1. French-English Relations in Canada:
One Nation or Two?

2. Early Years…
French-Canadians can trace their roots on this continent back over years.
Their culture stems from the period when New France was a French colony.
They lost most contact with France after Quebec fell to Britain in 1759.
Today, almost 9 million people call Quebec home.

3. La Survivance
After becoming a British colony in the late 1700s, the major concern for many French-Canadians was the survival of French language, religion, culture and identity.
Many felt that they were treated as 2nd-class citizens by the dominant English- Speaking majority.

5. Conscription Crisis
At the outset of WWI – tremendous disagreement between English and French Canada on what role Canada should play in conflict. French Canadians did not think we should get involved in a European/British war
Most English-Canadians still felt strong loyalty to Britain and wanted to lend support
Conscription Crisis of WWI When PM Borden introduced Military Service Act of 1917 – introduced conscription and divided Canada along language lines

6. Henri Bourassa
Henri Bourassa, the Premier of Quebec, appealed to Quebecois by saying that the war involved no Canadian interests, and therefore Canadians should not be involved. Québec City Riot (1918) protested conscription, led to 4 deaths
Bourassa promoted Francophone interests in Canada and was opposed to conscription in Both World War One and Two.
He fought for French language rights in schools and was active in the Bloc Populaire, an anti-conscription party established during WWII

7. By the 20th century, during the 1940s/50s, politics in Quebec were dominated by MAURICE DUPLESSIS and UNION NATIONALE.
Duplessis ruled Quebec with an iron fist and discouraged any opposition.
Although he did create a sense of NATIONALISM (Pride) in Quebec, his policies had the effect of keeping most French-Canadians down. Ie. Most French- Canadians worked in low-paying blue collar jobs and had a lower standard of living than English-Canadians.
Duplessis died in 1959 and a year later, the Liberals took power under the leadership of JEAN LESAGE, thus beginning an era known as the QUIET REVOLUTION in Quebec.
Maurice Duplessis giving a speech in Quebec.

8. In 1959, the Liberals come into power in Quebec ushering in an era of change knows as the Quiet Revolution.

9. The Rocket Richard Riots
Maurice “The Rocket” Richard, a Canadiens star in the ’s was more than a hockey player; he was a French Canadian icon. His successes were successes for French Canadians, and the Quebecois followed his every move. It was the suspension of Richard after a questionable call in that would alter Canadian history forever, and begin Quebec’s Quiet Revolution
As the star of the Canadiens, Maurice Richard was the object of many harsh plays from opposing players. French Canadians saw attacks on Richard as attacks on themselves as a people and a culture, and struggled to wrest respect and power away from English Canadians in the political arena.
The final straw was the suspension of Richard by Commissioner Clarence Campbell after a questionable hit. Montrealers saw the suspension as unjust and severe, but on a deeper level they believed the suspension was no more than an Anglo-Canadian exerting power over a French Canadian.

10. During Richard’s first game of the suspension, a riot broke out at the arena in protest of Campbell’s attendance at the game. A teargas bomb was detonated inside, sending fans outside to riot on the streets of Montreal.
The riot allowed French Canadians to finally come out and express their frustration as the forgotten people of Canada. They saw Richard’s suspension as an intrusion of their rights and saw the opportunity to show cultural pride and power.
Clarence Campbell being attacked by angry Hab’s fans.

11. The Quiet Revolution
A new generation of Quebecers wanted more than just survival. They demanded equality.
The Quiet Revolution was intended to MODERNIZE Quebec and promote the French language and culture.
Vast natural resource projects led to economic expansion.
The province took a fresh look at education and social policies.
Its goal was to make French-Canadians, now called QUEBECOIS the “Maitres Chez Nous” or “MASTERS OF THEIR OWN HOUSE”
At this time grew increasing support for the idea of SEPARATION

12. The Hockey Sweater
The Hockey Sweater (Le chandail de hockey in the original French) is a short story by Canadian author Roch Carrier. It was originally published in under the title "Une abominable feuille d'érable sur la glace" ("An abominable maple leaf on the ice").
The story is based on a real experience Carrier had as a child in Sainte-Justine, Quebec in as a fan of the Montreal Canadiens hockey team and its star player, Maurice Richard. Carrier and his friends all wear Canadiens' sweaters with Richard's number 9 on the back. When his mother orders a new sweater after the old one has worn out, he is mistakenly sent a sweater of Montreal's bitter rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs, instead. Carrier faces the persecution of his peers and his coach prevents him from playing.
The Hockey Sweater is Carrier's most famous work and is considered an iconic piece of Canadian literature. It exemplifies the nation's passion for hockey, and while it is often considered an allegory of the relationship and tensions that exist between Francophones and Anglophones.

13. The FLQ
In 1963, a French-Canadian nationalist group called the FRONT DE LIBERATION DU QUEBEC (FLQ) was created whose goal was to achieve the separation of Quebec from the rest of Canada, BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
The group promptly began to launch a campaign of TERROR across the province
They planted bombs in mailboxes of English sections of Montreal and attacked government buildings.

14. The Parti Quebecois
In 1966, a politician from Quebec named RENE LEVESQUE created the PARTI QUEBECOIS (PQ)
Like the FLQ, the PQ promoted the idea of Separation, but through peaceful, legal means.
In 1968, PIERRE TRUDEAU was elected as Prime Minister of Canada and he makes Quebec a top priority and fought to undermine the Separatist Movement.

16. Bilingualism
During the Quiet Revolution, Quebec demanded equal treatment in Canadian Affairs.
Trudeau didn’t believe in special status for Quebec.
His answer was to make Canada an official BILINGUAL NATION through the OFFICIAL LANGUAGE ACT OF 1969.
His attempt to appease Quebecers failed though.

17. The October Crisis In 1970, the FLQ continued its campaign of terror.
It had already killed several people and now turned to kidnapping.
A British official named JAMES CROSS and a member of the Quebec government named PIERRE LAPORTE, were kidnapped and held for ransom.
LAPORTE was killed and stuffed into the trunk of a car.
A few days later, PM TRUDEAU declared the WAR MEASURES ACT and suspended people’s civil rights.
The province of Quebec was turned into a police state and people could be arrested without due process.
The crisis ended a few months later but Trudeau’s decision was very controversial and many saw War Measures Act as being excessive.

19. (Above) The lifeless body of Deputy Premiere, Pierre Laporte after being kidnapped and assassinated and then stuffed into the trunk of a car by the FLQ. (Right) James Cross, a British diplomat, shown bound and as a captive of the terrorist group. He was eventually released unharmed.

21. Quebec’s French Language Laws
Bill 63 (Introduced in 1969)
Stated that all parents have the right to choose the school and the language of instruction for their children.
Bill 22 (introduced in 1974)
Established French as the Official Language of Quebec.
Forced French as the primary language of government and business (writing contracts, addressing customers, advertising)
A student could go to an English school only if they could pass a test showing they already had knowledge of English.

22. Bill 101 (Introduced in 1977)
The Partis Quebecois was not satisfied with Trudeau’s Official Language Act and passes the CHARTER OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE (BILL 101) in 1977.
The new law puts strong restrictions on the use of English Language in the province.
French becomes the only language to be used in courts, government offices and businesses.
Limited access to English Schools and many are denied the right to an English education.
To enforce the new law, the PQ created the “Language Police”
Many English speakers and businesses leave Quebec

23. 1980 Referendum By the late 1970s, the Separatist movement had grown.
It was declared that Referendum would soon be declared on the issue of Quebec’s separation.
The people of Quebec would be asked whether or not their province should negotiate a new relationship with Canada – “Sovereignty Association”
The final results were that 60% of Quebecers voted AGAINST Separation and was a major setback for the separatist movement.

24. 1982 Constitutional Crisis
Trudeau made attempts to “repatriate” (bring home) the BNA Act which was under the jurisdiction of Britain.
These all failed because provinces could not agree on the rules of the New Constitution.
During a meeting (in which all the Premiers attended) in Ottawa, nine premiers (not Levesque) made a compromise and the constitutional package was signed (which includes the new Constitution and a Charter of Rights and Freedoms)
Quebec felt like it had been back stabbed by the rest of Canada.
Quebec had been holding out in hopes that new constitution would help solve some French/English issues.

25. The Meech Lake Accord
ROBERT BOURASSA became the Liberal premier in and promised to work more closely with the federal government if Quebec’s rights were protected and it be recognized as a “DISTINCT SOCIETY”
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney negotiated the MEECH LAKE ACCORD to recognize Quebec’s distinctive conditions.
If the MEECH LAKE ACCORD was passed by all provinces, it would return Quebec to full participation in Canada.
There was resistance though in getting the support of all the other provinces and particularly Native groups.
Also, the language rights of English Canadians in Quebec remained an issue.
The Accord was defeated and did not pass.

26. Lucien Bouchard and the formation of the Bloc Quebecois
In 1990, Lucien Bouchard leaves Mulroney’s Federal conservative party after the failure of the Meech Lake Accord, and forms the Bloc Quebecois.
Support for Quebec separatism gains more support in the province.
The Bloc is a federal party made up of representatives only from the province of Quebec whose mandate is to represent Quebec’s interests in Ottawa.

27. Jacques Parizeau and the resurgence of the Parti Quebecois
In 1994, the province of Quebec elects the Parti Quebecois to a majority government.
The party’s leader and premier of the province, Jacques Parizeau, a committed separatist, promises to hold a referendum within a year.
The “Yes” side in favour of Quebec separation gains in popularity once again and support for Parizeau’s campaign grows throughout the province.

28. 1995 Referendum
In 1995 another referendum was declared. This time PQ leader JACQUES PARIZEAU felt that strongly that Quebec would vote in favour of Separation.
A major source of controversy was the wording on the ballot – it was very confusing and many people did not understand what it was actually asking.
In the end, 49.5% of voters answered that they were in favour of separating – it was extremely close!

30. French-English Relations today
Sovereigntist sentiment in Quebec is currently in decline but the core problems remain unsolved.
Quebeckers and many Canadians conceive of their country differently. 
Many Canadians believe that all provinces and territories are equal while many Quebecois feel that Quebec is distinct and therefore requires special treatment.
Demographic changes in Quebec - most immigrants do not support sovereignty.
Evidence that many Quebeckers have grown tired of the debate over sovereignty.
Bloc Quebecois’ support is in decline having been crushed in the elections.
Support for the PQ is also declining, many prominent members have recently left the party.