The 1970s in Quebec were a period of divisiveness, which means that people were forced to choose sides on an important issue. In this case, the divisive issue was whether or not Quebec should remain a part of Canada or whether it should be remain a part of Canada.
While the issue of Quebec sovereignty was an extremely important debate during this period (and beyond) there are other issues that also shaped the province and Canada. To understand how these issues unfolded we can use the sovereignty issue and provincial governments as a means of contextualization.
While the issue of Quebec sovereignty was an extremely important debate during this period (and beyond) there are other issues that also shaped the province and Canada. To understand how these issues unfolded we can use the sovereignty issue and provincial governments as a means of contextualization.
The Bourassa Government (Liberal)
1970 - 1976
ECONOMY
Robert Bourassa and his Liberal Party won the 1970 election partly because of promise he made to create 100,000 jobs in Quebec. Unemployment had doubled during the 1960s to 10 per cent for the first time since WWII. The high unemployment levels were made worse because of inflation, which reduced the spending power of people.
To combat these issues the Bourassa government helped fund massive infrastructure projects and encouraged foreign investment. This approach accepted the ideology developed during the Quiet Revolution of government intervention into the economy. For example, massive investment was made in 1976 Montreal Olympic games. Another example is the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (Hydro Quebec) that was made Cree and Inuit communities. The approach that the Bourassa took, however, differed from previous governments in that it encouraged foreign companies, especially from the US, to invest in the province.
UNIONS
Unions, as well as other social movements (feminists, student associations, etc), opposed the Bourassa government and became radicalized.The biggest outcome of this radical opposition was the common front strike of 1972. During the strike 210,000 public workers went on strike and the leaders of the three largest unions were put in jail as a result. This resulted in an even larger strike (300,000) and the eventual victory of the unions over the government, securing a base salary for workers, cost of living raises, 35 hour work week, and a month of paid vacation.
The unions were tied to the growing sovereignty movement in the province, which grew in part to the reaction of the federal government actions during the 'October Crises'.
Robert Bourassa and his Liberal Party won the 1970 election partly because of promise he made to create 100,000 jobs in Quebec. Unemployment had doubled during the 1960s to 10 per cent for the first time since WWII. The high unemployment levels were made worse because of inflation, which reduced the spending power of people.
To combat these issues the Bourassa government helped fund massive infrastructure projects and encouraged foreign investment. This approach accepted the ideology developed during the Quiet Revolution of government intervention into the economy. For example, massive investment was made in 1976 Montreal Olympic games. Another example is the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (Hydro Quebec) that was made Cree and Inuit communities. The approach that the Bourassa took, however, differed from previous governments in that it encouraged foreign companies, especially from the US, to invest in the province.
UNIONS
Unions, as well as other social movements (feminists, student associations, etc), opposed the Bourassa government and became radicalized.The biggest outcome of this radical opposition was the common front strike of 1972. During the strike 210,000 public workers went on strike and the leaders of the three largest unions were put in jail as a result. This resulted in an even larger strike (300,000) and the eventual victory of the unions over the government, securing a base salary for workers, cost of living raises, 35 hour work week, and a month of paid vacation.
The unions were tied to the growing sovereignty movement in the province, which grew in part to the reaction of the federal government actions during the 'October Crises'.
The October Crises of 1970
During the 1960s there was a growth of groups calling for an independent Quebec. One of these groups, the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ), resorted to extreme measures to get their message out to the public. This included mail bombs being sent to members of government and the kidnapping of a British diplomat and the Minister of Labour, Pierre Laporte, who was eventually murdered . The Canadian government, led by Liberal Pierre Elliot Trudeau, responded by implementing the War Measures Act. This allowed the Canadian military to occupy downtown Montreal and arrest anybody they believed to be undermining the state. (The video below, "Just Watch Me" shows Trudeau talking with a reporter about what he was willing to do to protect Canadians) This crisis was an extremely important turning point in Quebec's history. The response of the Canadian government led many Québecois to question Quebec's place in Canada. Also, the violent actions by the FLQ were rejected by the vast majority of people. This helped secure the Parti Quebecois (PQ) as the only legitimate means to Quebec sovereignty. The growing support for independence led the to defeat of the Liberals in Quebec during the 1976 and the election of the first sovereigntist (government who wants to leave Canada) government in Canada. |
The Manifesto of the FLQ - notice how they use the image of les patriotes which comes from the 1837 Rebellion in Lower Canada
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The Lévesque Government (Parti Québécois)
1976 - 1980
Statue of René Lévesque outside the Assemblée Nationale, the home of the provincial government, in Quebec City
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Although best known for its stance on Quebec independence, the Lévesque government ushered in a number of progressive changes. For example, Lévesque and the PQ government reformed the financing of political parties by banning contributions from companies and limiting the amount individuals could make. This was done to help rid the government of corruption and political favours.
Lévesque also furthered improvements to the health insurance (free medication for seniors, protection of people with handicaps) and on the environment (loi sur la protection des terres agricoles). The language debate continued and Bill 101 was enacted in 1977. This law prohibited who could go to English schools, and required that French be the language of work and on public/commercial signs. The law was opposed by supporters of French unilinguilism for not going far enough. A federal law in 1969 lifted the ban on advertising birth control and abortion which led to abortions being available in hospitals and, later (1973), CLSCs in Quebec. |
THE 1980 REFERENDUM
On May 20th, 1980, Quebec held a referendum (a popular vote) on whether Quebec should remain part of Canada or whether it should separate and form its own country. This debate divided Quebec and dominated the news for months and months. The leader for the 'oui' side (sovereigtists) was Rene Lévesque while Pierre Elliot Trudeau became the main proponent for the 'non' side (federalists). Fears of economic uncertainty and promises of reform from the federalists led to an overwhelming victory for the federalists. The battle, however, would continue. |
An example of how the referendum divided the province
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