French – English Relations

A 1950s-1980s Simulation

Instructions

• The class will be divided into six groups – 2 groups representing the Quebec government, 2 groups representing the citizens of Quebec, and 2 groups representing Canada’s federal government.• Your task is to get what you want. Each group will be given a goal

sheet.• Throughout this activity all groups will be provided with new

information or a new event.• Groups have to consider the new information and decide what they

intend to do in order to get what they want.

First, some Background…

The Hockey Sweater, 1979

• Written by Roch Carrier in 1979• About his experience in his hometown in Quebec in 1946• Serves as an allegory of the uneasy relationship between the French and

English in Canada

The Richard Riot, 1955

• Maurice “Rocket” Richard• Hall of Famer• Captain and scoring star of the Montreal Canadiens in the 1950s• Hit a Boston Bruin player with his stick and attacked a referee• Suspended by Clarence Campbell for the rest of the season

= Riot!

The Quiet Revolution, 1962• Jean Lesage becomes Premier of Quebec

• Promises to modernize the province (give married women legal status, improve the education system, create a Quebec pension plan, etc.)

• Persuaded federal government to let Quebec run its own social programs, like pensions – the federal government still gives Quebec money, but Quebec decides how to use it• No other province in Canada has this right

• How do other provinces feel about this situation?

The Rise of Quebec Nationalism

• In the 1960s English speakers were a minority in Quebec• But… some stats:• Average yearly income in Quebec, 1961, by ethnic origin

• British - $4969• Russian - $4851• Hungarian - $3537• French - $3185

• English speakers controlled all but 3 of the province’s largest companies

• Quebecers wanted change• Hydro-Quebec expanded by taking over 11 privately owned power companies• French used as its language of business and French Canadians were put in

charge

= “Masters of our own house!”

The Events…

Remember, after each event your group needs to…

1. Describe your reaction. 2. Explain what your next move is in order to reach your goals.• Consider whether the event helps your cause or hinders it.

Write your reaction and plan using your GAPPS document.

Event 1: Vive le Quebec Libre, 1967

• Montreal hosted the World’s Fair, called Expo ‘67.• Invited leaders from many countries to

help celebrate.• President of France, Charles de Gaulle,

gives televised speech to thousands outside his hotel. At the end of his speech he says:

“Vive Montreal! Vive le Quebec! Vive le Quebec libre!”

Event 2: Rene Levesque and the PQ

• Lesage’s reforms cost a lot of money, which meant more taxes• Many Quebecers were upset, but they

also wanted to see more change…• Rene Levesque, an MPP in Lesage’s

government, left the Liberals and formed the Parti Quebecois in 1968• The goal of the Parti Quebecois =

Independence for Quebec

Event 3: FLQ Bombings, 1960s

• A terrorist group called the Front de Liberation du Quebec (FLQ) begins planting bombs and raiding banks and arms stores.• The FLQ is tired of being

controlled by English “colonists”.

Event 4: Official Languages Act, 1969

• The federal government creates a law that makes Canada officially bilingual.• All government business can be

conducted in both French and English.

Event 5: FLQ Kidnapping and Murder, 1970

• The FLQ kidnaps a British diplomat, James Cross.• They also kidnap Pierre LaPorte,

Deputy Premier and Minister of Labour in Quebec.• LaPorte is found dead in the trunk

of a car.

Event 6: Bi and Bi Commission, 1971• The federal government creates

the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism.• Among other things, the

commission recommends Canada becomes a multicultural country, or cultural mosaic, where ethnic and cultural roots are respected, valued, and honoured. • as opposed to a “melting pot”

where immigrants were expected to assimilate.

Event 7: Bill 101, 1977

• Quebec legislature creates a law that says all business signs must be written in French.• French is the only official language in the

province and it is the only language that could be used in workplaces and schools.

Event 8: Referendum, 1980

• Levesque’s government proposed a “Sovereignty Association” – Quebec would govern itself but keep economic ties to Canada.• The people of Quebec would vote on

the question: Yes for separation from Canada, No for staying with Canada.• Do you give the Government of Quebec the mandate to

negotiate [sovereignty association] between Quebec and Canada?

• 60% said No

Event 9: The Constitution, 1982

• During the 1980 referendum Prime Minister Trudeau promised to bring our Constitution back from Britain and to add a Charter of Rights and Freedoms that would protect all Canadians.• In a hotel in Ottawa the premiers of

all the provinces agreed on some compromises as to what should go into the Constitution – all provinces except Quebec.