Quebec secession overview

The Québec separatist movement, or the movement for independence, gained momentum in the 1960s and became a hotly-contested issue in the following decades. On one side of the debate is Canada, a nation that would lose its largest province and 7.6 million residents who comprise a significant portion of its population and tax base. Canada would also lose Montreal, one of the country's top economic and cultural centers, as well as Québec City, smaller but especially rich in history. Québec secession would also divide Canada's Western provinces and the Eastern provinces with no thoroughfare to connect them.

For supporters of Québec secession, the decision would mean independence: the freedom to make their own political, economic, and cultural decisions. It would allow Québec to move forward under a set of principles that they believe sets them apart from the rest of the country. These include a strong French culture, with an emphasis on French language, as well as a sociopolitical stance between capitalism and socialism. Many Québécois define this stance as one that is based on peace, justice, equal rights, humanitarianism, and international cooperation.

The leaders of the sovereignty movement include the political parties Bloc Québécois (BQ), Parti Québécois (PQ), and Action Démocratique du Québec. Most of the followers are Québécois (Francophones), although they have gained the support of some English-speaking citizens (Anglophones), other foreigners, and members of the indigenous First Nations (Native American Aborigines), who live primarily in northern Québec.

The Parti Libéral du Québec (PLQ) leads the opposition to secession. Followers include the majority of Québec Anglophones, those who strongly support capitalism, and those Québécois who value a national Canadian identity and Anglo-Saxon social identity. Some Québécois support the principle of secession, but find the actual practice too risky.

Understanding the Discussion

Constitution Act of 1982: Also called the "Canada Act," this made Canada a sovereign state independent of British rule and amended the Constitution Act of 1867.

Charlottetown Accord: Proposed amendments to the Constitution Act of 1982 that included any changes to federal and provincial powers, as well as many social and cultural initiatives. The 1992 referendum failed. It was named after the capital of Prince Edward Island, where negotiations took place.

Meech Lake Accord: Proposed amendments to the Constitution Act of 1982 that would have brought Québec into sync with the act. Among the requirements imposed by Québec was the recognition of being "a distinct society." The accord would have provided Québec the authority to oversee its own immigration laws and the ability to veto constitutional changes. The agreement was signed by all provinces and was due to be ratified in 1990; however, Manitoba and Newfoundland pulled out of the agreement.

Nationalism: In general usage, "nationalism" refers to the devotion one has to his or her country or nation. In the case of Québec, the term refers to the "French Canadian nation," and the belief that the culture and goals of the province have priority over those of Canada.

Québec: Canada's largest province, Québec borders the provinces of Labrador on the east, New Brunswick on the south, and Ontario on the west, and has a total area of 1,667,926 square kilometers (643,989.83 square miles). The province's capital is Québec City, and its largest city is Montreal. About 82 percent of Québec's population is Francophone.

Secession: In political science, secession refers to the withdrawal of a state, province, or territory from a country so that it may become sovereign.

Sovereignty: The right of a state to exercise complete control over its own governmental affairs, independent of any former political affiliation.

History

In 1632, less than two dozen French-speaking people lived in New France, an area that stretched from the Atlantic Ocean westward to the Rockies and included much of the United States that was not under British rule. These original settlers were called "les Canadiens."

In 1759, the British captured New France during the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, the last battle of the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War), and named the region the Colony of Québec. At that time, the French Canadian population was about 70,000. Many French Canadians resented British rule, so to appease them, the British passed the Québec Act of 1774, which allowed the French Canadians to continue practicing Catholicism and gave them other cultural and civil rights.

As more British moved to Québec, the population was divided into French Canadians and Anglophones. The region settled by the French Canadians was called Lower Canada from 1791 until 1841, when, after consolidation of the Upper and Lower regions to form one Canada, it became known instead as Canada East. In 1867, Québec was one of four provinces that established the Canadian Confederation under the Constitution Act. The others were New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario (formerly Canada West).

As the country continued to develop, Québec remained primarily an agriculture-based, conservative province. Language barriers played a large role in the inability to grow economically at the same pace as the rest of the country, and resulted in discrimination. Alienation, frustration, and resentment were prevalent among French Canadians, although strong ties to French culture prevailed.

After World War II, an influx of Anglophones brought a diversity of languages and religions to the province, changing the sociopolitical mix. In 1960, the Parti Libéral du Québec (PLQ) came to power. Jean Lesage, the new premier, ushered in a period of immense change, known as "Quiet Revolution." During the next decade, the Catholic Church lost control of education when the new Ministry of Education implemented a public school system that included both English- and French-speaking schools. The administration also established a Ministry of Cultural Affairs and a Ministry of Family and Social Welfare, nationalized hydroelectric power, and strengthened the economy. The PLQ played a large role in the move toward a pluralistic society.

At the same time, many French Canadians felt their culture threatened. They formed groups that shared a sense of nationalism and the goal of sovereignty, although their political philosophies ranged from socialism to conservatism. In 1968, two of these organizations united to form the Parti Québécois (PQ). Led by René Lévesque, the PQ gained prominence throughout the early 1970s. During this period, Québec Francophones began to identify themselves as "Québécois." The increase in French Canadian nationalism led to Canada's passage of the Official Languages Act, which gave French equal status to English in all provinces.

In 1974, the Québec government declared French the province's official language, which impacted businesses significantly, but changed little in the educational system. The exception, a policy that made French language tests mandatory for entrance to English-speaking schools, did little to appease Francophones who promoted a French-only educational system, and angered many Anglophones. Members of both sides left the PLQ, which opened the door for PQ to win the election in 1976. The PQ immediately passed a tougher language bill that expanded the French requirement.

In 1980, the PQ offered Québec voters the first referendum on the issue of whether or not the province should negotiate secession. The measure failed, but over 40 percent voted "oui" (yes). In 1982, all provinces (except Québec) approved the "Constitution Act of 1982." The fact that a constitutional change could take place without Québec's signature left the province feeling powerless. Two subsequent major federal initiatives, the Meech Lake Accord and the Charlottetown Accord, both failed to get Québec's signature.

With tensions among Québécois at an all-time high, in 1995 the PQ put forth another referendum that asked directly for a vote on sovereignty. Over 49 percent voted in favor, and over 50 percent voted in opposition. The close vote reflected the intensity of the debate.

Québec Secession Today

Québec has not held another vote on the issue since 1995. Since then, two roadblocks were imposed. The first was set by the Supreme Court, which ruled in 1998 that Québec does not have the legal right to secede without the issue being voted on by all provinces. The second was enacted by the federal government in 2000, requiring new referendums to be worded clearly, in response to complaints that previous referendums were somewhat deceptive. The measure also requires Québec to pay its share of the national debt upon secession.

From 1997 to 2011, Gilles Duceppe led the Bloc Québécois (BQ), a federal party founded in 1990 after the dissolution of the Meech Lake Accord. The BQ's primary goal is to promote sovereignty. The party holds four out of a possible 308 seats in Canada's House of Commons, and no seats in the Senate. The BQ platform also includes support for same-sex marriage, sustainable development, and a provincial-regulated health care system.

As of 2012, the PLQ occupies fifty seats out of 125 in the Québec legislature. The PLQ does not support secession and is responsible for encouraging bilingual education in public schools and colleges. Many Québécois have come to accept both languages as being important to the province's heritage.

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Bibliography

Books

Blanchard, James J. Behind the Embassy Door: Canada, Clinton, and Quebec. Toronto: McClelland, 1998. Print.

Coleman, William D. The Independence Movement in Quebec, 1945–1980. Toronto: U of Toronto P, 1984. Print.

Dickinson, John, and Brian Young. A Short History of Quebec. 4th ed. Montreal: McGill-Queen's UP, 2008. Print.

Gougeon, Gilles. A History of Quebec Nationalism. Trans. Louisa Blair, Robert Chodos, and Jane Ubertino. Toronto: Lorimer, 1994. Print.

Handler, Richard. Nationalism and the Politics of Culture in Quebec. Madison: U of Wisconsin P, 1988. Print.

Rudin, Ronald. Making History in Twentieth-Century Quebec. Toronto: U of Toronto P, 1997. Print.

Periodicals

Ditchburn, Jennifer. "Quebec Poised to Become a Federal Election Issue." Toronto Star. Toronto Star Newspapers, 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/03/12/quebec%5Fpoised%5Fto%5Fbecome%5Ffederal%5Felection%5Fissue.html.

Lang, Eugene. "Did the 1995 Referendum Kill Quebec Separatism?" Toronto Star 13 Apr. 2014: n. pag. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=6FPTS2014041328643858&site=pov-live.

Mason, Christopher. "Quebec Liberals Are Re-elected, Avoiding Another Secession Vote." New York Times. New York Times, 27 Mar. 2007. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/27/world/americas/27quebec.html.

Patriquin, Martin, and Paul Wells. "The Epic Collapse of Separatism." Maclean's 21 Apr. 2014: 16–22. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=95520519&site=ehost-live.

Vieira, Paul. "Quebec Liberals Oust Separatist Government." Wall Street Journal. Dow, 8 Apr. 2014. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304554004579421142103435578.

Waller, Harold M. "A Challenge for Canadians." New Leader. Mar.–Apr. 2009: 14–15. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=56525266&site=ehost-live.

Websites and Digital Files

"Appetite for Sovereignty Remains Lukewarm in Quebec." Angus Reid Institute. Angus Reid Inst., 21 Nov. 2012. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. http://angusreid.org/appetite-for-sovereignty-remains-lukewarm-in-quebec/.

Beaudoin, Gerald A. "Reference re Secession of Quebec." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada, 13 Feb. 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec-secession-reference/.

Stein, Michael B. "Separatism." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada, 4 Mar. 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/separatism/.