Québec After WWII

1. Québec After WWII Ch. 8 (p. 191-204)

2. The Duplessis Era • From Great Depression to 1959, Québec controlled by Premier Maurice Duplessis and his Union Nationale government • Believed in Québec nationalism, not just another province • Ruled Québec with an iron fist • Strongly anti-union, anti-communist (Padlock Law) • Encouraged foreign/outside investment in Québec • Much bribery and corruption, “kickbacks” • Defender of traditional French culture • Roman Catholic Church ran most hospitals and schools • Québec fell behind in fields of science, engineering, business

3. Maurice Duplessis

4. 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 Québec – “The Quiet Revolution” • Government takes control of social services and schools • Catholic Church less influential • Quebec economy increasingly controlled by Québec, specifically Francophones (French speakers) • Gov. buys out (nationalizes) power companies, creates Hydro-Québec • Maitres chez nous – “Masters in our own house”

5. The Birth of Separatism • As the Quiet Revolution progressed, some Québecois became angry over the influence of English-speakers in Québec, and the lack of influence Québecois had in the federal government • Not many Québec MPs in federal cabinet • Many English schools in Québec, few French schools in rest of Canada • Québecois expected to speak English at work, in stores • Some Québecois believed separation from Canada was the answer

6. The Birth of Separatism • Some young extremists join separatist terrorist groups • Felt change moving too slowly • Most prominent was Front de libération du Québec (FLQ) • 1960s: Bombed mailboxes, office buildings, Montreal stock exchange (English symbols); robbed banks; several people killed, dozens injured • Most Québecois disapproved of actions • 1968: MLA René Lévesque leaves Liberals (unhappy with refusal to discuss separatism), forms provincial separatist party Parti Québecois (PQ)

7. FLQ p. 193

8. René Lévesque

9. Pearson’s Response • PM 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 Québec • Québecois still preferred provincial fleur-de-lis flag

10. Flags

11. Trudeau’s Response • Pierre Trudeau becomes PM in 1968 • Continues Pearson’s work to keep Québec 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 Québec 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 Québec, ignoring rest of Canada • Some Québecois felt policies not enough, wanted Québec given “special status”, but Trudeau refused

12. Bilingualism

13. The October Crisis • October 1970: FLQ in Montréal 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, Québec 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 Montréal • 450 suspects arrested during crisis, most released without charges

14. The October Crisis

15. The October Crisis

16. The October Crisis

17. The October Crisis • Much controversy over Trudeau’s 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 • October 17: body of Pierre Laporte found in trunk of car near Montréal 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

18. The October Crisis

19. The PQ in Power • 1976: PQ win Québec election, Lévesque premier • Lévesque 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 Québec • All signs must be in French only • Provincial employees must work in French • Kids must go to French schools, unless they have an English-speaking parent • French-speakers in favour of Bill, felt French culture slipping away • English-speakers disagree with Bill, felt it was oppressive

20. The 1980 Referendum • 1980: Lévesque calls a referendum • Asks for support to negotiate a sovereignty-association with federal government • Québec would be politically separate from Canada, but remain linked economically • PM Trudeau against Québec separatism • Campaigns for the “non” side • Promises to negotiate a new Constitution if Québec stays • Result: 40% vote “oui” to separate, 60% vote “non” • Lévesque accepts defeat, but encourages separatists not to give up

21. The 1980 Referendum

22. 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

23. Patriating the 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 • Québec afraid that Charter would be used to weaken Bill 101 • 1980-81: Extended negotiations between provincial premiers and federal government largely unsuccessful

24. Constitutional Negotiations

25. Patriating the Constitution • 4 Nov. 1981: final desperate attempt to come to agreement at hotel in Ottawa • Federal Minister of Justice Jean Chrétien 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 • 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 and the notwithstanding clause, allowing provinces to opt-out of Charter

26. Kitchen Compromise

27. Patriating the Constitution • PM Trudeau goes ahead with new Constitution without Québec’s 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 Québec feel betrayed by federal government and other provinces

28. Patriating the Constitution

29. Further Constitution Debate • 1984: Brian Mulroney, campaigning to become next PM, promises to “fix” Constitution so Québec would sign it • 1987: PM Mulroney holds conference with premiers at Meech Lake, Québec, come up with several changes to the Constitution – Meech Lake Accord • Québec 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

30. 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 Québec • First Nations 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 Québec feel betrayed again, more support for separatism • MP Lucien Bouchard leaves Conservative Party and forms the Bloc Québécois (BQ), a federal separatist party

31. Meech Lake Accord

32. 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 • Québec to be recognized as a “distinct society” • Senate to be elected • Supported Aboriginal self-government • “Canada Clause” – proposed official Canadian values

33. Charlottetown Accord • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5uLPu4GTUQ

34. 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 Québec too much power (min. 25% of MPs) • Québec: 56.7% vote against it • Not happy with many Senate seats going to Western provinces • Aboriginal self-government would limit power in N. Québec

35. Charlottetown Accord

36. Resurgence of Separatism • Québec frustrated with Constitution developments • Rise in support for separatism • 1993: separatist Bloc Québécois (BQ) win second most seats in federal election, becomes official opposition • Leader Lucien Bouchard • 1994: separatist Parti Québécois (PQ) elected provincially • Premier Jacques Parizeau promises referendum on full sovereignty (political independence), not sovereignty-association • 1995: referendum called for October • PM Chrétien campaigns strongly for “non” side • Bouchard and Parizeau lead “oui” side

37. Parizeau and Bouchard

38. Resurgence of Separatism • Large rallies and ad campaigns held for both sides • Debate over wording of referendum question: • Do you agree that Québec 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 Québec 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”

39. 1995 Referendum

40. Resurgence of Separatism • Aftermath • Extremely narrow margin devastating for “oui” side, shocking for “non” side • PM Chrétien 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 Québec for separatism has decreased • Québec Liberal Party in power since 2003 • BQ still popular in Québec, but not focused on separatism