The Debate Continues ...
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Following the sovereignist defeat in 1980 the federal government tried to make some steps towards reconciliation between Quebec and the rest of Canada. These attempts, however, failed to achieve their desired outcomes. This failure lead directly to a second referendum in 1995. The timeline below shows how events unfolded from 1980 to 1995.
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- The Failure of the Meech Lake Accord (1990) - This agreement was between Canada and all the provinces. It was designed to appease Quebec and recognize the differences that exist between Quebec and English-Canada through areas such as immigration rights and education. Although it was accepted by the provincial leaders (premiers) the accord (agreement) failed because it was unable to be approved in the Manitoba government's legislature. A native member of the Manitoba government opposed the agreement because native peoples were not consulted during its process.
- The Failure of the Charlottetown Accord (1992) - Very similar to the Meech Lake Accord. The failure of this agreement was through a Canada referendum. Many English speaking Canadians did not agree with the concept that Quebec should have special privileges.
- The 1995 Quebec Referendum for Sovereignty Partnership (1995) - In a very close vote (51% to 49%) Quebecers once again rejected sovereignty.
Although we've mostly considered the issue of Quebec sovereignty from a French - English perspective there is another important component to the debate: multiculturalism. Canadian multiculturalism is the belief that Canada is made up on numerous ethnicities or cultures because of various waves of immigrants from different parts of the world.
This approach to understanding the character of Canada, which was made a law in 1988, is in direct contrast of the focus of English and French as the founding and dominant cultures in Canada. Federalists tend to accept a multicultural perspective while soveriegnists tend to focus on French and English as the two equal and founding cultures.
This approach to understanding the character of Canada, which was made a law in 1988, is in direct contrast of the focus of English and French as the founding and dominant cultures in Canada. Federalists tend to accept a multicultural perspective while soveriegnists tend to focus on French and English as the two equal and founding cultures.
ECONOMY
From about 1980 onwards the government of Canada, and later Quebec, began adopting a new approach to governing the economy. There was very little economic growth and a number of recessions during the period. Unemployment levels were consistently very high. This trend can be understood as being a long-term stagnation, meaning that there was little to no growth in the economy. In response, governments moved away from Keynesian economics (welfare state) towards neo-liberal economic policies. This economic theory stressed trust in free-market capitalism, which meant that governments were less likely to intervene in the economy during bad times by investing in infrastructure or creating other jobs. The idea behind this was that by lower taxes for businesses and affluent individuals they would be more likely to invest in the economy.
From about 1980 onwards the government of Canada, and later Quebec, began adopting a new approach to governing the economy. There was very little economic growth and a number of recessions during the period. Unemployment levels were consistently very high. This trend can be understood as being a long-term stagnation, meaning that there was little to no growth in the economy. In response, governments moved away from Keynesian economics (welfare state) towards neo-liberal economic policies. This economic theory stressed trust in free-market capitalism, which meant that governments were less likely to intervene in the economy during bad times by investing in infrastructure or creating other jobs. The idea behind this was that by lower taxes for businesses and affluent individuals they would be more likely to invest in the economy.