Unit 10: The 1970s Flashcards
Final Exam (Post-Confederation)
French Canadian Nationalism
- The Quiet Revolution: Jean Le Sage
- Decolonization Theory: Quebecers as a colonized people?
- Rene Levesque and The PQ
- 1964 Royal Tour & 1967 100 Anniversary
- October Crisis and the FLQ: The FLQ Manifesto of October 1970
- Quebec Under the PQ
- Bill 101
The Quiet Revolution: Jean Le Sage
The Union National, a French Canadian national party, is defeated in 1959, and replaced by Jean Le Sage and the Liberal government. The term “Quiet Revolution” describes the years from 1960-1966. During this time, Liberal Premiere Jean Lesage brought rapid but nonviolent change to Quebec. In the 1960s, Quebec reforms and becomes a secular society. The 1960s is an era of new nationalisms in Canada, as a search for Canadian identity takes on a certain nationalistic bent.
During the 1940s and 50s there was emerging French Canadian academia and intelligence. This intelligence sees Quebec being held back by this French Canadian nationalism, that is, grounded in agrarian rural communities that are revolved around the Church. Quebec has not progressed, so from 1960-1965, there is a period of rapid modernization in Quebec. This is not a social revolution in Quebec, but rather, and administrative revolution, and we see changes in the role of the State. For a long time, the Church has not been separated from the State, but now Quebec becomes more secular (e.g. the problem becomes language instead of religion). The traditional “defensive” form of French Canadian nationalism goes back to the days of New France, the conquest, the rebellions, the struggle for the survival of French Canadian culture, Confederation, the Riel rebellion, the schools questions, the Conscription crisis during the wars, and so on). The borders of Quebec became the borders of the French Canadian culture, and Quebec became a nation within a nation. However, Quebec remains held back by this form of defensive French Canadian nationalism; it has not made much progression and often loses the battle. The death of Maurice Duplessis ends this.
Decolonization Theory: Quebecers as a colonized people?
The mentality of French Canadian nationalism has called Quebecers to stay rural and agrarian, and stay out of the big cultural urban cities, since it is the English who rule the province. The big question becomes: how did the conquest in 1763 impact Quebec? There is an argument about class, and that Quebecers are the oppressed lower class in their own society, on their own land. In 1961 anglophones in Quebec made 35% more income than francophones (and francophones ranked 12th of 14 ethnic groups in income levels in the province). The Quebec economy is controlled by anglophones and attendance at Mass in the urban city centres of Quebec has dropped by 50%.
Rene Levesque and The PQ
Becomes one of the major figures in this Quebec government. He breaks away from his party at the end of the Revolution, and breaks away from Liberal Quebec because he does not think Quebec is going far enough to fight against the domination of the English over Quebec. In the late 60s, Quebec begins to take radical actions to make progress. Rene Levesque
establishes his own party, that by the 1970s, becomes the Parti Quebecois (PQ). The PQ emerges from the QR.
1964 Royal Tour & 1967 100 Anniversary
We see aspects of this French Canadian nationalism in the 1964 Royal Tour. Queen Elizabeth visits Quebec, and is escorted by Governor General Vanier in Quebec City, and is greeted by one of the most hostile audiences ever. The people are deeply offended that the English Queen is coming to their colonized province. At Canada’s 100th birthday in the summer of 1967, Charles de Gaulle (the president of France) delivers his famous speech to Quebecers at Montreal’s City Hall: “Vivre le Montreal, Vivre le Québec, Vive le Quebec libre.” (long live Montreal, long live Quebec, long live free Quebec) Quebec does not actually have any attachment to French, but it seeks accreditation in its search for an identity. The Canadian government is horrified and ends the tour in Quebec of Charles de Gaulle.
October Crisis and the FLQ: The FLQ Manifesto of October 1970
The Liberals, under Robert Bourassa, win power in Quebec during a time of turmoil and division (caused by language problems, separatism, inflation, generational conflict, etc.). The FLQ (Front de Libération du Québec; The French Liberation Front) is a student-lead organization in Quebec that is organized throughout the late 1960s that fights against the English, and therefore the Canadian federal government and the British Imperial government. They are therefore deemed a terrorist group, and do not believe that peaceful means will make progress, so they use violent measures (e.g. bombings, killings aimed at federal buildings and workers) by 1963.
In the 1960s, the government has no idea who the FLQ is, and so these bombings alarm Canadians across the country. In 1970, the FLQ kidnaps James Cross (a British Trade Commissioner) and Pierre Laporte (Liberal cabinet minister; and close friend of Pierre Trudeau), asking for sanctuary in Cuba. The government, and the RCMP, had no idea what the severity of this was. While trying to determine how to act, the federal government of Pierre Trudeau invokes the War Measures Act under the request of Quebec Premier Henri Bourassa. Although this was an exaggerated response, it highlights how little the government knew about the FLQ. This lead to the army being brought out, to guard the streets of Montreal, and when the body of Pierre Laporte is discovered in a trunk of a car, FLQ members are thrown in jail. This leads to Pierre Trudeau’s famous speech on the House of Commons. After he is criticized and scrutinized by an intelligent journalist for throwing a bunch of kids into jail without any rights, Trudeau says: “just watch me” and he is called out for being contradictory to his own campaign.
The FLQ crisis ends with the death of Pierre Laporte, and the 5 kidnapper of the FLQ are given sanctuary in Cuba. In the 1990s, these FLQ protests in Cuba begin to return to Canada and push for the separatist movement. Rene Levesque states that his party advocates for the goal of separation and sovereignty for Quebec, but does not advocate for the FLQ.
Quebec Under the PQ
This leads to the election of the Parti Quebecois (PQ) government in Quebec. In the middle of the 1970s, there is a massive strike in Quebec; the air controllers of airports want French language. What we see in this movement is that religion is no longer the issue, it is language. The issue has been secularized. Language, more than religion, is the vehicle for cultural survival. The federal government was prepared to make the country bilingual and bicultural, and this angers the west. The west answer is multiculturalism. In 1971, Trudeau introduces the idea of multiculturalism. With this change, there is a threat to Quebec. In 1976, Rene Levesque and the PQ wins office in Quebec. There is uproar in Canada that a separationist government has been elected in Quebec.
Bill 101
In contrast to Bourassa, the stance of the PQ was clear, and in 1977, the government adopted Bill 101. It legislates that (1) all signs in Quebec will be in French, and French only and (2) immigrants who come into Quebec must have their children go to French schools. This Bill is about the primacy of the French language in Quebec, and about education. There was the concern that immigrants coming to Quebec would educate their children in English, the primary language of the world. In this context, Quebecers are reaching out to the rest of the world and wants to represent itself not as part of Canada, but as Quebec. While the Trudeau government is emphasizing bilingualism and multiculturalism, Quebec is going the opposite way. At the same time this is happening, we need to talk about this “Constitutional Question.”
What is the the Constitutional Question?
The issue/question is that: according to the British North America Act of 1867 (the Constitution), when we want to change or amend the Constitution, how do we do it? What is your amending formula? If you are going to amend your Constitution, how are you going to do it?
Which PMs have attempted to address the Constitutional Question? When? How?
1930s: R.B. Bennett
At the time of R.B. Bennett and his Conservative government, Bennet was one of the first to consider this question (e.g. the Statute of Westminster in 1931). Bennet wants to start pushing for independence, but he has other issues to worry about instead
1950: Louis St. Laurent
The government of Louis St. Laurent in the post-war era wants to patronize the Constitution, he thinks that we should be able to change the Constitution ourselves without British permission. St. Laurent brings it up, but does not move on it, because he realizes what the provinces will say. In a federal system, the provinces need input.
1960s: Lester B. Pearson
Lester B. Pearson adopts Cooperative Federalism. Canada is celebrating its independence and 100 year anniversary, and Pearson asks Quebec what they want, and how Quebec can be satisfied. But then the West speaks up.
1968: Pierre Trudeau
The Constitutional question becomes one of Trudeau’s objectives; he intends to patriate the Constitution. As a Quebecer, he believes he should have the right to patriate the Constitution. He gets somewhere with Quebec, particularly when Quebec is lead by the liberal government of Robert Bourassa. Bourassa insists on a veto, Trudeau gets frustrated with Quebec and dealing with different provincial regimes, and threatens that the federal government will proceed unilaterally. This issue goes on and on.
1972 Election
Trudeau’s first election after 1968 is in 1972.
Trudeau shows his arrogance, he comes to the conclusion that he does not really need to campaign. The Liberals get punished in this election, to the point that they are reduced from a majority government to a minority government.
The NDP have the balance of power; they can defeat the government at any time. NDP Leader: David Lewis (1971-1975)
One of the issues that dominantes this election is problems with the economy. There are disturbing trends:
1. Rising inflation (almost out of control)
2. Rising interest rates
3. Rising unemployment
4. Rise in government spending (social programs, health, education)
These are being put in place because the liberals have to satiate the NDP. For the first time in Canada, we have rapidly rising deficits.
1974 Election
These economic issues are dominating the country, and dominate the election.
Robert Stanfield is the leader of the PCs in the election of 1974 → “fumble”
The Liberals under Trudeau win office, and a majority government.
Canadian Dollar, Unemployment, Recession
Unemployment:
4.4% in 1969 → 8.3% in 1978 → double digits in 1982
The Oil Crisis
Oil prices in 1970 are extremely high, and set by Saudi oil minister.
The federal government decides to look to its own country for oil (Alberta) and be self-sufficient. So the federal government goes to Alberta for oil, but Alberta responds.
1975: Trudeau government creates Petro-Canada
Joe Clark (from Alberta) takes over for Robert Stanfield of the PC government, and finally it looks like Conservatives will challenge Liberals.
1979 Election
Joe Clark and the Conservatives win the election. Trudeau faces his first electoral defeat.
Conservatives: 141 / Liberals: 114
But the Clark government only survives for 6 months, since they are a minority government. The NDP supports the Liberals, over the Conservatives.
Trudeau retires
The Conservative government steps into government in economic recession. Clark and the federal government impose an 18 cents a gallon tax on gasoline. The opposition parties join together and bring the Clark government down. And there is another election in 1980…
