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World War One Conscription Crisis
Political and military crisis in Canada during WWI. It was mainly caused by disagreement on whether men should be conscripted to fight in the war. Conscriptions means automatically calling up men and woman for military service. Only applying to men, people who were conscripted were required to fight in war, even if they did not want to. -
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The Maurice Duplessis
This was served as the Union Nationale premier of Quebec. It was a staunch Roman Catholic and political conservative. He became the boss. He avoided English influence at all costs, and even refused any money from the federal government as he was a strong supporter of provincial rights. -
World War Two Conscription Crisis
Political and military that followed the forcing of military service in World War II. It was very similar to the Conscription Crisis of 1917, but it was not as politically damaging. The French-speaking population of Canada felt no obligation to participate in any European conflict. -
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The Great Darkness
(continuing on from Maurice Duplessis) The Duplessis era was known for bad working conditions since Duplessis discouraged unions and used strong arm tactics against them. The period of his rule is sometimes known as the Great Darkness -
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Quiet Revolution
Jean Lesage of the Liberal party was the premier of Quebec during this time. He sought to create a new and equal partnership with English Canada. During this time, Quebec went through a period of rapid reform and modernization called the Quiet Revolution. It was characterized by secularization, the strengthening of the welfare state, and nationalization of hydroelectric production and distribution. -
1960s Separatist Movement
This separatist movement rem-emerged as a political force in modern Quebec during the late 1950s and the 1960s, which was a time of great socioeconomic change and nationalist foment in that province. It became an official political party in March 1963. The definition of this movement is when an ethnic group, race, etc. are separated from a larger group. -
Bi and Bi Commission
This was a Canadian royal commission that was established on July 19, 1963 by Lester B. Pearson. He wanted to report upon the existing state of bilingualism and biculturalism in Canada and recommended what steps should be taken to develop this further. -
Canada's New Flag
A new Canadian flag was proposed and then ended by closure on December 15, 1964. It was first adopted as the 'Maple Leaf flag' as the Canadian national flag. On February 15, 1965, it became the National Flag of Canada. -
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Creation of the Union Nationale Party
This was a conservative and nationalist provincial political party in Quebec, Canada. It was identified with Quebecois autonomism and was created during the Great Depression. It was originally a coalition of the Conservative Party and became united under Duplessis's leadership, easily winning the 1936 election. -
Canada's Immigration becomes 'Colour Blind'
New regulations after 1962 eliminate most of racial discrimination in Canada's immigration policy, but it soon becomes "colour blind." The points system was introduced shortly, sending potential immigrants points in categories like education, age, fluency, etc. in the French or English territories. Immigration regulations changed to allow immigration of family members with relatives already in Canada. -
Official Languages Act
Prime Minister Trudeau signed the Official Languages Act in 1969, which gave all Canadians the legal right and ability to deal with the federal government in either French or English. All products sold in stores across the country had to be labelled in both French and English. French Immersion programs were implemented across the country. -
War Measures Act
Response to the October Crisis
This act gave the Canadian government the power to take away any certain civil rights. Thousands of searches were conducted as a result. Membership in the FLQ became criminal, and all political rallies were banned. Government had the power to arrest, question and detain suspects without charge for a period of 90 days. This act was invoked based on the conspiracy to overthrow the Canadian government.. -
Front de Liberation du Quebec
This was a Canadian separatist group that was founded in the 1960s and based primarily in Montreal. This group was virtually unknown at first made up of young French Canadians but then they started to become committed to using violent actions if necessary to achieve their goals. -
Trudeau Becomes Prime Minister
Related to the October Crisis. The Canadian government was under the lead of Prime Minister Trudeau and agreed to broadcast the FLQ manifesto over the radio. -
October Crisis
The FLQ committed over 200 political actions from 1963 to 1970, including bombings and band hold0ups, resulting in at least three deaths by FLQ bombs, and two deaths by gunfire. By 1970, many members of the FLQ were in jail. -
Policy of Multiculturalism
Prime Minister Trudeau announced that multiculturalism was an official government policy. It was intended to preserve the cultural freedom of all individuals and provide recognition of the cultural contributions of diverse ethnic groups to Canadian society and implemented based on the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism. -
Bill 22
Introduced by Liberal premier of Quebec, Robert Bourassa.
This made French the official language of Quebec and strengthened French in the workplace. Additionally, children had to pass an English proficiency test before before being allowed to register for English schools in Quebec. This was introduced because there was the fear that the French language would disappear due the the decline in birth rates and increase in immigration. -
Parti Quebecois
led by Rene Levesque, defeated the liberals in the provincial election. The PQ was a non -violent separatist party that was dedicated to winning independence for quebec by following the rules of Canada's political process -
Immigration Policy to 'sponsorship program'
Canada embarked on a unique program where they allowed private groups (like ethnic community organizations) to sponsor refugee individuals or families, bring them to Canada as permanent residents, and assist them in settling here. -
Bill 101
Proposed by Rene Levesque to replace Bill 22.
Became known as the Charter of French Language bill. This bill required that French be the language used by governments, courts and businesses in Quebec, and that commercial signs be displayed in French only. It also furthered restricted access to English schools. This created an enormous backlash throughout the country. -
Bill 101 passed
Bill 101 was adopted on August 26, 1977 which kicked off the transformation from a traditionally bilingual Quebec into a unilingual French province. The bill is shock therapy for what the PQ described as a sick society that Quebec was become with its bilingualism. -
Referendum on Sovereignty Association
Referendum: when a political issue is submitted to a direct cote of all the citizens
Quebec held its first referendum on the issue of sovereignty vs. association with the rest of Canada. The proposal was that Quebec would be an independent state with control over its own taxes, social policies, citizenship and immigration but would maintain close economic ties with the rest of Canada. 90% voted, with 60% opposing, which mean that Quebec remained a part of Canada. -
Patriation of the Constitution
Under the Constitution Act Canada's constitution would be repatriated - the constitution would be brought home to Canada from its previous colonial leader, Great Britain. -
Constitution Act
There was always a symbolic link between Great Britain and the Canadian Parliament, under the Constitution Act Canada would be the truly sovereign one, in action and in symbolism. Canada would have its own constitution, which included an amending formula giving Canadians the ability to make changes to the constitution, which would no longer require the consent of the British Parliament, including the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. -
Reform Party Created
The Reform Party of Canada was a right-wing populist federal political party in Canada that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was founded as a Western Canada-based protest movement and eventually became a populist conservative party, with strong social conservative elements. -
Meech Lake Accord
In 1987, Prime Minister Mulroney and all ten premiers met at Meech Lake to change the constitution so as to include Quebec. The Meech Lake initiative was Brian Mulroney's attempt to create constitutional harmony by bringing Quebec into the fold. All ten premiers reached a tentative agreement. The accord included a clause that referred to Quebec as a "distinct society." -
Department of Multiculturalism formed
The Multiculturalism Act provided a legislative framework for the official policy of multiculturalism adopted by the government in 1971. It sought to protect the cultural heritage of Canadians, reduce discrimination, and encourage the implementation of multicultural programs and activities within institutions and organizations. -
Meech Lake Accord 1990
In early June of 1990, all premiers finally agreed to ratify the Meech Lake Accord -- subject to guarantees of further constitutional discussions following the Accord, on such issues as an elected Senate, the amending formula itself, and equality and Aboriginal issues. In Manitoba, although all political parties had finally agreed the endorse the Accord, it required public hearings. -
Charlottetown Accord
Since the Meech Lake Accord was a failure, Quebec was still not part of Canada's constitution. Again, the leaders met, this time in Charlottetown, to try and reach a new agreement. This accord made provisions for Aboriginal self-government, Senate reform, universal healthcare, workers' rights, and environmental protection. This round of negotiations was called the Canada Round. -
Bloc Quebecois
The separatist federal part of Quebec, the Block Quebecois became the official party of Opposition in Canada. The Block Quebecois was led by Lucien Bouchard -
Parti Quebecois returned to power
Parti Quebecois returned to power under the leadership of hardline sovereigntist Jacques Parizeau in the 1994 Quebec election. The PQ won 77 seats and 44% of the vote, on a promise to hold an independence referendum within a year. The following year, Parizeau called the 1995 Quebec referendum proposing negotiations on sovereignty. -
2nd Referendum on Sovereignty Association
A second referendum on Quebec sovereignty was held on October 30, 1995. The question asked voters whether "Quebec should become sovereign after having made a formal offer to Canada for a new economic and political partnership," or whether Quebec should separate from Canada. The "non" side won 50.6% of the votes, a majority but only by an extremely slim margin. -
Clarity Bill and the Supreme Court Decision
In 1998, the Supreme Court ruled that Quebec did not have the right to separate unilaterally from Canada. In order to achieve independence, Quebec would have to negotiate with the federal government, the nine other provinces, the aboriginal nations living in Quebec, and the other minorities. Both sides hailed the decision. The Canadian government passed the Clarity Act in 1999, which states that in any future referenda, Quebec must ask a clear question and win a clear majority.
