Quiet Revolution Quebec & Canada 1950’s – 1990’s

La Grande Noirceur

The Great Darkness The Duplessis Years – The Duplessis Years – Union Nationale Union Nationale Dedeicated to preserving the importance of Quebec’s Roman Catholic faith and French language (often by shutting out the outside world) Dedeicated to preserving the importance of Quebec’s Roman Catholic faith and French language (often by shutting out the outside world) Refused federal programs that affected Quebec life Refused federal programs that affected Quebec life Refused federal grants for health care and education because he saw them as threats to traditional Quebec Society Refused federal grants for health care and education because he saw them as threats to traditional Quebec Society

Duplessis’ Policies Encouraged English-speaking business people, especially Americans, to establish industries in Quebec – tax breaks & special privileges Encouraged English-speaking business people, especially Americans, to establish industries in Quebec – tax breaks & special privileges Built hydro-electric dams and factories Built hydro-electric dams and factories 500,000 rural Quebecers moved from farms to work in factories 500,000 rural Quebecers moved from farms to work in factories Most were poorly paid and had to work hard just to make ends meet. Most were poorly paid and had to work hard just to make ends meet.

Duplessis & Labour Discouraged unions Discouraged unions Usually took side of business owners over workers Usually took side of business owners over workers Asbestos strike in 1949 – ordered provincial police to break up picket lines and arrest strike leaders Asbestos strike in 1949 – ordered provincial police to break up picket lines and arrest strike leaders

Need for change Quebecers want change Quebecers want change Saw policies as old fashioned and restrictive Saw policies as old fashioned and restrictive Quebec becoming very secular Quebec becoming very secular More urban More urban Young intellectuals agitated for change Young intellectuals agitated for change PET – Cite Libre PET – Cite Libre

The Quiet Revolution 1960 – Quebec Liberals won a narrow victory in provincial election (Duplessis had died and UN was in disarray) 1960 – Quebec Liberals won a narrow victory in provincial election (Duplessis had died and UN was in disarray) Jean Lesage was new Premier Jean Lesage was new Premier

“Il faut que ce change!”

Lesage’s changes Professional civil service (formally lots of patronage) Professional civil service (formally lots of patronage) Modernized outdated educational system (formally run by RC Church) Modernized outdated educational system (formally run by RC Church) Improved transportation systems Improved transportation systems

La Revolution Tranquille Wanted a new, equal relationship with Canada recognized as one of the nation’s two founding peoples Wanted a new, equal relationship with Canada recognized as one of the nation’s two founding peoples Pressed federal government for “special status” for Quebec – felt Quebec needed more provincial powers to protect its language and culture Pressed federal government for “special status” for Quebec – felt Quebec needed more provincial powers to protect its language and culture Wanted federal money for programs that they Quebec would run instead of Ottawa Wanted federal money for programs that they Quebec would run instead of Ottawa

World’s stage 1967 – Canada’s Centennial celebrations 1967 – Expo ’67 in Montreal 1976 – XXI Olympic Summer Games

Charles de Gaulle New&feature=related New&feature=related New&feature=related New&feature=related

Old Institutions Church Church Intellectuals Intellectuals English Business and money English Business and money

1968 Watershed Election of Pierre Elliot Trudeau Election of Pierre Elliot Trudeau Trudeaumania Trudeaumania “Just Society” “Just Society” Canadians like 'young' new PM - CBC Archives Canadians like 'young' new PM - CBC Archives Canadians like 'young' new PM - CBC Archives Canadians like 'young' new PM - CBC Archives Trudeaumania - CBC Archives Trudeaumania - CBC Archives Trudeaumania - CBC Archives Trudeaumania - CBC Archives

FLQ Crisis James Cross James Cross Pierre Laporte Pierre Laporte War Measures Act War Measures Act Cells Cells Montreal Police Montreal Police “Just Watch Me” “Just Watch Me”

1976 Provincial Election Rene Levesque and Parti Quebecois win a majority and make a promise to hold a referendum on Sovereignty- Association Rene Levesque and Parti Quebecois win a majority and make a promise to hold a referendum on Sovereignty- Association

1979 Federal Election Trudeau Loses power to Conservatives Trudeau Loses power to Conservatives Joe Clark is PM – Minority government Joe Clark is PM – Minority government His government lasts only a few months before it is defeated in the House of Commons (May 1979 – February 1980) His government lasts only a few months before it is defeated in the House of Commons (May 1979 – February 1980)

Official Languages Act Canada was officially bilingual Canada was officially bilingual Growth of French Immersion in provinces – encouraged students to study French Growth of French Immersion in provinces – encouraged students to study French

Welcome to the 1980’s Trudeau’s back Trudeau’s back Fights and wins the 1980 Federal election (majority) and then goes on to fight the referendum in Quebec Fights and wins the 1980 Federal election (majority) and then goes on to fight the referendum in Quebec

1980 Referendum Question "The Government of Quebec has made public its proposal to negotiate a new agreement with the rest of Canada, based on the equality of nations; this agreement would enable Quebec to acquire the exclusive power to make its laws, levy its taxes and establish relations abroad — in other words, sovereignty — and at the same time to maintain with Canada an economic association including a common currency; any change in political status resulting from these negotiations will only be implemented with popular approval through another referendum; on these terms, do you give the Government of Quebec the mandate to negotiate the proposed agreement between Quebec and Canada?" "The Government of Quebec has made public its proposal to negotiate a new agreement with the rest of Canada, based on the equality of nations; this agreement would enable Quebec to acquire the exclusive power to make its laws, levy its taxes and establish relations abroad — in other words, sovereignty — and at the same time to maintain with Canada an economic association including a common currency; any change in political status resulting from these negotiations will only be implemented with popular approval through another referendum; on these terms, do you give the Government of Quebec the mandate to negotiate the proposed agreement between Quebec and Canada?"

Referendum results 60% voted against the resolution 60% voted against the resolution Rene Levesque promises to fight again Rene Levesque promises to fight again Trudeau promises to make Canada an independent nation with Quebec as an equal partner Trudeau promises to make Canada an independent nation with Quebec as an equal partner

Constitutional Negotiations – – Gang of 8 Gang of 8 Group of 3 Group of 3 Supreme Court Reference – Amending Formulae Supreme Court Reference – Amending Formulae Issue: Parliamentary Supremacy vs. Individual Rights Issue: Parliamentary Supremacy vs. Individual Rights

Night of the Long Knives Trudeau threatens a national Referendum Trudeau threatens a national Referendum Gang of 8 folds Gang of 8 folds Compromise: Section 33 Compromise: Section (1) Parliament or the legislature of a province may expressly declare in an Act of Parliament or of the legislature, as the case may be, that the Act or a provision thereof shall operate notwithstanding a provision included in section 2 or sections 7 to 15 of this Charter. 33. (1) Parliament or the legislature of a province may expressly declare in an Act of Parliament or of the legislature, as the case may be, that the Act or a provision thereof shall operate notwithstanding a provision included in section 2 or sections 7 to 15 of this Charter.

Provincial Premiers fall in line Except Levesque….. Except Levesque….. Quebec does not sign Quebec does not sign Trudeau ensures 3 signatures on Royal Proclamation are Quebecers Trudeau ensures 3 signatures on Royal Proclamation are Quebecers

1984 Trudeau takes a walk in the snow Trudeau takes a walk in the snow Brian Mulroney wins largest majority in Canadian history Brian Mulroney wins largest majority in Canadian history Promises “National Reconciliation” Promises “National Reconciliation”

1985 Robert Bourassa elected Premier of Quebec….again Robert Bourassa elected Premier of Quebec….again Lowell Murray et al visited provinces Lowell Murray et al visited provinces 5 demands 5 demands

Quebec’s 5 Demands recognition of the province of Quebec as a "distinct society" recognition of the province of Quebec as a "distinct society"distinct societydistinct society a constitutional veto for Quebec a constitutional veto for Quebec increased provincial powers with respect to immigration increased provincial powers with respect to immigration reasonable financial compensation to opt out of any future federal programs reasonable financial compensation to opt out of any future federal programsopt outopt out 3 Supreme Court judges from Quebec 3 Supreme Court judges from Quebec

Meech Lake Accord Granted Quebec’s 5 demands Granted Quebec’s 5 demands Gave much the same deal to all provinces Gave much the same deal to all provinces 3 years to ratify from June 30, years to ratify from June 30, 1987 NB’s Hatfield holds off ratification vote until after election NB’s Hatfield holds off ratification vote until after election

Concerns Distinct Society Distinct Society Old Boys Club/Behind Closed Doors process Old Boys Club/Behind Closed Doors process Trudeau back again Trudeau back again “…With a bang, not a whimper” “…With a bang, not a whimper”

June 1990 Accord Collapses Accord Collapses Bloc Quebecois formed Bloc Quebecois formed Oka Crisis Oka Crisis Canada about to go to war in Persian Gulf Canada about to go to war in Persian Gulf PM Mulroney very unpopular PM Mulroney very unpopular

Spicer Commission Proposals from all Canadians Proposals from all Canadians Joe Clark Joe Clark Charlottown Accord 1992 Charlottown Accord 1992 National Referendum – defeated by Canadians National Referendum – defeated by Canadians

1993 Mulroney gone Mulroney gone Kim Campbell there for a while Kim Campbell there for a while Rise of Jean Chrétien Rise of Jean Chrétien

1995 Referendum Jacques Parrizeau Jacques Parrizeau 50.6% % 50.6% % “…money and the ethnic vote.” “…money and the ethnic vote.”

Supreme Court Reference Federalism Federalism Democracy Democracy Constitutionalism & the Rule of Law Constitutionalism & the Rule of Law Accommodation of minorities Accommodation of minorities Clear majority on a clear question Clear majority on a clear question Clarity Act Clarity Act