Transcript Quebec Separatism After 1970

In 1976, the Parti Quebecois (PQ) won an election and
became the provincial government of Quebec.
Their leader, Rene Levesque, was now Quebec’s
premier.
They had ONE major GOAL:
Separating Quebec from Canada!
The question was HOW???
Step 1
They began by strengthening the position of the French
language in Quebec:
The PQ passed a law called Bill 101 which made
French the only official language in Quebec.
Step 2
They began to organize a referendum on separation.
This was actually carried out 4 years later (1980)
During this referendum, Quebeckers were asked to
vote yes to giving Levesque the right to negotiate a
sovereignty-association agreement with Canada.
What is sovereignty-association?
Quebec wants to be politically independent
They make their own decisions about
everything.
But
Quebec’s economy is still connected to the Canadian
economy
They continue to benefit from trade with the rest
of Canada, the Canadian dollar...
How do you think the rest of Canada felt
about this? Why?
Build up to the referendum:
In the months prior to the referendum, many worried that
the yes side would win!
Result:
Trudeau takes action:
Promises Quebec that if the “no” side wins,
Canada will change
Promises to give Quebec a new constitution,
but he never explained what this constitution
would be like.
Result:
Only 40% of voters voted yes!
Why:
Most Quebeckers turned against the separatists in
the final days before the referendum because of
Trudeau’s promises
Fear of the unknown
Levesque and the FLQ accepted defeat but vowed
not to give up.
What do you think the consequences of a
yes vote would have been?
How would Canada and BC be different
today if the yes side had won the
referendum?