Trudeau and Québec

Ms. CampbellSocials 11

Trudeau & Québec

•Pierre Trudeau succeeded Pearson as Prime Minister in 1968• Believed Quebec’s future lay with Canada

•Acted on the “Bi and Bi Commission”•Official Languages Act Canada became

bilingual and all federal agencies would now provide service in both official languages

•Many Canadians embraced bilingualism, but:•Western provinces resented having French

forced upon them and felt ignored by Ottawa•Quebec thought Trudeau wasn’t doing enough

Quebec is a province just like

any other – no “special

status” required

The October Crisis

• October 5: The FLQ kidnapped British diplomat James Cross from his home

• For his release the FLQ wanted FLQ members released from prison• Federal and Quebec authorities refused

• October 10: The FLQ kidnapped Quebec Labour Minister Pierre Laporte• Trudeau is worried things in Quebec will

get out of control and decides to take drastic measures by asking parliament to impose…

1970

The War Measures Act

• Trudeau believed Quebec was on the verge of a violent revolution

• The War Measures Act had only been used during the two world wars• Civil rights would be suspended• Anyone could be arrested and detained

without being charged with an offence

• Membership in the FLQ became a crime• October 16: hundreds of pro-separatist

Quebeckers arrested without charge

“How far will you go to defeat the FLQ?”

“Just watch me”

October 17, 1970• Pierre Laporte’s body was

discovered in the trunk of a car• He had been strangled with his rosary

beads

The October Crisis

• Canadians were horrified and pressured the police to crackdown on the FLQ

• Two months later the group holding James Cross was tracked to a Montreal house• In return for his safe release, the kidnappers

were permitted safe passage to Cuba for political asylum

• The 450 people detained under the War Measures Act were released and the October Crisis was over only 25 charged

BRAIN BREAK!

Parti Québécois in Power

• 1976 Québec voters elected the PQ• A stunning victory for Lévesque (who had

only won 7 of 110 seats in 1970)

• In 1976, Lévesque reassured voters that a vote for the PQ didn’t mean automatic separation from Canada a referendum!

Stronger status for the French Language

was the top priority of

the PQ

This is the FIRST time Quebec had voted in a party dedicated to the ultimate goal of separating from

Canada!

Bill 101: “The Charter of the

French Language”• French became the only official language

in Quebec• Government employees had to work in

French• Commercial outdoor signs had to be in

French• Children of immigrants would go to French

speaking schools

• Bill 101 divided Francophone and non-Francophone Quebeckers

• Many outside of Quebec believed the PQ was too extreme

1980 Referendum• YES vote: PQ

would negotiate a new agreement with Canada

• Sovereignty-Association

• Politically Independent

• Economically tied

• NO vote: Trudeau would negotiate a new constitution

•Equal Partner

•Distinct Society

YES: 40%NO: 60%

Patriating the Constitution

• British North America Act (BNA) had been Canada’s Constitution since 1867 no changes could be made without the approval of the British Parliament

• Trudeau announced a plan to patriate (bring home to Canada) the Constitution and create a Charter of Rights and Freedoms

• An amending formula was needed• How many provinces had to agree before a

change could be made? Could Quebec veto?

Provincial Opposition

• All provinces wanted more influence The west thought they might finally get a say in affairs that affected them

• Provincial premiers feared the Charter would make the courts more powerful than their legislatures

• Lévesque feared the Charter would override legislation to protect Quebec’s distinct society

Kitchen Compromise:

November 4, 1981• Finally the National Justice Minister (Jean Chrétien) hammered out the “Kitchen Compromise” with the Justice Ministers from Saskatchewan and Ontario

• Nine of ten provincial premiers were awakened to approve the deal

Kitchen Compromise

• Premiers agree to accept Charter if an “escape clause” was added• The “notwithstanding clause” allowed

for opting out

• An amending formula was also reached• 7/10 provinces representing 50% of

Canada’s population

Exclusion of Québec• Réné Lévesque was staying at a

different hotel and was not included he was furious

• Trudeau chose to accept the agreement• Quebec felt betrayed

• Québec refused to sign Constitution• Trudeau went ahead without Quebec• April 17, 1982 the new Constitution Act

was signed by Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Trudeau

Independence• Canada became a completely

independent nation at last

• Cracks in national unity were revealed• Flags in Quebec flew at half mast• The rest of Canada celebrated

DebateShould Quebec Become an Independent

Nation?

YES NO

What Now?

Write a persuasive paragraph examining the OTHER side of the Separatism Debate from what you

argued in the debate

AKA: If you argued “NO” in class, you must argue “YES” in your paragraph!

Due: Next Class