2. The History Quebec had a desire to be separate since 1867 1963-1971—Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism (Bi & Bi Commission) found that Francophones in Quebec make 35% less than Anglophones and over 80% of employers were Anglophones French Canadians saw French language and culture as fragile and in need of protection from the majority

3. The History Rene Levesque (right) was a member of the Liberal Party of Quebec; played a role in the Quiet Revolution 1967-left the Liberals and created the Parti Quebecois in 1968 Party advocated Quebec sovereignty

4. The History Continued 1976-Parti Quebecois got 71 out of 110 seats; Levesque became premier of Quebec 1974-Official Languages Act—made French the sole official language of Quebec 1977-Charter of the French Language (Bill 101) What did Bill 101 mean for Quebec?  French official language of government and courts  Educated in French unless parent received most of his/her education in English  Immigrants educated in French  French the normal language of business and the workplace  Public and commercial signs must be French

5. Referendum (1980) Levesque says of Trudeau: “ His name in Pierre Elliott Trudeau and this is the Elliott side taking over, and that ’ s the English side, so we French Canadians in Quebec cannot expect any sympathy from him ” Trudeau replies: “ Of course my name is Pierre Elliot Trudeau. Elliot was my mother ’ s name. It was the name borne by the Elliots who came to Canada more than two hundred years ago. It was the name of the Elliots who, more than one hundred years ago, settled in Saint-Garbriel-de Brandon, where you can still see their names on the tombstones in the cemetery. This is who the Elliotts are. My name is a Quebec name. But my name is a Canadian name also. And that is my name. ”

6. The Referendum Question The government of Quebec has made public its proposal to negotiate a new agreement with the rest of Canada, based on the equality of nations This agreement would enable Quebec to acquire the exclusive power to make its laws, levy its taxes and establish relations abroad-in other words sovereignty-and, at the same time, to maintain with Canada an economic association including a common currency; No change in political status resulting from these negotiations will be effected without approval by the people through another referendum; On these terms, do you give the government of Quebec the mandate to negotiate the proposed agreement between Quebec and Canada?

7. Trudeau’s Response to the Referendum Told Quebeckers to vote NO, and if they did he would take action to renew the Constitution (Canada was still using the British North America Act, 1867) Watch Canada: A People's History, Episode 17 (start at 10:30 and watch only “The Choice”, approximately 10 minutes)

8. The Outcome? 59.6% voted NO and 40.4% voted YES

9. What is a Constitution? Rules of how a government should operate In a democracy, limits the power of the government over its citizens Changes made over time; amending formula makes it difficult to change

10. What was Canada’s Constitution 1867-British North America Act Also known as BNA Act Canada’s first constitution No amending formula! BNA Act was a British law that could only be changed by acts of the British parliament In order to patriate (bring home) the Constitution, Trudeau needed to establish an amending formula

11. Proposed Amending Formula A greement of all ten provinces impractical as each would have a veto. Change would be almost impossible. 7/10 provinces and must be over 50% of the population (must have either Ontario or Quebec)

12. The Road to Patriation Only Ontario and New Brunswick supported Trudeau Other premiers referred to as the “Gang of Eight” Gang of Eight did not want to lose provincial powers in a new Constitution and the new proposed Charter of Rights and Freedoms Issue challenged in the Supreme Court of Canada Trudeau then suggested that a national referendum be held—he and the others knew that most voters supported Trudeau and were sick of political bickering

13. The Road to Patriation Cont’d November 4, 1981—became known as the “Night of the Long Knives” Four premiers from Newfoundland, Saskatchewan, PEI, and Nova Scotia, plus senior delegates from Alberta and British Columbia worked together late at night in the kitchen of Ottawa’s Conference Centre (this group became known as the “Kitchen Cabinet”) Rene Levesque had gone to Hull, Quebec to sleep for the night Kitchen Cabinet reached an agreement that included a “Notwithstanding Clause” (Sec. 33) as a compromise

14. The Outcome? When Levesque walked in for breakfast the next morning, he was told an agreement had been reached He refused to give support to the proposal Tried to veto it, but did not have the power Quebec nationalists saw the deal as English-speaking premiers betraying Quebec

15. Quebec’s Response Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed the patriated constitution in Ottawa on April 17, 1982 The desk upon which the proclamation was signed (known as the Constitution Table) resides today in the office of the Speak of the Senate of Canada Quebec never signed the Constitution Act, 1982

16. Long Term Effects of the Constitution Act, 1982 We have an entrenched Charter of Rights and Freedoms The Meech Lake Accord (1987-1990) aimed to amend the Constitution Act 1982 and persuade Quebec to support it Charlottetown Accord (1992) Formation of a new federal party, the Bloc Quebecois, led by Lucien Bouchard—in 1993 it wins second most seats in Canada and becomes the Official Opposition Quebec Referendum part deux! (1995)—50.58% "No" to 49.42% "Yes"

17. What do you think? Did Trudeau deal with the French Canadian segment of Canada effectively?