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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
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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...
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?