The+Question+of+Quebec

=The Question of Quebec: Language and Sovereignty=

After the [|Quiet Revolution], [|Quebec] became unsatisfied with [|Confederation]. [|Pierre Trudeau]’s vision to solve this issue was for a [|bilingual] [|Canada] where both English and French were equal. On the other hand, [|Rene Leveque] offered a significantly opposing view, stating his opinion of Quebec separating from the rest of [|Canada] in all aspects. His [|democratic] [|separatist] [|Parti Quebecois] widened the gap between English-speaking Canadians as well as the violent [|Front de Liberation de Quebec], a terrorist group in support of the [|Quebec sovereignty movement].Once the Parti Quebecois was in power of the provincial government in 1976, there promise of a [|referendum] led to their defeat, where Trudeau’s victory gave him a second chance to renew the faith in [|federalism]. He believed that through developing a Canadian [|Constitution], Quebec would renew their commitment, however once all 9 [|provinces] agreed to this plan [|Quebec] stood their ground, and would not agree. With a [|constitution] in place written by Canadians for Canada, there still remained a national unity problem 2 The Rise of Rene Levesque and the Parti Quebecois 3 The FLQ/October Crisis 4 Bill 22 and 101: Quebec's Language Legislation ||
 * =Contents= 1 The Official Languages Act

1969 The Official Languages Act
In 1969, the government of Canada adopted the first [|Official Languages Ac]t. This acknowledged [|English] and [|French] as the certified languages of all of Canada’s [|federal establishments]. In 1988 a new Languages Act was put in place, and implemented 3 basic goals of the [|Government of][| Canada] which included:

-To uphold the value for both English and French as Canadian languages and to guarantee [|equality] of their standing a and equal rights and privileges towards their use in all [|federal] institutions -To set out the influence, function, and purpose of the use of [|official languages] of Canada within federal institutions -To encourage the maturity and progress of English and French linguistic [|minority] [|communities] and develop the equality position and use of the two languages within Canadian [|society]. This [|legal] [|framework] integrates and identifies the rights and linguistic rules set out earlier in [|the Constitution of] [|1867] and the [|Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms]. It gives a lawmaking foundation to the policies implemented in federal [|establishments] concerning the use of official languages as the languages used in [|federal government].

By the late 1960s, many Quebecers became frustrated with the Canadian Federal System as English continued to dominate over French in the Quebec world of business and finance. Leaders tried to bring equality but changes were too slow for the citizens and with the Quiet Revolution, hopes were raised for young people of Quebec now attending university and college. However, even after receiving qualifications for high corporate positions, young Quebecers did not get the jobs because of their only French speaking status. Dissatisfied people of Quebec felt that the separation from Canada was the best way to make the French-speaking majority of Quebec the “masters of our own house”.

The purpose of the Official Languages Act of 1969 was to reduce tensions caused over French-English language rights. Prime Minister Trudeau’s goal was to make Quebec a better, richer society by giving each language equal ranking, allowing French Canadians to live among English Canadians and English Canadians among French Canadians without abandoning culture and heritage.

The four main components of the act include: - Either English or French can be used within parliament, federal courts, and federal government offices - In areas of large minorities of English or French known as “bilingual districts”, both languages should be recognized - All schools in Ottawa (a bilingual district) must offer courses in both French and English - Specific sections of the federal civil service should speak both official languages and promote people based on bilingualism. The Act quickly made an impact resulting in a mixed reaction, some shared the vision while others across the country questioned the price of educating civil servants to become bilingual, and felt it would not help Quebec’s position in the federation. Trudeau was also displeased, as it did not meet the ultimate goal of bringing language and individual rights. To do this, he would have to bring the Constitution or BNA Act from Britain to gain full governing authority of Canada making it a Canadian document signed by all provinces. This would take 13 years to achieve yet in 1969, threats to Canadian unity offered a new solution of independence proposed by another leader- Rene Levesque.

The Rise of Rene Levesque and the Parti Quebecois
Rene Levesque started off as a reporter and minister of the government of Quebec, leading to his positions as the founder of the Parti Quebecois and 23rd Premier of Quebec. He first became famous to Quebec by hosting the weekly news show called Point de Mire from 1956-1959. After becoming involved in the 1958 strike, he was arrested although was supported by his late rival Pierre Trudeau. Levesque was introduced to politics in 1960 when elected into the Legislative Assembly of Quebec as a Liberal Party member. Working as a Minister of hydroelectric resources and Natural resources under the government of Jean Lesage, and greatly expanded the Hydro-Quebec- one of the reforms that became part of the Quiet Revolution.

Once the Liberals lost in the 1966 election to the Union Nationale, Rene Levesque maintained his own seat and on October 14, 1967, he left the Liberal Party once members refused the idea of a sovereign Quebec, defeating his “Option Quebec” party policy paper which promoted separatist aims. Remaining an independent representative until the election in 1970, he left the Liberals to found the Movement for Sovereignty Association to help encourage the idea of independence for Quebec from the rest of the country, which would offer better conditions helping to resolve historic and economic distresses. This later merged with the Ralliement National, the most important independence group formed months after the 1960 election, to form the Parti Quebecois in 1968 with Levesque at the reins shaking Quebec politics. Levesque’s preposition completely opposed that of rivaling Trudeau, one promising to unite Canada, the other tearing it in two.

The new party opposed Trudeau’s Anglophone ways with a new option. Levesque with his background in journalism and reputation as a media personality, communicated clear and concisely, and with his academic and passionate nature was quite the force to be reckoned with. Attempting to remove Quebec from Confederation in a democratic fashion, Levesque and equally intellectual and emotional Pierre Trudeau dominated over the fight for Quebec’s future.

During the years after the October or FLQ Crisis, the Part Quebecois grew in popularity, receiving 30% popularity of the vote in the 1973 Quebec election. However, the Canadian electoral system of Single-member plurality, follows the idea that a party can win through finishing with more seats- not the percentage of the vote so with only 6 seats, this growing popularity remained unclear to the rest of Canada, and was quite the disappointment to the PQ and its followers. Levesque remained optimistic reminding voters, “This is a defeat that feels like a victory,” and later, in the November 15, 1976 provincial election, the PQ increased its popularity to 41% winning the election, and forming the new government with 71 seats over 26 for the Liberals, 11 for the Union Nationale, and 2 others. This stunning victory lead to Canadian fear of a potential separation of Canada, however Levesque decided only to use separation as a threat for bargaining with Ottawa as wished by many of his Quebec supporters. The PQ made promises to hold a referendum on the sovereignty-association, and to use power to insist on the use of French in Quebec.

The FLQ/ October Crisis
The FLQ (Front de libération du Québec- or Québec Liberation Front) was a terrorist group in Canada on the left side of the political spectrum accountable for more than 200 bombings and at least five deaths in 1970 during the October Crisis or FLQ Crisis. This group was founded in the early 1960s as major supporters of the Quebec sovereignty movement, which aimed at achieving independence of Quebec from Canada. The separatist movement claimed that with independence of a sovereign state, citizens would be better off economically, socially, and culturally to develop with a federal system of government different from that used in Canada, believing that this method can be reformed to satisfy the desire of Quebecers apart from Canada in all respects.

During the founding of the FLQ, Quebec’s “quiet revolution” took place where the government began an active role after the death of Premier Maurice Duplessis to resolve economic and social issues. FLQ members practiced a concept established towards the end of the 19th century, which endorsed terrorism against political enemies to help motivate the people and instigate revolution. The anarchist movement was looked at as a violent one, starting with the bombing of mail boxes but ending in numerous assassinations. The group called for a Marxist rebellion, in the mindset that Anglophones or English speaking people of Quebec were the tyrants, and that an overthrow of the Quebec government, independence from Canada, and the establishment of a French-Canadian workers’ society was needed.

On October 5, 1970, James Richard Cross, the British Trade Commissioner was kidnapped by the Liberation cell members of the FLQ while leaving for work. Shortly after on October 10th, Pierre Laporte, Vice-Premier of Quebec was kidnapped by the Chenier cell while coming from a meeting to discuss the FLQ demands. He was kidnapped immediately after denying these demands and it was left unknown how the FLQ received word of his decision so immediately.

Days after, FLQ leaders increased public support leading to a strike of students and teachers which resulting in the closing of the majority of French-languages high schools, universities, and colleges. On the 15th, over 3000 students attended a protest in favor of the FLQ giving reason for later government actions. On the 17th, callers announced over the radio that Pierre Laporte had been killed and offered directions to the whereabouts of his body. This message was delivered the day after the War Measures Act was invoked, and shortly after his body was found in the trunk of an abandoned car. For James Richard Cross’s release, they offered a list of demands which included: - The release of 23 "political prisoners" or members imprisoned to serve sentences for robbery, manslaughter, murder, and other crimes. - The 3 FLQ members out on bail during the kidnappings, would be allowed to leave Quebec if wanted. - All family members of "political prisoners" and those out on bail would be able to join them outside of Quebec. - $500,000 in gold - The broadcast and publication of the FLQ Manifesto - Making the names of police informants for terrorist activities public - Air transportation for kidnappers to Cuba or Algeria with lawyers present - The rehiring of about 450 postal workers laid off for their support of the FLQ - To end of all police searches relating to the case

They also set out a list of orders on how the following demands were to be met: - The prisoners would be taken to the airport and supplied with the FLQ Manifesto. They would be allowed to communicate with each other and familiarize themselves with the Manifesto. - There would be no harsh or brutal punishment. - They would be able to communicate with lawyers on whether or not to leave Quebec and lawyers would be taken back to the province afterward.

Once Rene Levesque was in power, the prepositions he set forth took far too long for the people of Quebec who wanted freedom from Canadian and British authority. Terrorist methods were being used as a way to implement and force social change; the statue of General Wolfe- a hero of the British Conquest was damaged, and large dominant English companies were main targets. With the October Crisis with kidnappings of prominent political figures, Quebecers sympathized towards the manifesto since many grievances they shared were included and would influence immediate action on the government’s part. Action was finally taken when Robert Bourassa, a politician in Quebec who served as Liberal Premier during 1970-1976, called on Trudeau for support from the Canadian Army, voicing that terrorist acts and threats have created a state of emergency in Quebec. After much hesitation, troops were brought in to protect potential targets like cabinet ministers and federal buildings.

On October 16th, the War Measures Act was put in place, giving the government the power to arrest or jail anyone suspected of associating with the FLQ. This Act had high disregard for individual rights, which was the reasoning behind Trudeau’s hesitation and delay of applying forceful tactics. After put in place, Trudeau would not back down and within hours, police raids swept the province ending with 465 arrested or detained suspects. 59 days passed before James Cross was rescued in which the kidnappers were granted their demands, being escorted by plane to Cuba where 4 members with there 3 family members resided for years before returning to Canada to face charges.

Pierre Trudeau refused to negotiate with the FLQ who he saw as “thugs and criminals” which raised the popularity of the federal government to an all time high of 87% of Canadians who agreed with the government’s form of action.

Bill 22 and 101: Quebec's Language Legislation
During Robert Bourassa’s time in power in 1974, he helped to implement policies to help protect the status of the French language in Quebec. This policy called Bill 22 became the first legislation created to toughen the position of French in Quebec. It made it the official language of public administration and restricted English-Language schooling since 90% of immigrants who were given a choice, sent the children to English schools. French was also encouraged in the workplace by forcing contracts with the government to be dependent on the use of French. To English speaking Quebecers, the bill was taken too far and when brought to Trudeau, was not disallowed even though he did not support the law. Bill 22 angered both Anglophones and Francophones, going too far for the English and not far enough for the French. For this, he was disliked by both groups and lost the 1976 election hugely.

This legislation was soon outdated by the Charter of the French Language, or Bill 101 introduced by the Parti Quebecois first proposed by Camille Laurin- the Minister of Cultural Development in 1976. It expanded on Bill 22 which defined the status of French in legislature, the courts, civil administration, public agencies, labor relations, commerce, business, and language of instruction. It stated: - The right for people to have all government branches, corporations, employee associations, and enterprises in Quebec communicate in French. - The right of people to speak French in planned assemblies. - The right of workers to perform activities in French. - The right of consumers to be educated and served in French. - The right of people requiring instruction to be taught in French.

Even though all children were forced to be taught in French, exceptions were made for the English speaking minority only permitted if strict limitations were met such as: - A parent was educated at an English school in Quebec - A parent had been educated in English outside Quebec but had lived in the province before August 1977 - The siblings of the child were attending English schools - If the parent was educated in English in another province, territory, or country, the child must attend a French school

This legislation was seriously enforced and disobedience was punishable by a fine of $25-$500 for an individual or $50-$1000 for a corporate body. Businesses that ignored this were responsible to pay $100-2000 a day. For example, a shipment of Dunkin’ Donuts was found to have English only packaging and as a punishment, the whole shipment was burned. Response to this Act was not positive, being looked at as authoritarian and a violation of individual rights. Up to 50,000 people left Quebec within 6 months and it was threatened that businesses that could not function in English would leave. In February, 1977, 100 head corporate jobs from the Royal Bank transferred to Toronto as well as many head offices.

Because it posed a threat to individual rights, the Bill faced challenges and the “Quebec clause” was struck down on July 26th 1984. This clause required at least on parent to have a primary education in English within Quebec in order for the child to attend an English-language school. The section that required signs to be only in French was struck down as well.

=**See Also**=

The Question of Quebec Powerpoint Question of Quebec: Language Legislation iMovie [|Pierre Trudeau] [|Rene Levesque] [|Front de libération du Québec] [|The October Crisis] [|The Official Languages Act (Quebec)] [|Parti Quebecois] [|War Measures Act] [|Robert Bourassa] [|Charter of the French Language: Bill 101]

=External Links=

[|Documents on the October Crisis] [|Chronology of the FLQ Crisis] [|Integral text of the Law] (French-English PDF document) [|Library of Parliament Political Biography of Pierre Trudeau] [|Three Strikes Agains Bill 101: CBC Archives] [|Separatism Gets A Leader: CBC Archives]

=**References**=

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