History of French English Relations in Canada

  • World War One Conscription Crisis

    World War One Conscription Crisis
    Recruitment and Conscription The federal government decided in 1917 to conscript young men for overseas military service. French-Canadians, as well as others, opposed this measure.
  • Period: to

    Duplessis/Era of Great Darkeness

    Duplessis EraDuplessis was known for supporting the Catholic Church & Catholic education. Resulting in Quebec schools graduating many teachers, philosophers + theologians NOT business men, entrepreneurs etc.. As a result, Quebec's economy becomes stagnant. Duplessis = Premier of Quebec + leader of the Union Nationale Party believed Quebec should be recognized as a Distinct Society. Bribery + corruption were also it's trademarks.
  • World War Two Conscription Crisis

    World War Two Conscription Crisis
    Conscription in WW2 Prime Minister Mackenzie King, due to the opposition from the French Canadians during the First World War, promised that there would be no conscription for overseas service, but there was a demand for soldiers so he had to go against his promise.
  • Separatist Movement

    Separatist Movement
    SeparatismSeparatist movement gained momentum, Separatism is most commonly associated with various movements or parties in Quebec. Some violent radical fringe movements committed to independence also operated during this decade, most notably the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ).
  • Quiet Revolution

    Quiet Revolution
    Quiet RevolutionIt was deemed quiet because there was no bloodshed. Lesage actually won the election, under the motto, "Maitre chez nous" - meaning master of our own house. Jean Lesage replaces Duplessis after his death & starts modernizing education, politics and culture. FLQ party is born (extreme separatist organization).
  • Canada's New Flag

    Canada's New Flag
    National Flag of CanadaUnder the Pearson government it was decided to have a flag without a British symbol on it. It also acted as a means to unify the country, the maple leaf flew for the first time.
  • Canada's Immigration Policy becomes "Colour Blind"

    Canada's Immigration Policy becomes "Colour Blind"
    Immigration Policy in CanadaPrior to this the immigration policy was restrictive, giving preference to English speaking (British of US) applicants. Now the policy was based on the points system where applications were scored. Jobs in need in Canada were given higher points that jobs in less demand etc...
  • Bi & Bi Commission

    Bi & Bi Commission
    Official Languages ActA product of the research and fact-finding mission of the Bi - and Bi Commission aka the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism who discovered that French Canadians alienation from the rest of Canada was growing and prolematic. The commission recommended bilingualism in an attempt to unify the country.
  • Trudeau Becomes President

    Trudeau Becomes President
    TrudeauAfter Pearson announced his retirement, Pierre Trudeau started to campaign for leadership of the Liberal Party. He won by a lot, and was a popular man.
  • FLQ Crisis/October Crisis + the War Measures Act

    FLQ Crisis/October Crisis + the War Measures Act
    October Crisis
    After growing separatist sentiments, the FLQ stepped up their acts of aggression by kidnapping the British diplomat, James Cross. The FLQ wished the release of their FLQ prisoners before they released Cross. FLQ later kidnaps Pierre La Porte. Trudeau enacts WMA but La Porte's strangled body is found in the trunk of a car.
  • Policy of Multi-Culturalism

    Policy of Multi-Culturalism
    Canadian MulticulturalismMulticulturalism encouraged people to express their cultures and in doing so, would de-emphasize the French as the only cultural group in Canada. Recall that Trudeau is a federalist - he believes unifying Canada, not a French Separatist).
  • BIll 22 Introduced by Robert Bourassa

    BIll 22 Introduced by Robert Bourassa
    Bill 22
    This made French the only langauge of Quebec (NOT bilingual like the rest of Canada). Rationale: declining birth rates in Quebec saw the slow death of Fr.Can. Bill 22's others name was "The Charter of the French Language.
  • Parti Quebecois wins provinical election in Quebec

    Parti Quebecois wins provinical election in Quebec
    Parti QuebecoisThe party was led by Rene Levesque who promised separation by holding a provincial referendum.
  • Bill 101 introduced by Parti Quebecois, Rene Levesque

    Bill 101 introduced by Parti Quebecois, Rene Levesque
    Bill 101 This would make French the only official language of Quebec. There was some dissent, one side felt French culture was endangered and many Quebeckers felt Bill 101 was a symbol of oppresion/too extreme.
  • Immigration policy moves to 'sponsorship program"

    Immigration policy moves to 'sponsorship program"
    Forging Our Legacy Families and businesses could vouch for or sponsor a new immigrant, meaning they would take responsibility for the new person's set up in Canada.
  • 1976 Bill 101 passed

    1976 Bill 101 passed
    Bill 101Similar to Bill 22 but also requires all signage to change to French in Quebec, all gov't offices, schools .. everywhere.
  • Referendum on Sovereignty Association

    Referendum on Sovereignty Association
    SALevesque's government calls a referendum asking Quebeckers to vote yes to negotiating a new agreement with Canada based on sovereignty-association. He proposed that Quebec become politically independent, yet maintain a close economic relationship with Canada. PM Trudeau campaigned to Quebeckers against the separation and promised to negotiate a new constituition that recognized Quebec as an equal partner in Confederation & as a distinct society within Canada. The reuslt? 60% voted NO.
  • Patriation of the Constituition

    Patriation of the Constituition
    ConstituitionNov 4 1981 over late night coffees in the kitchen of the National Conference Centre, federal justice minister and the ministers from Sk & Ont hammer out the "kitchen compromise". 9 out of the 10 provincial Premiers were awakened from their rooms and asked to approve the deal. The Premiers agreed to accept Chart if 'notwithstanding clasue" was added.
  • Constituition Act

    Constituition Act
    CA
    April 17, 1982 - Trudeau went ahead and new constiution signed by QE II and Trudeau at Ottawa Parliament buildings. Our constituition had come home (Quebec flags at half mast, rest of Canada had parties).
  • Brian Mulroney becomes PM

    Brian Mulroney becomes PM
    Brian Mulroney
    Leader of the Progressive Conservative party. He promised to gain Quebec's consent to the constituition with honour and enthusiasm. He won the most seats in all of Canadian history.
  • Meech Lake Accord

    Meech Lake Accord
    MLAPM mulroney calls Premiers to conference at Meech Lake proposing amendments to the constituition. 1 amendment was called the Meech Lake accord which offered to recognize Quebec as a distinct society, give more power to the Provinces. Meech became known as the Quebec Round of constutuitional amendments. Result: Manitoba, NB & NFLD withheld their support and the accord disintegrates.
  • Reform Party Created

    Reform Party Created
    reformRobert Bourassa was in office in Quebec at the time. Canada had other problems including growing western alienation due to oil crisis of 1970s and Alberta and Newfoundland wanted senate reforms, and Ottawa awarded a multi billion $ contract to Que rather than Winnipeg etc. The founder and leader of the Reform Party was Preston Manning.
  • Bloc Quebecois formed

    Bloc Quebecois formed
    BQLucien Bouchard (a powerful member of Mulroneys Cabinet) resigned from the Meech Lake Accord and formed the Bloc Quebecois. First test for them was the Charlottetown Accord.
  • Department of Multiculturalism formed

    Department of Multiculturalism formed
    MultiThe governments committment to promote the full and equitable participation of individuals and communities of all origins in the continuing evolution of Canadian society.
  • Charlottetown Accord

    Charlottetown Accord
    CA
    This accord proposed: reforming the senate making it an elected body with equal representation from all parts of the country, Aboriginal Self Gov't, univeral health care, workers rights and environmental protection. %54.5 of Canadians rejected this because there were too many clauses with faults.
  • Parti Quebecois return to power

    Parti Quebecois return to power
    PQQuebec is angered by constituition debates and and re elect PQ leader in provincial election (premier Jacques Parizeau).
  • 2nd Referendum on Sovereignty Association

    2nd Referendum on Sovereignty Association
    2ndParizeau (new leader of PQ) calls referndum on full sovereignty. %49.4 vote no. No permanent settlement was clear. Bouchard became Premier again and revisited sovereignty while PM Jean Chretien began planning for a future vote about the same issue.
  • Clarity Bill and the Supreme Court decision

    Clarity BillChretien follows up with the clarity act/bill whch stated that any future referenda, Quebec must ask a clear question and win a clear majority, making it impossible for Quebec to gain independece from Candaa through a referendum.