1. Manitoba School Question Allyson, Sophia, Maillie, Shailan

2. The MSQ was a political crisis involving minority school rights. Focused on the changes of the Roman Catholic Schools and the French language. Those who attended Roman Catholic Schools had to go to the Public Schools. French language no longer served as an official language of Manitoba.

3. The Manitoba government had lost funding in 1890 and decided that English-speaking school programs were more important due to the majority of Anglophones in Manitoba. The legislation had then decided to run schools in English and removed any bilingualism of the Manitoba Act. Manitoba’s French population felt their language and culture where being threatened It divided the French and English and created tension between Catholics and non-Catholics

4. A major discussion based on the MSQ was during the federal election of 1896, where the MSQ was one of the main topics. The Federal election took place in a legislative building located in Ontario, Canada. The Manitoba government was the first to decide the abolishment of French catholic schools. Meaning that discussions were also held in Manitoba.

5. Manitobans Charles Tupper (current prime minister at the time) - proposed a Remedial Bill to restore the French Catholic school board but was restricted by a group of extreme Protestants led by Dalton McCarthy. - Charles Tupper abandoned the Remedial Bill and asked for dissolution. - Charles had argued that the main issue of the election was the future of the Canadian industry. - The conservatives were so bitterly divided over the MSQ that every time Charles talked, he was faced with a large amount of criticism. - Charles Tupper was then replaced by Wilfred Laurier in the 1896 election. Dalton McCarthy - Major supporter in having English only in legislatures, courts, and schools in Western Canada. - Dalton also created an alliance with Wilfred Laurier’s liberal party. Wilfred Laurier - made a compromise that Roman Catholic instruction would be provided at the end of the day, and instruction in the French language was provided for classes with more than 10 French students. - Majority of Manitobans agreed to proposal causing him to win the election.

6. Lasted throughout 1890-1897 In 1870 Manitoba had two funded school systems, the French Roman Catholic and the English protestant school board. 1870s – 1880s the proportion of Manitoba catholic and French to the total of Manitoba population fell dramatically MSQ first came up in 1889. In 1890 they eliminated the two school systems and replaced it with an English- speaking public school system By the 19 th century, the French Language was no longer an official language in Manitoba. (Current) Important key dates for MSQ 1979 – French language classes were instituted in Manitoba. 1983(1980s) – The new basic French policy for education provided for an annual requirement of 120 hours until six and nine year core French programs 1993 – A French language Provincial School Board was established – “Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine”.

7. The government had lost funds and had to combine the English and the French catholic schools. Manitoba was the first western province to join confederation and the first to establish a university. It influenced other western provinces to establish universities. Manitoba has programs and schools where you can study English or French as an Additional Language. They help gain the fluency needed for work, study or personal communication.

8. Longest reaching, most complicated crisis involving minority school rights. Spread to national level. Became one of key topics in federal election of 1896. Caused defeat to conservative government. Conservatives in Quebec and Ontario were divided. Quebec felt offended of the elimination of French in western Canada. In modern Quebec, MSQ is seen as Canada’s most significant loss of French and Catholic rights outside of Quebec. Also affected Northwest Territories. Two years after the MSQ had begun(1892), Northwest Territories no longer considered French as an official language.

9. French found it unfair how they removed teaching of their language and cultural values in schools. Sent angry letters and petitions to provincial government. Took provincial government to court going against the authority of the Manitoba School Act Wilfred Laurier took advantage of the division between the Conservatives. Laurier (French Catholic) had made the compromise in which had the French and majority of Manitoba satisfied. Strengthened French Canadian nationalism in Quebec.