French-English Relations in the 1980s & 1990s

1. French-English Relations in the 1980s & 1990s • Referendum, 1980: • 1980 Quebec held its first referendum on the issue of “sovereignty-association” with rest of Canada • Referendum: Political issue submitted to a direct vote by all citizens • Proposal being voted on included: • Quebec would be an independent state, would be in control of its own taxes, of its own social policies, of its own citizenship and immigrations • Would keep close economic ties with Canada • So, no = yes to Canada; yes = no to Canada • Results: of the 90% of the Quebec population who could cast their vote did, of which 60% voted “No” to the proposal • Trudeau promised that he would have a new constitutional arrangement for Quebec if the proposal was defeated • 1982 - Patriating of the Constitution occurred

2. French-English Relations in the 1980s & 1990s II • Constitution Act, 1982: • As you know, Canada’s original constitution – the BNA Act, 1867 – was an act of British Parliament • PM Trudeau wanted Canada’s Constitution to belong to Canada, aka, he wanted it to be “repatriated” • November 1981, 10 Premiers met to draft the new constitution • Final night, everyone – with the exception of Quebec’s Rene Levesque – were summoned to view final revisions, and agreed to sign the Act • Levesque & Quebec felt betrayed and would not sign.

3. French-English Relations in the 1980s & 1990s III • Meech Lake Accord, 1987: • PM Mulroney and 10 premiers (including Premier Bourassa from Quebec) met at Meech Lake to change the constitution to include Quebec • This was Mulroney’s attempt to create constitutional harmony from coast to coast to coast • All ten premiers were able to reach a tentative agreement • Next step: all provinces & Ottawa must consent to the agreement • Not going to be easy…

4. Meech Lake Accord II • Number of Concerns: • Quebec was referred to as a “distinct society” • French speakers in Quebec wanted a separate definition of what it meant to be Quebecois • This was left open to interpretation: English-Canadians were worried • Aboriginal Peoples felt that Quebec should not get “distinct society” status if they weren't • So, NFLD, then NB & MAN did not ratify the MLA • Led by aboriginal leader, Elijah Harper, Manitobadid not sign the accord

5. Meech Lake Proposal • Five parts made up the proposed Accord: • Quebec would be considered “distinct society” • Three of nine Supreme Court Judges were to come from Quebec • Any amendments to the new constitution would require agreement from all 10 provinces • Provinces could chose to opt out of federal funding • Quebec would be able to control its own immigrations • The Meech Lake Accord became known as the Quebec Round of the constitutional amendments Accord FAIL!

6. French-English Relations in the 1980s & 1990s IV • Charlottetown Accord, 1992: • Much had been the case in 1987, the issue of a constitutional amendment came to the forefront yet again • Meech Lake’s failure = no Quebec in the constitution • What the Charlottetown Accord aimed to do: • Provisions for aboriginal self-government • Senate reform • Universal health care • Worker’s rights • Environmental protection • This round of negotiations was known as the Canada Round

7. Charlottetown Accord II • The Canada round also included: • The Canada Clause • In addition to the “Distinct society” clause for Quebec • The Canada Clause: • Outlined values and characteristics that define all Canadians, including a commitment to the equality of men and women, and the well-being of all Canadians • The Vote: • Results: only 4 of 10 provinces approved • 6 provinces felt that the provisions were too large and daunting • Aboriginals, women, and the Reform Party were also against CA

8. French-English Relations in the 1980s & 1990s V • Bloc Quebecois: • Following the 1993 election, the federal separatist party – Bloc Quebecois – became the Official Party of Opposition in Canada • Led by Lucien Bouchard • Despite the fact that he worked for the “Yes” side in Quebec’s 1980 referendum and he was former member of Brian Mulroney’s Conservative Party (Law School buddies) • Held posts such as Secretary of State, and Minister of the Environment • Did not like the way Meech Lake Accord was going • Mulroney has said his “most regrettable and costly error as Prime Minister was trusting Bouchard”

9. French-English Relations in the 1980s & 1990s VI • Parti Quebecois: • Following the 1993 Federal Election, the Provincial Liberal government lost the Quebec Provincial Election in 1994 • Led by Jacques Parizeau, the Parti Quebecois came to power

10. French-English Relations in the 1980s & 1990s VII • The Referendum, 1995: • The rejection of Charlottetown left many in Quebec feeling that the rest of Canada was indifferent to their wishes • So, 1995, Jacques Parizeau decided to hold another referendum on the question of Quebec’s sovereignty • Following a heated campaign, the results came back much closer than the first referendum in 1980 • The “Non” side won with 50.6% of the vote (no = yes for CAN)

11. Referendum, 1995 II • What’s next for Quebec? • Parizeau resigned as the leader of the PQ, he was replaced by Lucien Bouchard (stepped down as leader of Bloc Quebecois) • Bouchard “had” every intention of calling for another sovereignty referendum, but would only do so under “winning conditions” • New Question… • Could Quebec legally separate from Canada on a unilateral (alone) basis, of did separation require the consent of all of the provinces?

12. Sovereignty allowed, oui or non? • Calgary Declaration, 1997: • As a “goodwill” gesture, the Canadian Government declared Quebec to be a unique society (not distinct) as part of the Calgary Declaration • PQ Leader Bouchard did not attend this meeting • Supreme Court Decision, 1998: • Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Quebec did not have the rightto separate unilaterally from Canada • To achieve independence, sovereignty would have to negotiate with the federal gov’t, the provinces, the aboriginal nations living in Que. and any other minorities living there • These negotiations could only happen if a “clear majority” voted “yes” to a “clear question” – Separation was not as easy as the PQ had said it was… • Clarity Act, 1999: • Passed to ensure that any future referenda must have a clear question and be won by a clear majority