Qubec After WWII

Ch. 8 (p. 191-204)

The Duplessis Era

From Great Depression to 1959, Qubec controlled by Premier Maurice Duplessis and his Union Nationale government
Believed in Qubec nationalism, not just another province Ruled Qubec with an iron fist

Strongly anti-union, anti-communist (Padlock Law) Encouraged foreign/outside investment in Qubec Much bribery and corruption, kickbacks

Defender of traditional French culture

Roman Catholic Church ran most hospitals and schools Qubec fell behind in fields of science, engineering, business

Maurice Duplessis

The Quiet Revolution

1960: Liberal Jean Lesage becomes Premier after Duplessis dies

Election slogan: Time for a change Promises to get rid of government corruption Restrictions lifted on unions, wages go up Modernization of Qubec The Quiet Revolution

Government takes control of social services and schools Catholic Church less influential Quebec economy increasingly controlled by Qubec, specifically Francophones (French speakers)

Gov. buys out (nationalizes) power companies, creates Hydro-Qubec

Maitres chez nous Masters in our own house

The Birth of Separatism

As the Quiet Revolution progressed, some Qubecois (French Canadiens) became angry over the influence of English-speakers in Qubec, and the lack of influence Qubecois had in the federal government
Not many Qubec MPs in federal cabinet Many English schools in Qubec, few French schools in rest of Canada Qubecois expected to speak English at work, in stores

Some Qubecois believed in French nationalism and separation from Canada was the answer

The Birth of Separatism

Some young extremists join separatist terrorist groups

Felt change moving too slowly Most prominent was Front de libration du Qubec (FLQ) 1960s: Bombed mailboxes, office buildings, Montreal stock exchange (English symbols); robbed banks; several people killed, dozens injured Most Qubecois disapproved of actions

1968: MLA Ren Lvesque leaves Liberals (unhappy with refusal to discuss separatism), forms provincial separatist party Parti Qubecois (PQ)

FLQ

p. 193

Ren Lvesque

Pearsons Response

Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson moved to avoid a separatist crisis

1963: Appointed Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism

Recommended Canada should become officially bilingual

1965: Replaced old Canadian flag based on British Union Jack with maple leaf flag
Many English-Canadians saw this as pandering to Qubec Qubecois still preferred provincial fleur-de-lis flag

Flags

Trudeaus Response

Pierre Trudeau becomes PM in 1968 Continues Pearsons work to keep Qubec in Canada

1969: Passes Official Languages Act, making Canada officially bilingual

Government must provide services in both English and French French-immersion schools available across country

Appointed more French-speaking MPs to cabinet Encourages English-Canadians to learn about Qubec culture

Some Canadians in favour of bilingualism, others not (especially in western provinces)

Many did not believe French useful to them Felt gov. focusing too much on Qubec, ignoring rest of Canada Some Qubecois felt policies not enough, wanted Qubec given special status, but Trudeau refused

Bilingualism

The October Crisis

October 1970: FLQ in Montral kidnaps James Cross, a British diplomat

Demand as ransom release of FLQ members in prison Federal and provincial governments refuse to release FLQ prisoners FLQ kidnap Pierre Laporte, Qubec Minister of Labour PM Trudeau invokes War Measures Act

Believed violent revolution beginning First time War Measures Act used when not at war Allows police to arrest and jail suspects without warrants or trials FLQ outlawed, troops patrol Ottawa and Montral 450 suspects arrested during crisis, most released without charges

The October Crisis

The October Crisis

The October Crisis

Much controversy over Trudeaus use of the War Measures Act

Many believed it went too far in taking away civil rights PM Trudeau said it was necessary to fight terrorism

The October Crisis- The Aftermath

October 17: body of Pierre Laporte found in trunk of car near Montral airport

PM Trudeau gets more support for War Measures Act

Dec. 1970: kidnappers of James Cross found, his release traded for safe passage to Cuba Kidnappers of Laporte later found, convicted of kidnapping and murder

The October Crisis

The PQ in Power

1976: PQ win Qubec election, Rene Lvesque premier Lvesque promises to hold a referendum (vote on an issue) on whether to separate from Canada or not In the meantime, PQ pass Bill 101

Made French the only official language in Qubec All signs must be in French only Provincial employees must work in French Kids must go to French schools, unless they have an Englishspeaking parent French-speakers in favour of Bill, felt French culture slipping away English-speakers disagree with Bill, felt it was oppressive

The 1980 Referendum

1980: Lvesque calls a referendum

Asks for support to negotiate a sovereigntyassociation with federal government

Qubec would be politically separate from Canada, but remain linked economically

PM Trudeau was a federalist and against Qubec separatism

Campaigns for the non side Promises to negotiate a new Constitution if Qubec stays

Result: 40% vote oui to separate, 60% vote non

Lvesque accepts defeat, but encourages separatists not to give up

The 1980 Referendum

Patriating the Constitution

PM Trudeau keeps his promise, begins negotiating an updated Constitution

Canada still governed by BNA Act (1867)

Could not be changed without permission from British Parliament

Trudeau wants to patriate the Constitution (bring it home to Canada), be able to make changes without British permission Wants to clarify the basic rights of Canadians Needs support of provinces, though

Creating a new Constitution

Amending formula and rules of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms must first be agreed upon
Provinces want more say over changing of Constitution, possible veto-power Provinces want to be able to opt-out of Charter

Worried that courts would become more powerful than provincial governments Qubec afraid that Charter would be used to weaken Bill 101

1980-81: Extended negotiations between provincial premiers and federal government largely unsuccessful

Constitutional Negotiations

Patriating the Constitution

4 Nov. 1981: final desperate attempt to come to agreement at hotel in Ottawa

Federal Minister of Justice Jean Chrtien and a couple provincial politicians hammer out a final agreement between federal gov. and provinces
Called Kitchen Compromise or Kitchen Accord because written in hotel kitchen in middle of the night Provincial premiers woken up in hotel to sign the deal

Qubec premier Lvesque 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 Qubec

Compromise includes current amending formula and the notwithstanding clause, allowing provinces to opt-out of Charter

Kitchen Compromise

Patriating the Constitution

PM Trudeau goes ahead with new Constitution without Qubecs agreement 17 April 1982: Constitution Act signed by Queen Elizabeth II and PM Trudeau in Ottawa Canada now completely independent, last step in gaining autonomy from Great Britain Many in Qubec feel betrayed by federal government and other provinces

Patriating the Constitution

Further Constitution Debate

1984: Brian Mulroney, campaigning to become next PM, promises to fix Constitution so Qubec would sign it 1987: PM Mulroney holds conference with premiers at Meech Lake, Qubec, come up with several changes to the Constitution Meech Lake Accord
Qubec to be recognized as a distinct society Change to amending formula to allow provincial vetoes More provincial control over immigration, more input in appointment of senators and Supreme Court judges

Further Constitutional Debate

Meech Lake Accord requires all provinces to agree to it within three years before it becomes law

Much debate over the Accord

Trudeau against the Accord, distinct society would isolate Qubec First Nations led by Elijah Harper argue that they should be recognized as a distinct society as well Many Canadians want more input into the Accord

1990: deadline to agree to the Accord passes without Manitoba and Newfoundland agreeing, Accord fails
Many in Qubec feel betrayed again, more support for separatism MP Lucien Bouchard leaves Conservative Party and forms the Bloc Qubcois (BQ), a federal separatist party

Meech Lake Accord

Further Constitutional Debate

PM Mulroney tries again to amend the Constitution

Learned from mistakes of Meech Lake Accord Seeks out input from Canadians on Constitutional changes in meetings across the country With recommendations from citizens and premiers, comes up with the Charlottetown Accord

Qubec to be recognized as a distinct society Senate to be elected Supported Aboriginal self-government Canada Clause proposed official Canadian values

Charlottetown Accord

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5uLPu4G TUQ

Further Constitutional Debate

Charlottetown Accord to be decided upon in a national referendum in October 1992

54.5% of Canadian vote against it Many clauses in the Accord, easy to find something to disagree with BC: 68.3% vote against it

Felt would give Qubec too much power (min. 25% of MPs)

Qubec: 56.7% vote against it

Not happy with many Senate seats going to Western provinces Aboriginal self-government would limit power in N. Qubec

Charlottetown Accord

Resurgence of Separatism

Qubec frustrated with Constitution developments

Rise in support for separatism 1993: separatist Bloc Qubcois (BQ) win second most seats in federal election, becomes official opposition

Leader Lucien Bouchard

Premier Jacques Parizeau promises referendum on full sovereignty (political independence), not sovereignty-association

1994: separatist Parti Qubcois (PQ) elected provincially

1995: referendum called for October

PM Chrtien campaigns strongly for non side Bouchard and Parizeau lead oui side

Parizeau and Bouchard

Resurgence of Separatism

Large rallies and ad campaigns held for both sides Debate over wording of referendum question:
Do you agree that Qubec should become sovereign after having made a formal offer to Canada for a new economic and political partnership within the scope of the bill respecting the future of Qubec and of the agreement signed on June 12, 1995? Non side believes question is confusing, unclear

Oct. 1995: Non side barely wins

50.6% non, 49.4% oui

1995 Referendum

Resurgence of Separatism

Aftermath
Extremely narrow margin devastating for oui side, shocking for non side PM Chrtien and Liberals pass the Clarity Bill

Would require a very clear question in any future referendum on separatism Separatism would require a clear majority, not just 50% + 1

What is a clear majority?

Support in Qubec for separatism has decreased

Qubec Liberal Party in power since 2003 BQ still popular in Qubec, but not focused on separatism