Secessionist movements of Canada
Secessionist movements in Canada refer to efforts by various regions and groups to gain independence from the Canadian federation. These movements often arise in nations with diverse populations and colonial histories, such as Canada, which was shaped by British and French colonization. The most prominent secessionist sentiment is found in Quebec, where many French-speaking citizens feel that their cultural heritage is threatened by the dominance of English-speaking populations. The movement gained significant traction in the 1960s with the formation of political parties like the Parti Québécois (PQ) and more radical groups such as the Front de liberation du Quebec (FLQ). Historically, secessionist sentiments have also appeared in provinces like Nova Scotia, Alberta, and British Columbia, particularly during the 1980s with a push for Western Canadian separatism.
Despite past referendums in 1980 and 1995, which sought to establish Quebec's independence, both efforts ultimately failed to secure the necessary support. Today, Quebec remains divided on the issue, with "sovereigntists" advocating for independence and "federalists" supporting continued association with Canada. Additionally, the stance of indigenous groups, particularly Inuits, complicates the discourse surrounding Quebec's potential secession. As of 2015, support for independence has waned, particularly among younger Quebecois, raising questions about the future viability of these movements and the potential implications of secession for all Canadians.
Secessionist movements of Canada
Many different regions and groups of people under Canadian rule have worked to secede, or to gain independence, from Canada. Secessionist movements often occur in countries with diverse populations that were colonized by an imperial power. Canada, colonized by the British and French governments starting in the fifteenth century, is home to French and English speaking populations, as well as to indigenous and various immigrant groups. It is made up of ten provinces—Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan—and three territories, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon. While the best-known secessionist movement is active in Quebec, other movements have historically gained support in Nova Scotia, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
Brief History
One of the earliest secessionist movements in Canada began in the English-speaking province of Nova Scotia in 1867. This was in response to the confederation of Canada, when different colonies that were once governed by France united under a new federal government. Joseph Howe, a Nova Scotian politician, grew concerned that the constitution of the colony of Nova Scotia, which had given the colony a level of independence, would be overthrown during the confederation of Canada. He created a political party called the Anti-Confederation Party in order to stop the incorporation of Nova Scotia into the Canadian Federation. This, however, did not work, and Nova Scotia became a province of Canada. Other former colonies also protested against uniting under the Canadian Federation, including regions of Ontario.
The most well-known secessionist movement in Canada, however, is in the province of Quebec. The province of Quebec has long had a tense relationship with other provinces in Canada because of its unique culture and the fact that the majority of people from Quebec speak French. The Québécois, as they are known, have expressed fears that their unique culture, heritage, and language are being overtaken by the Anglophone and British-influenced culture of other Canadian provinces. These tensions began even before the confederation of Canada and have lasted well into the twenty-first century.
After the confederation of Canada, secessionist movements in Quebec did not gain much ground until the 1960s. In 1960, the Rassemblement pour l’indépendance nationale (RIN), a political party dedicated to Quebec independence, was formed. Other parties, such as the Front de liberation du Quebec (FLQ) soon followed. The FLQ, in particular, was a paramilitary organization that used violent means to achieve Quebec independence. In 1967, this group planted a bomb at the Montreal Stock Exchange that injured twenty-seven people. In 1970, the FLQ orchestrated what became known as the October Crisis, in which a local Québécois politician named Pierre Laporte was kidnapped and killed.
In 1968, an influential politician named René Lévesque formed the Parti Québécois (PQ). This party gained political support during the 1970s and 1980s. However, a referendum in 1980 that would have granted Quebec independence from Canada failed to get the votes needed to pass. Another referendum in 1995 nearly passed with 49 percent of Quebec’s population voting for independence.
Other secessionist movements in English-speaking Canada began during the 1980s. Western Canadian separatism, as it is known, gained support in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan and led to the creation of the Western Canada Concept Party. This party’s aim was to create one nation from these four Western Canadian provinces apart from Canada. They argued that Western Canada was largely excluded from political affairs in favor of the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. However, Western Canadian separatism failed to gain a large base of popular support despite the creation of many provincial independence groups.
Overview
While there have been many secessionist movements in Canada, the largest movement continues to be for Quebec’s independence. Many French-speaking Canadian citizens feel that they are not well represented by Canada’s large government. They feel that the province of Quebec should become independent from Canada because its population has a unique heritage. Some Québécois also believe that they face unique challenges that Canadians from other provinces might not understand. Most Québécois speak French and the province is largely Catholic. Most other provinces in Canada have an English-speaking and Protestant population.
Since the second referendum for Quebec’s independence failed in 1995, there has been little resolution in the movement for secession. In 2012, Pauline Marois, the leader of the Parti Québécois, became the premier, or the head of government, of Quebec. She held this position for less than two years. In 2014, her party was voted out of office.
Quebec is still divided between those who are for Quebec’s independence from Canada, and those who are against it. Those people who are for Quebec’s independence are called "sovereigntists." Those who are against Quebec’s independence are called "federalists." Federalists make up approximately 40 percent of Quebec’s population. Some Quebecois come from English-speaking families and are against Quebec’s independence if it is based on French cultural heritage. Many Inuits, the indigenous people of Canada, are against Quebec’s secession from Canada if they are to lose their right to govern themselves as a result.
The push for Quebec’s sovereignty weakened during the 2015 Canadian elections. Along with the Parti Québécois, another political party for Quebec’s secession is the Bloc Québécois (BQ). The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party, while the Parti Québécois is a provincial, or local, political party. This means that the Bloc, as it is known, operates in Canada’s federal government, while the Parti only operates in local politics and elections. Both of these political parties lost large numbers of votes during the 2015 elections. According to a 2014 CROP survey, 69 percent of Quebecois aged eighteen to twenty-four were against Quebec’s secession from Canada. Support for the Parti Québécois dropped over 10 percent from 2008 to 2014.
However, history has shown that the popularity of Canada’s secessionist movements waxes and wanes. Support for Quebec’s independence from Canada may eventually depend on questions that as yet remain unanswered. Would residents of Quebec be able to travel freely into Canada, or would there be a controlled border? Would Quebec use the same money as Canada? What diplomatic relations would be established between an independent Quebec and Canada? These questions would need to be addressed if and when Canada’s secessionist movements are ever to succeed.
Bibliography
Anastakis, Dimitry. Death in the Peaceful Kingdom: Canadian History Since 1867 Through Murder, Execution, Assassination, and Suicide. Toronto: Toronto UP, 2015. Print.
Dion, Stephane. "Why is Secession Difficult in Well-Established Democracies? Lessons from Quebec." British Journal of Political Science. 26.2 (April 1996): 269–283. Print.
Greer, Allan. The People of New France. Toronto: U of Toronto P, 2009. Print.
Haddow, Rodney. Comparing Quebec and Ontario: Political Economy and Public Policy at the Turn of the Millennium. Toronto: U of Toronto P, 2015. Print.
Harris, Cole. The Reluctant Land: Society, Space, and Environment in Canada Before Confederation. Vancouver: U of British Columbia P, 2009. Print.
Hébert, Chantal. The Morning After: The 1995 Quebec Referendum and the Day that Almost Was. Toronto: Knopf Canada, 2014. Print.
Lacoursiere, Jacques and Robin Philpot. A People’s History of Quebec. Quebec: Baraka Books, 2009. Print.
Lluch, Jaime. Visions of Sovereignty: Nationalism and Accommodation in Multinational Democracies. Philadelphia: U of Pennsylvania P, 2014. Print.