Quebec at the End of the 20Th Century

60 Voices of Mexico /April 'lune, 1995 Quebec at the end of the 2Oth century Robin Berting * is year there will be a devoutly Catholic and generally much In spite of this situation, Quebec referendum on Quebec more conservative than the Quebec . changed dramatically over the years. independence. In an era of society of today. Some people have Industrialization, which brought Tinternational economic compared it to traditional Latin urbanization with it, changed the rural globalization, and in one of the American societies. Yet unlike Latin nature of society, and new freest and most prosperous countries America there was no prosperous, modemizing tendencies grew rapidly in the world, the question is why dominant business class amongst after the Second World War, such a strong nationalist movement French-speaking Quebecois. culminating in the "Quiet Revolution" exists in Quebec. Due to the English conquest of of the 1960s. The Liberal Party, led by Rather than guessing Quebec's France's North American colonies, the Jean Lesage, defeated the old and future, my goal here is an anglophone minority —centered in reactionary Union Nationale which understanding of the province's past, the western third of Montreal and had governed since the 1930s, and especially the last thirty years, which comprising 15 to 20 percent of the replaced the latter's conservative should help explain this movement's province's population— generally nationalism with a much more modem origins and destination. controlled business, commerce view of society. I argue that in spite of what one and industry. In 1962, with the nationalization might think, the Quebec nationalist The dominant nationalism in of private electric companies, Hydro movement is strong now not because Quebec reflected the conservative Québec was born. As was the case in the French language is in danger —it nature of society at that time. The Mexico when oil was nationalized in is doing better now than it ever has in French language, the Catholic Church 1938, this action allowed the Quebec the past— but because nationalists are and family values were to be defended state to control the province's most winning the struggle over the identity against the "corrupting" liberal important natural resource. Important of Quebeckers. This is largely due to influences of Anglo-Saxon North reforms were also enacted in areas actions taken by the Quebec state, America and of the various ethnic such as education and health. which have had a direct influence in groups that immigrated to Montreal Influenced by these political shaping the nature of the region's from around the world. Still, in changes as well as trends from society, and consequently in forming concrete terms, the tenets of this throughout the industrialized world, the identity of its inhabitants. nationalism did little to defend Quebec society underwent a major francophones' interests in the face of transformation during the 1960s. The From "conservation" to modern their English-Canadian or foreign standard of living increased, a new Quebec nationalism bosses. Quebec governments allowed middle class —mainly comprised of Before the 1960s, francophone foreign control of the most important employees of the expanding Quebec Quebec —or should we say French sectors of the economy, seeing this as welfare-state bureaucracy— grew Canada?— was more traditional, the only way to develop the ares, since dramatically, social values changed, there was no French-Canadian capital, the birth cate declined from one of the * Political Science Department, Université de and on numerous occasions attacked highest to one of the lowest in the Montréal, and Rcscarch and Study Group on the rights of workers, the vast majority world, and the church lost virtually all Social and Economic Changes. of whom were francophones. its influence over society. V oices of Mexico Mpril • Ame, 1995 61 The modernizers split into two In fact, a typical francophone void, especially by occupying the main factions, while "conservative Quebecker shares elements of both, in branch offices thát replaced the nationalism" virtually disappeared. a rather ambiguous way, considering departed company head offices. New OVNV One new tendency emphasized him or herself a nationalist and voting francophone private enterprises also / NVI pan-Canadian federalism, promoting for the PQ, for example, while cheering emerged, forming what carne to be bilingualism and Canadian unity when an English Canadian wins a gold called "Quebec, Inc." In addition to through the actions of the Canadian medal in the Olympics; such a person already established companies like the MIMA state; its main supporters participated might identify him or fierself as a Power Corporation and Bombardier, in the federal Liberal Party. The other Canadian when travelling abroad. giants like Lavalin, Quebecor, the modernizing tendency, the new Banque Nationale, Laurentienne and Quebec nationalism, called for the The state as the motor of social the Desjardins Group appeared. The political independence of Quebec and change business elite was no longer the establishment of French as the In 1976, when the PQ won tne exclusively English-speaking. province's only official language; its provincial elections, its declared goals Another result of Bill 101, main political outlet became the then included making French the official especially the section dealing with the social-democratic Parti Québécois. language and holding a referendum on education of newcomers' children, Here we should draw a Quebec independence. In 1977, the was that immigrants began to integrate distinction between the new and old first goal was achieved with the into francophone society much more Quebec nationalism. The latter was passing of Bill 101, the "Charter of the than before, at the expense of the based on ethnicity (that is, on la French Language." This law English community. In the past, about nailon canadienne fi-anoise, the encouraged the use of French in the 75 percent of new arrivals would "French-Canadian nation"), whereas workplace, made it mandatory for integrate into the minority anglophone the former is based on territory (i.e., francophone children —as well as society and only 25 percent into the the aren covered by the Quebec those of immigrants— to attend francophone majority. Now the state). The new nationalism francophone schools, and prohibited numbers have been reversed. welcomes immigrants from different the use of languages other than French Demographically speaking, Quebec is horizons, as long as they accept that in commercial signs. The goal of more francophone than ever before. In French is the main language of holding a referendum was achieved in addition, the terms of political debate communication in Quebec, whereas 1980, but the "no" vote won 60 have changed in Quebec, with most of the old nationalism basically rejected percent and Quebec independence was the PQ's achievements recognized as interaction with other ethnic groups. blocked. However, the PQ won the permanent, as the fact that the ruling In addition, the new nationalism next Quebec elections and stayed in Quebec Liberal Party has not tried to was originally left of center, power until 1985, when the Liberal undo most PQ legislation attests. Only emphasizing workers rights; the Parti Party returned to office. some segments of the anglophone Québécois (PQ) received the support Even though the party did not minority, especially through the of the Quebec labor movement; and achieve Quebec independence, the Equality Party and Alliance Quebec, state intervention in the economy was PQ's eight years in office, mainly have fought vigorously against the considered essential for local under Réné Lévesque, left their mark provisions of Bill 101. development. In spite of many years on the province. There was an exodus One result of these social and of regional support to the Liberal of much of the province's anglophone political changes is the new perception Party in federal elections —in the community —about 250,000 out of that Quebecois have of themselves. Of absence of a nationalist alternative- less than a million Anglos left Quebec course, the process'is largely related to modern Quebec nationalism has had in the late 1970s. Many important the changes brought about in a more direct influence over local corporations moved their head offices previous period by the "Quiet • society than did the pan-Canadian from Montreal to Toronto or Revolution," but the language laws federalism of the federal Liberal Party. elsewhere. This exodus, along with have intensified these shifts by lt should nevertheless be Bill 101 and its encouragement of changing the socio-linguistic nature of emphasized that neither vision French as the language of business, Quebec. If one looks at Quebeckers' dominates Quebec society completely. meant that francophoneá could fill the identity in historical perspective, the 62 Voices of Mexico /April • Ame, 1995 1960s prove to have been crucial. widespread perception that immigrants around the world. Montreal's When the English defeated the French tend to integrate into the anglophone reputation was tarnished and most at the Plains of Abraham in 1759, the community despite many studies which Montrealers were thoroughly ashamed inhabitants of what is now Quebec have proven the contrary. of the incident. called themselves les canadiens. What I do contend is that it is the The next day at the concert, With the conquest, this term came perception that Quebeckers have of Cohen —an anglophone Montrealer to represent specifically the French- themselves that explains the who speaks French well, sings in speaking inhabitants of Canada, as the nationalist movernent's strength. It is English, and is adored by English speakers were considered les interesting to note that the best-known francophones and anglophones anglais (the English). As time passed demand of the failed Meech Lake alike— made no verbal referentes to and English speakers came to consider Constitutional Accord was that the hockey game or its aftermath. themselves as much Canadians as the Quebec be recognized as a "Distinct Near the end of the concert, however, French speakers did, francophones Society" within Canada.

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