1. CANADIAN VOTING HISTORY

2. The FIRST VOTE: Prohibition
Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)
Founded in 1874, 10,000 members by 1900
Helped grow women’s suffrage movement
Goal of prohibition
Believed this would rid Canada of its social problems:
Crime
Domestic violence
Political corruption
Immorality
P.M. Laurier allowed national Plebiscite (non binding vote)on prohibition in 1898
Give rise to suffrage

3. PROHIBITION IN 1898
A plebiscite on prohibition was held in Canada on 29 September 1898, the first national referendum in the country’s history.

4. Jurisdiction
For Prohibition
Against Prohibition
Votes %
Northwest Territories
6,238
68.8
2,824
31.2
British Columbia
5,731
54.6
4,756
45.4
Manitoba
12,419
80.6
2,978
19.4
New Brunswick
26,919
72.2
9,575
27.7
Nova Scotia
34,368
87.2
5,370
12.8
Ontario
154,498
57.3
115,284
42.7
Prince Edward Island
9,461
89.2
1,146
10.8
Quebec
28,436
18.8
122,760
81.2
Canada
278,380
51.2
264,693
48.8
Despite the majority in favour, Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier's government chose not to introduce a federal bill on prohibition.

5. Conscription and How Women Got the Vote

6. The Conscription Crisis in Canada During World War Two

7. Background Information
Had been an issue in WW 1
By 1943, volunteer rates had dramatically declined.
As a result, the Canadian government was worried that Canada would not be able to maintain an effective armed forces.
You guessed it. Introduce Conscription!

8. King Introduces a Plebiscite on Conscription
King’s famous line was “conscription if necessary, but not necessarily conscription!” A very good example of double talk!
His idea was to hold a plebiscite on the issue.
non-binding question that asks the electorate to vote on a particular issue.
MacKenzie King votes in the
National Plebiscite in 1942

10. King Introduces a Plebiscite on Conscription
King’s reasoning was that a positive result on the plebiscite would give him a mandate to proceed with conscription.
since it was a plebiscite he would not necessarily be forced to introduce conscription.
Confusing? Clever? Many historians argue about the merits of King’s tactic. History Professor Michael Bliss thought it was a clever move
U of T Professor
Michael Bliss

12. The Result of the Plebiscite
The Result of the Plebiscite on Conscription was:
73% of Quebec voted “non”
80% of the Rest of
Canada voted “Yes”

13. What did King Do?
As a result, he delayed enacting conscription until 1944.
most of them never saw combat.

14. The End Result
Of the 13,000 who were sent overseas, only 2,500 reached the battlefield.
69 would die in action before the war ended (less than a year later).
MacKenzie King would go on to win a majority government in the federal election of 1945 with most of his support from “la belle province. He was the great compromiser

15. NEWFOUNDLAND: The Last Colonial Outpost
1949

16. The Problem Severely in debt after WW II
Newfoundland, although proving to be of strategic importance during WW2, but afraid it will loose its independence and become a colony of Britain
Problem: How does it prevent itself from falling to economic ruin

17. Newfoundland - Solutions
Newfoundland had 3 options. The people of Newfoundland would have to choose
Newfoundland could become an independent nation “responsible self-government”
Newfoundland could continue under British rule
Britain no-longer wants to be responsible for it
Britain burdened with rebuilding after WW2. Can’t afford to be responsible for Newfoundland as well
Newfoundland could join Canada

18. Referendums Referendum #1
People of Newfoundland voted on all 3 options
No single option received a majority vote
Re-vote
Referendum #2
People of Newfoundland voted on 2 options: Self-government or union with Canada

19. Referendum Results
Those in the out-posts, fisheries, loggers and miners voted with Joey Smallwood for confederation with Canada
Wanted financial security and stability
The Merchants voted for “responsible self-government”
Feared the market might move

20. Referendum Results – March 31, 1949
52% of Islanders favoured joining Canada
48% of islanders were for responsible self-government
April 1, 1949 Newfoundland became Canada’s 10th province and Joey Smallwood became Canada’s last father of confederation
Joey Smallwood first premier of Newfoundland

21. QUEBEC: THE THORN IN THE SIDE OF CANADIAN FEDERALISM

22. NATIONALISM
Nationalism is a term referring to a doctrineor political movement that holds a nation, usually defined in terms of ethnicity or culture, has the right to constitute an independent or autonomous political community based on a shared history and common destiny. Nationalists feel that nationality is the most important aspect of one's identity, while some of them have attempted to define the nation in terms of race or genetics

23. The Quiet Revolution 1960 = Duplessis died.
Jean Lesage became leader of Quebec and spoke of a “Time for change”; a new Quebec government = Quiet Revolution:
1962 Quebec government Motto = “Masters in our own house”/“Maitres chez nous.”

24. Maitre Chez Nous The Birth of Separatism
French-Speaking-Quebeckers vs. English-Speaking-Canadians.
French-Speaking-Quebeckers did not like how Canada seemed to be more English than French.
Wanted to separate from Canada.

25. Rene Levesque and the Parti Quebecois
This gave rise to a new separatist political party - the Parti Quebecois - led by Rene Levesque.
Levesque led his party to victory in the provincial election of 1976.

26. The “October Crisis” + Cross
During the 1970’s the FLQ decided to proceed with political kidnappings, since bombing raids were not bringing about the desired results.
On October 5th, 1970 the British Trade commissioner, James Cross was kidnapped by the Liberation Cell of the FLQ. 1. 2.

27. Levesque and Bill 101
One of the most controversial measures of the Parti Quebecois was Bill The Charter of the French Language.
This bill made French the only working language in Quebec.

28. The 1980 Referendum

29. The Quebec Referendum-1980
The Parti Quebecois organized a referendum on sovereignty-association for May 20, 1980.
This meant independence from Canada but the retention of close economic ties.
The campaign was very passionate and divisive.

30. The Quebec Referendum II
Federal politicians, like Pierre Trudeau, supported the “no” side in Quebec.
82% of the population turned out to vote and 59% rejected the proposal.

31. The Quebec Referendum III
Francophones
Oui 60% Non 40%
Anglophones
Oui 9% Non 91%
Immigrants
Oui 16% Non 84%

32. The Winds of Change
The 1980 referendum convinced Pierre Trudeau that constitutional change was necessary.
The Liberal government of Pierre Trudeau finally undertook the difficult task of patriating the constitution.
This was achieved in 1982 but without the approval of Quebec.

33. Kitchen Compromise

34. THE KITCHEN COMPROMISE
Federal Minister of Justice Jean Chrétien and a couple provincial politicians hammer meet on Nov 4, 1981
Provincial premiers woken up in hotel to sign the deal
Québec premier Lévesque staying at other hotel, surprised by deal in the morning, refuses to agree to it, wants referendum on Constitution
Referred to as “Night of the Long Knives” in Québec
Compromise includes current amending formula (7/50 formula) and the notwithstanding clause, allowing provinces to opt-out of Charter (5 years)

35. The Meech Lake Accord 1987
Meech Lake was an effort to complete the constitutional process and meet some of Quebec’s demands. It included:
1. The confirmation of “distinct society” status for Quebec in order to bring the province into the constitution.
2. The right to allow provinces to nominate Supreme Court judges.
The accord was not ratified by all ten provinces and failed.
Questions For Discussion
36. What does the phrase distinct society mean? Why do you think some Canadians objected to this phrase?

36. Distinct Society What did this term mean?
Was Quebec to be considered different or special?
If Quebec was to be special did this mean that additional powers would be given to the Quebec government?

37. The Failure of the Meech Lake Accord
This accord was acceptable in Quebec but eventually failed in Manitoba.
It was seen in Quebec as a rejection by the rest of Canada.
The separatist movement in Quebec was revived by the emotion surrounding the failure of “Meech.”

38. The Bloc Quebecois
The failure of the Meech Lake Accord resulted in the formation of a new federal political party – the ”Bloc Quebecois.”
In 1993 to become the official opposition party in Ottawa.
The first leader of the “Bloc” was Lucien Bouchard.

39. The Charlottetown Accord 1992
This was the second attempt to amend the constitution. It promised -
1. “Distinct society” status for Quebec.
2. Aboriginal self-government.
3. Senate reform
It failed to pass a national referendum in October 1992 when a large majority Canadians voted no.
HERE’S WHY IT FAILED!!!!!
Questions For Discussion
37. Find out why the Charlottetown Accord failed to pass a national referendum?

40. RESULTS PROVINCE YES% NO% Alberta 39.8 60.2 British Columbia 31.7 68.3
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland
Nova Scotia
Ontario
PEI
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Northwest Territories
Yukon Territory
Nation total

41. Parizeau’s “Money & the Ethnic Vote” speech, from the CBC Archives.
The 1995 Quebec Referendum
QUEBEC HAD FELT ‘STABBED IN THE BACK’ from 1982 and not wanted ( 1987 and 1992
In 1995 the people of Quebec voted on the question of sovereignty.
Jacques Parizeau, the premier, led the “Yes” forces in Quebec but the question was defeated by a narrow margin.
The “No” side won by 51 per cent to 49 percent.
There was shock in the rest of Canada
but no immediate solution.
Parizeau’s “Money & the Ethnic Vote” speech, from the CBC Archives.

42. The Supreme Court Ruling 20 August 1998: SO MUCH FOR DEMOCRACY BY US!!
The federal government asked the Supreme Court three questions in 1996.
1. Can Quebec secede unilaterally from Canada under the constitution?
2. Does it have the right to secede unilaterally under international law?
3. If there is a conflict between Canadian and international law, which takes precedence?

43. The Constitutional Right to Secede (Question 1)
“The Constitution (guarantees) order and stability, and accordingly secession of a province ‘under the Constitution’ could not be achieved unilaterally…”
Negotiation with the other provinces within the terms of the constitution would be required for Quebec to secede.

44. International Law and the Right to Secede (Question 2)
The court decided that the right to secede exists but not at the expense of the stability and integrity of Canada.
Only if a people were colonized or oppressed would the court consider unilateral secession acceptable.
This, clearly, does not apply to Quebec.

45. General Conclusions of the Supreme Court (Question 3)
The court ruled that there was no conflict between Canadian and International law.
The Supreme Court’s ruling was open to interpretation by both sides but offered little comfort to the separatist movement in Quebec.
*Quebec can hold another referendum on a “clear” question and if it wins this referendum Canada and Quebec must negotiate the terms of secession (but now federal gov’t in charge of referendum)

46. Problems Associated with Quebec Separation
What happens to the large French speaking population outside of Quebec?
What happens to the anglophone population inside of Quebec?
How do we divide the economic resources and the national debt of the country?
How does the rest of Canada remain united?

47. Recent Changes in Quebec
Some people think that the tide has turned against the Separatists (2014 Provincial elections PQ loss) as most ‘extreme’ getting older
Immigration is reducing the influence of “pur laine” Quebecers – the chief supporters of separation.