Quebec and Canada

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Quebec and Canada or French-English Relations
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The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, fought
September 13, 1759, was a decisive battle of the
North American theatre of the Seven Years War
(the Americans call it the French and Indian
War). It was fought on a plateau just outside the
city walls of Quebec City in New France, on the
land of Abraham Martin dit L'Écossais. Combat
lasted only 30 minutes, ending a three-month
siege of Quebec City.
With Wolfes victory, the Treaty of Paris gave
North America to Britain. New France becomes
Quebec in 1763. The goal is to populate Quebec
with Anglophones, but the American Revolution
will interfere.
In 1774, fearful that the French-speaking
population of Quebec would side with the rebels
of the Thirteen Colonies to the south in the
American Revolution, the British Parliament
passed the Quebec Act (1775) that paved the way
to official recognition of the French Language
and Culture. The Act allowed Canadiens to
maintain French civil law and sanctioned the
freedom of religious choice, allowing the Roman
Catholic Church to remain.
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Je me souviens I will remember
French-Canadians (Canadiens) have had a history
of 1. Being given up by France (Treaty of
Paris) 2. Seized by Britain in 1759 (they call
it The Conquest) 3. Wanted by the USA 4.
Promised protection of rights by Britain 5.
Surrounded by 100s of millions of Anglophones 6.
Criticized over two conscription crises
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Post-War Quebec
Jean Lesage
Maurice Duplessis
1936-1939/1944-1959 Premier Maurice Duplessis
-- The Great Darkness   -- strong Quebec
nationalist -- thought Quebec was a distinct
society, not just a province -- avoided English
influence conservative/traditionalist --
supporter of the Roman Catholic Church used it
to defend Quebec culture -- hated unions
(believed they were communists) supported
business owners had a corrupt government took
bribes (money) for contracts
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Quiet Revolution 1960-1969 The Quiet
Revolution period of change in Quebec
movement to modernize the provinces economy,
politics, education, and culture e.g. 1960
Premier Jean Lesage -- Time for a Change
move to secularize (take the Roman Catholic
Church out of politics) -- stopped corruption,
legalized unions, raised pensions and wages --
Maitres chez nous masters of our own house
wanted Quebec to control their own future
and economy -- ex. bought out hydro-electric
plants in Quebec to form -- Hydro
Quebec -- wanted special status for Quebec to
protect the French language and
culture   Result people started to feel
pride (nationalism) in being Quebecois
Quebeckers became angry about treatment by
Anglo-Canadians.
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The Birth of Separatism -- 2 different separatist
groups   1. 1969 Rene Levesque left the
Liberal Party and formed the Parti Quebecois
-- believed Quebec and Canada would do
better to divorce (separate)
peacefully than continue a marriage of two
cultures.   2. FLQ Front de Liberation du
Quebec   -- committed to using violent action to
achieve their goals of separation
(terrorists) -- used firebombs and explosives on
English Canadian symbols of power (attacked
Royal Mailboxes, Canadian National Railway
Building, McGill University, and robbed
banks.)
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The October Crisis   October 5, 1970 British
Trade Commissioner James Cross is kidnapped --
FLQ demands ransom, safe passage to Cuba and
release of jailed members.   October 10, 1970
Que. Vice-Premier and Minister of Labour Pierre
Laporte kidnapped.   October 16, 1970 -- PM
Trudeaus was worried that Quebec was close to a
violent revolution, so he imposed the War
Measures Act civil rights were suspended
anyone could be arrested and detained
without being charged became a crime to be
a part of the FLQ -- 400 arrests made
hundreds of searches -- Federal troops
were sent to patrol the street of Montreal and
Ottawa -- When asked how far he would go
Trudeau said Just watch me.   October 17, 1970
Laportes dead body is found in the trunk of a
car.   Result -- James Cross was located and his
captives were given safe passage
(political asylum) to Cuba. Crisis over and no
more FLQ
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Bill 101 1977 -- Premier Rene Levesque passed
the Charter of French Language
Bill/Law -- French would be the only official
language in Quebec -- used by governments,
courts, and businesses -- business signs
displayed had to be in French.   Referendum --
1980   -- Premier Rene Levesque proposed a
sovereignty association that Quebec have
political independence, but have close economic
ties to Canada. -- PM Trudeau promised to
negotiate a new constitution if Quebeckers voted
no.   Result 60 voted non.
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Constitution Act of 1982   Goal -- PM Trudeau
wanted to repatriate (bring home) Canadas
constitution from Britain so that
Canadian government would have the authority to
make changes, plus he wanted to
include the Charter of Human Rights and
Freedoms. Problem provinces worried the
Charter would make the courts more
powerful than the legislature Solution
notwithstanding clause allowed federal or
provincial govt to opt out of parts of the
charter and the amending formula must have
support of 7/10 provinces or 50 of
Canadas population to change constitution.
9 premiers, except Quebecs (Rene Levesque) were
woken up in the middle of the night and asked to
approve the last minute changes.   Result April
17, 1982, Constitution Act was signed by Queen
Elizabeth II and PM Trudeau, but Quebec felt
betrayed and would not sign the new constitution.
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1. Meech Lake Accord -- 1987   PM Brian Mulroney
attempted to again get Quebec to sign
constitution constitution would include a
clause that recognized Quebec as a distinct
society.   Result failure -- English Canadians
and aboriginals (like Elijah Harper of
Manitoba) did not feel Quebec should be given
special status.   2. Charlottetown Accord
1992   -- made provisions for Aboriginal Self
government, Senate reform, universal health care,
workers rights and environmental protection,
plus a distinct society clause for
Quebec   Result failure only 4 of 10
provinces approved.   3. Referendum 1995 --
Should Quebec separate from Canada?   Result
50.6 voted non