The Quebec Separatist Movement emerged from the Canadian confederation, which brought hope and opportunity to a recently independent nation. This newly formed nation included Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Quebec. Nevertheless, in Quebec, there existed a minority that spoke French and experienced discrimination and difficulties. The French community in Quebec frequently felt pressured to adopt English culture, leading to tensions between the English and French communities. Throughout Canada’s past, Quebec has encountered obstacles in obtaining equitable treatment. Consequently, the province made two attempts at separation through referendums.
Despite being one of the founding provinces, Quebec desires independence from Canada due to reasons such as preserving culture and language, obtaining unique status, and having abundant natural resources for economic sustainability. However, the Canadian constitution presents obstacles to provincial sovereignty. If achieved, there would be significant implications on society, politics, and the global economy, depending on the chosen type of sovereignty.
As one of the original provinces of Canada, Quebec should not desire to separate; nonetheless, due to experiencing years of discrimination, Quebec is seeking independence. While a significant portion of Quebec’s population wishes to separate, there is disagreement among individuals regarding the preferred form of sovereignty. There are three prevailing types of sovereignty: complete independence, sovereignty-association, and federalism. Complete independence would involve Quebec cutting all ties with the rest of Canada. Sovereignty-association would entail an independent political system while maintaining an economic relationship with Canada.
Lastly, federalism is not a form of separatist movement but rather a movement advocating for change. Federalists aim to establish a robust central government alongside provincial governments to ensure a system of checks and balances. Although separatists come in various forms, they all share common reasons. Since confederation, there has been escalating animosity between English and French Canadians. Despite the legislation implemented by the Canadian government, Quebec’s language and culture remain unprotected.
In 1912, Ontario banned French language schools, causing harm to francophone communities. This ban was lifted in 1944, but by then the damage had already been done (Fishman and Garcia 32). It wasn’t until 1967 that the Official Language Act was implemented, establishing French as Canada’s second national language. The act ensured equality and granted the same rights and privileges for the use of both languages in all federal institutions (Gov. of Canada Justice laws website).
Quebec’s French culture serves as a reminder of the province’s French heritage and sheds light on the historical oppression inflicted on the Quebecois by English influences in Canada. Despite attempts at assimilation, Quebec has managed to preserve its French language and distinct culture. As a former French colony, Quebec views its customs as unique and deserving of special recognition. While separation is seen as a drastic measure, it is considered a last resort for the people of Quebec.
Throughout the years, the Quebecois people have felt a sense of dissatisfaction and discontentment. In the 1960’s, this dissatisfaction manifested into the quiet revolution, as Quebecois individuals started to reject and question their role within Canada. This quiet revolution eventually evolved into a social upheaval with the emergence of the FLQ and the ascension of the Partie Quebecois into power (Canadian History). In 1980, Quebec held its first referendum, clearly expressing its desire for sovereignty-association. Despite the failure of this referendum, Quebec remained steadfast in its objective. During the creation of the constitution, Quebec made its demands known: a constitutional veto, recognition of Quebec as a ‘distinct society’, the appointment of Supreme Court Justices from provincial lists, limitations on federal spending power, and greater provincial control over immigration (Maton 1). Quebec continued to pursue special treatment during the Charlotte Town accord and Meech Lake accord, but unfortunately, both attempts were unsuccessful. In 1995, another referendum was held to separate from Canada; however, it failed to garner a majority. One notable reason driving Quebec’s desire for separation is its abundance of natural resources and hydro energy.
If Quebec were to separate from Canada, they believe they could sustain themselves economically. Although it would be challenging to sever all economic ties with Canada, including the use of the Canadian dollar, Quebec could generate revenue independently with enough time and a large workforce. While maintaining the Canadian currency would be ideal for Quebec, achieving self-sufficiency is still possible even without it. However, considering Quebec’s troubled history within Canada, uncertainty remains regarding the feasibility of separation.
Even though Quebec did not sign the constitution, as a part of Canada, it is still required to follow it. Therefore, if Quebec wishes to seek separation, it must adhere to all constitutional rules. However, currently the constitution does not provide Quebec with the legal power to separate. To obtain this right, a constitutional amendment must be put into effect. This amendment would need approval from the Senate, House of Commons, provincial legislative assemblies, and at least seven provinces that represent 50% of the total population (Maton XIII).
Previous referendums, including those in 1980 and 1995 (Flanagan 1), have demonstrated that the amending formula has impeded success. In 2000, the Clarity Act was introduced to explicitly state that separation can solely be accomplished through constitutional amendments. This act also mandates clear and concise information on ballots to guarantee voters comprehend the issues at stake. Despite Quebec’s apprehensions about preserving its culture, Canada has implemented measures to protect French language and heritage.
The legal system in Quebec is unique as it is derived from the French legal system, making it distinct from other Canadian provinces. To ensure a comprehensive understanding of this civil law system, three justices from Quebec must be appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. Furthermore, Quebec has been granted bill 101 which designates French as the official language of Quebec (Hudon 1). This guarantees the preservation and perpetuation of the French language for future generations.
Canada is composed of various provinces, such as Manitoba, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia, each possessing unique characteristics. Nevertheless, Quebec distinguishes itself by actively striving to be distinctive. If Quebec were to achieve independence, the consequences would be significant. This separation would not only impact Quebec but also have repercussions for all of Canada. Debts would require resolution, trade relationships would need to be reestablished, and communities would have to choose sides. It is important to acknowledge that the effects of this event extend beyond Canada and Quebec; it would also bear implications for the global community in terms of the world economy and international relations.
Despite the initial good intentions, including Quebec in the constitution and receiving equalisation payments could potentially result in a civil war. The purpose of these payments was to guarantee equivalent levels of public services and taxation. However, Quebec’s dependence on them has grown over time, with this year’s payments representing around eleven percent of government spending.” (Hopper)
If Quebec were to gain independence, it would probably no longer receive equalization payments and would have to rely on its own resources. Nevertheless, the funds allocated for conducting referendums in Quebec are often disregarded. According to the Referendum Act, these funds are supplied by the government and taken from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (City of Quebec). Numerous people consider this allocation as a misappropriation of taxpayer money, particularly since Quebec has already organized two unsuccessful referendums. It appears illogical to spend such a substantial amount of money on a referendum that is unlikely to succeed.
The funds could be better distributed to underserved regions rather than being spent elsewhere. The separation of Quebec would result in various social and political ramifications. Despite having Anglophone communities, Quebec is predominantly French-speaking. If independence is achieved, it raises concerns about the future of these communities, whether they will be compelled to relocate or have the option to stay if desired. Furthermore, since Quebec’s laws are presently constrained by the constitution, there is a possibility that all of these laws would become invalid once independence is attained.
Quebec’s distinctiveness does not automatically imply that independence is the sole solution to safeguard it, just like Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. The motives behind Quebec’s aspiration for self-rule will persist irrespective of modifications in Canadian legislation. As long as the constitution retains its amending formula, Quebec lacks the lawful authority to secede; nevertheless, if it did possess such power, there would be significant societal, political, and economic implications.
Quebec’s separation should not occur. The following sources were used to understand Quebec’s position in present-day Canada: Bibliography Ferry, Steven. Quebec. 2003. Lucient Books, Gale Group Inc, United States of America. The Department of Justice Canada provided insight on the clarity act and the amending formula and its procedures (http//laws-lois.justice.go.ca/eng/acts/c-31-8/page1.ht). Research on previous referendums in 1980 and 1995, as well as understanding Quebec’s demands at the time, was conducted using Rose, Jonathan’s “Government Advertising in Crisis: The Quebec Referendum Precedent” from the Canadian Journal of Communications vol. 8, No. 2. For information on the Parti Quebecois’s views and plans for the future, biased towards the separatist movement, the referendum questions from PQ’s election chances rises were consulted (http//www.cbc.ca/news/canda/quebecvotes2012/story/2012/09/03/parti-qubecous-referendum.html). DenTandt, Michael’s article “Welcome to the Quebec Separatism Debate Canada Doesn’t Need” from The Vancover Sun on 04/09/2012 was also considered.
Post Media News was utilized to gain insights into the views of those who opposed the separatist movement (Nelson, Sheila). Madison Crest Publishers’ book “The Settlement of New France & Arcadia 1524 – 1701” provided information on Quebec’s history as part of the colonies in Canada (Department of Justice, Government of Canada). The official language act and its introduction date were obtained from the “Economy: Quebec Portal” (Portail Quebec). Tom Flanagan’s article “Clarifying the Clarity Act – The Globe and Mail” was used to understand the Clarity Act (Flanagan, Tom). Monica Heller’s book “Linguistic Minorities and Modernity: A Sociolinguistic Ethnography, Second…” contributed to the knowledge on linguistic minorities and their situation (Heller, Monica). Tristan Hopper’s article on the National Post was used for information on the banning of French language schools in Quebec (Hopper, Tristan). Exact figures and information on equalization were obtained from R. Hudon’s article “Bill 101 – The Canadian Encyclopedia” (Hudon, R.).N. p., n.d.Web.10 Jan.2013.
I utilized this source to gather additional information about the content of bill 101.
Maton, William.“Constitutional Proposals.” The Solon Law Archive.N. p., n.d.Web.10 Jan.2013.
This website served as an extensive research resource for meech lake and Charlotte town accord, as well as the demands implemented by Quebec.
Maton, william.“CHAPTER XIII – The Amending Formula.” The Solon Law Archive.N. p., n.d.Web.10 Jan.2013.
I referred to this source in order to gain deeper insight into the amending formula.
“Referendum Act.” index.N. p., n.d.Web.10 Jan.2013.
This source provided me with knowledge about the referendum act and its application in Quebec.
In 1976, the PQ had won power.“1980 Referendum.” Canada History.N. p., n.d.Web.10 Jan.2013.
This website served as additional research material for me on the 1980 referendum.
MLA formatting by BibMe.org.
