QUEBEC TEN YEARS LATER Introduction
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TO STAY OR GO: QUEBEC TEN YEARS LATER Introduction Could it happen again? On October 30, Mail found that 48 per cent of Quebec- Focus 1995, Quebec came within 55 000 votes ers would vote “Yes” to sovereignty if a In October 1995, of separating from Canada. Canadians referendum were to be held immediately. Quebec came extremely close to were shocked that the vote was so close Another referendum in Quebec may separating from and relieved that, for the time being, be inevitable, but maybe the results will Canada. This News Quebec would remain a part of Canada. not be as close as they were in 1995. in Review story will Now that 10 years have passed, many Perhaps by examining the 1995 referen- examine the 1995 English Canadians believe that Quebec dum we can learn why Quebecers were referendum and separatism is no longer a threat. But feeling so alienated from the rest of will explore whether or not events in Quebec over the past few Canada. Then all Canadians can work relations between months tell a different story. to improve relations between French English and French The Parti Québécois (PQ) elected a and English Canada. As well, since the Canada have new leader on November 15, 2005. 1995 referendum the federal govern- improved over the During the leadership campaign, atten- ment has passed The Clarity Act. This past 10 years. We shall also review tion once again became focused on act is intended to ensure that any ques- the election of the separation. The PQ is a political party tion posed in a sovereignty referendum new leader of the that advocates national sovereignty—or is clear and easy to understand. The act Parti Québécois. independence—for Quebec. The new also gives the federal government the leader, André Boisclair, stated during power to decide how wide the margin his campaign that if the PQ won the of victory would need to be before Definition next provincial election in Quebec, he sovereignty was declared for Quebec. Quebec sovereignty would hold a referendum on sover- And there is more reason for hope. A means independ- ence from Canada. eignty shortly thereafter. poll conducted by the Centre for Re- This term is used But right now, the Quebec Liberal search and Information in Canada in interchangeably Party, led by Jean Charest, is in power October 2005 indicated that more than with separation in Quebec. So does that mean Canada is 60 per cent of Quebecers agree that the because if Quebec “safe”? In the short-term, yes. But province benefits from being part of gains independ- Quebec will have a provincial election Canada. In particular, Quebecers feel ence it will sepa- rate politically from in 2008 at the latest, and, at that point, they benefit from Canada’s interna- Canada. the Liberal government may be de- tional stature, the Charter of Rights and feated by the PQ. And it appears that a Freedoms, social programs, and protec- large percentage of Quebecers are still tion from terrorism. Perhaps all Canadi- YV Sections in favour of sovereignty for Quebec. A ans can use these important shared marked with this poll conducted in October 2005 by the elements to negotiate and build a new symbol indicate Strategic Counsel for The Globe and future together. content suitable for younger viewers. CBC News in Review • December 2005 • Page 47 To Consider 1. How might Canada change if the province of Quebec were to separate? Consider the following themes: Politically Economically Socially/Culturally Militarily 2. How would the separation of Quebec affect the policy of bilingualism in Canada? 3. How would you personally feel if Canada no longer included Quebec? Explain in detail. CBC News in Review • December 2005 • Page 48 TO STAY OR GO: QUEBEC TEN YEARS LATER YV Video Review Watch the video Part I and respond to the 1. How close was the vote in the 1995 sovereignty referendum? questions in Part I. 2. Record the names of the leading contenders in the 2005 Parti Québécois leadership race, as well as their position on sovereignty. Candidate name For or against sovereignty 1. _______________________________________ ________________________ 2. _______________________________________ ________________________ 3. _______________________________________ ________________________ 3. One of the major changes in Quebec since the 1995 referendum is the growing support for sovereignty among recent immigrants to Quebec. a) How much of a change has occurred? b) List three reasons why this change has occurred. 4. Another major change since the 1995 referendum is the attitude of the business community in Quebec. a) What was its attitude in 1995? b) How does this community feel now and why? 5. How do citizens living in Quebec currently feel about the idea of a refer- endum? CBC News in Review • December 2005 • Page 49 6. Do you think that André Boisclair’s admitted use of cocaine will hurt his electoral chances? Explain. 7. Should past drug use play a role in a politician’s political future? Explain. Part II – Discussion and Analysis In the video you learned that former Parti Québécois leader Jacques Parizeau angered a lot of people by blaming the defeat of sovereignty in the 1995 refer- endum on “the ethnic vote.” In small groups, explore what Parizeau said, what he may have meant, and analyze the potential impact of his comment. You may choose to view the video a second time before undertaking this exercise. What he said “It’s true, it’s true that we have been defeated, but basically by what? By money and some ethnic votes, essentially. So all it means is that, in the next round, instead of being 60 or 61 per cent to vote ‘Yes,’ we will be 63 or 64 per cent and it will suffice. That’s all.” What he may have meant Political scientists and others who analyze voting patterns refer to an “ethnic vote” as a vote where members of a given ethnic group strongly support a candidate or an option in a distinct manner. In Quebec, three linguistic groups exhibit specific voting patterns: francophones, anglophones and allophones (residents whose native tongue is neither English nor French). The anglophone (English-speaking) vote is largely federalist—roughly 95 per cent. The francophone (French-speaking) vote tends to split between the federalists and sovereignists—roughly 40 to 60 per cent. The allophone vote is largely federal- ist—roughly 92 per cent. In the 1995 referendum, the combined allophone and anglophone support for sovereignty was around 3 per cent. The potential impact In your groups, discuss and record your thoughts on the following: 1. Is anyone in your group offended by Parizeau’s comment? Explain. 2. Why did Parizeau blame the defeat of the referendum on the “ethnic vote” rather than the anglophone vote? 3. Create a list that explores both the short- and long-term impact of Parizeau’s remarks. CBC News in Review • December 2005 • Page 50 TO STAY OR GO: QUEBEC TEN YEARS LATER A Close Call It has been said that in October 1995 return to a cause that he obviously felt Archives Canada reached the breaking point. And was extremely important. To explore audio- that is no exaggeration. The Canada you visual material on the two Quebec live in now was almost split apart by a Sovereignist Coalition Formed referenda, go to Quebec referendum on separation. Although Jacques Parizeau and Lucien www.cbc.ca/ When all the votes were counted, a Bouchard were at odds over the exact archives and view margin of less than 55 000 votes sepa- way to proceed with the referendum the files “À la rated the two sides. Let’s explore some campaign, their differences were put prochaine fois: The of the big moments that occurred in this 1980 Quebec aside when they joined forces with Referendum“ and tumultuous year. Mario Dumont, leader of the Action “Separation Anxi- Démocratique party. This sovereignist ety: The 1995 Jean Chrétien Offends coalition, as it came to be called, of- Quebec Referen- Quebecers fered a partnership to the rest of dum.” “Quebec has about as much chance of Canada. It was this partnership offer, becoming independent as Jacques known as the June 12, 1995, Treaty, Parizeau has of becoming president of that formed the basis of the referendum France.” question. Chrétien made this statement in January 1995 when Jacques Parizeau, leader of the Referendum Question Unveiled PQ, travelled to France to seek support for On September 7, Parizeau unveiled the an independent Quebec. Chrétien’s referendum question. The question was: statement angered some Quebecers, who “Do you agree that Quebec should were already feeling unsupported by the become sovereign after having made a Prime Minister. (When Chrétien was formal offer to Canada for a new eco- elected in 1993 he refused to re-open nomic and political partnership within constitutional talks between the federal the scope of the bill respecting the government and Quebec.) future of Quebec and of the agreement signed on June 12, 1995?” Lucien Bouchard Returns to The “No” side quickly criticized the Politics question, saying that it was much too The extremely popular leader of the confusing and that the separatists were Bloc Québécois—a federal party com- trying to “trick” Quebecers into voting mitted to a sovereign Quebec—returned for separation. Jean Chrétien further to politics in February 1995 after almost angered some Quebecers when he dying from a rare disease. In December stated that because the question was so 1994 Bouchard had suddenly become confusing he would not accept 50 per seriously ill with necrotizing fasciitis, cent plus one as a majority vote in the also known as “flesh-eating disease.” upcoming referendum.