement within three years
Manitoba fail to do so by 1990: the Accord dies

16. Why Did It Fail
Trudeau spoke out against it. No one province should get special treatment.
Hardcore separatists didn’t think Quebec got enough power.
Federalists thought Quebec got too much power.
Aboriginal groups didn’t think their rights had been addressed.
Elijah Harper, an aboriginal member of the Manitoba legislature voted against the accord.

17. The Charlottetown Accord - 1992
Much anger in Quebec
Sovereigntist sentiment on the rise
Again, federal government and provinces agree on constitution package, called the Charlottetown Accord
Defeated in a national referendum: 55% No, 45% Yes
Defeated in Quebec as well
Most felt their issues were not dealt with.

18. The Bloc Quebecois
Bloc Quebecois forms as a national political party in 1990, wins 54 of Quebec’s 75 seats in Parliament in 1993
Parti Quebecois wins the 1994 provincial election
Announces a referendum in 1995
Narrow victory for the federalists: 50.6% Non, 49.4% Oui
Federal government weak in referendum

19. What Is It Like Today? Sovereigntist sentiment is currently in decline
Parti Quebecois lost the 2003 provincial election quite badly
Bloc Quebecois’ support is in decline
Demographic change in Quebec
Evidence that Quebeckers have grown tired of the debate over sovereignty
55% (63% of those under 45) do not identify themselves as sovereigntist or federalist (CRIC)