Chapter Seventeen
The Making of
Modern Quebec
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson Education Ltd.
1
The battle for Quebec’s soul.
During the 1995 Quebec
referendum debate
Charles Jefferson of
Ottawa raised a Canadian
flag over a street sign in
Montreal. The street, once
named Dorchester, a
British governor after the
conquest, was renamed
Boulevard RenéLévesque, for the late
Quebec premier, one of
the founders of he
mainstream separatist
movement in Quebec.
Robert Galbraith, Canadian Press (the shot appeared in the Globe and Mail, October 28, 1995
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson Education Ltd.
2
Premier Maurice Duplessis, third
from left at the front, at the
dedication of Ste-Thérèse Bridge,
August 18, 1946. To the right the
Most Rev. Joseph Charbonneau.
Church and state co-operated for
the mutual benefit of each.
National Archives of Canada/The Gazette/ C-53641.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson Education Ltd.
3
Executives from
Shawinigan Water and
Power taking French
lessons after the Liberals
nationalized the private
hydro-electric companies
in Quebec.
Fonds Commission hydroélectrique de Québec 1944-1963 (H2). H21701644. Resources humaines, formation: cours de français délivré aux employés de
la Companie d’électricité de Shawinigan, 1964. Image no. 32188-2.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson Education Ltd.
4
“Vive la France! Vive le
Québec! Vive le Québec
libre!” The crowd roared
with approval when
French President Charles
de Gaulle made his
famous remark at
Montreal’s City Hall, July
24, 1967, in support of an
independent Quebec.
CP Picture Archive.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson Education Ltd.
5
René Lévesque at the Paul
Sauvé Arena, Montreal,
on the night of the Quebec
election, October 29, 1973.
His recently created Parti
Québécois won 33 percent
of the popular vote in that
election, but only six seats.
By 1976, the party would
be in power.
Duncan Cameron/National Archives of Canada/PA-115039.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson Education Ltd.
6
The Quebec referendum
ballot, May 20, 1980. The
Parti Québécois asked only
for the right to negotiate
political sovereignty within
an economic association
with the rest of Canada, not
for immediate
independence.
Le Directeur Général des Élections du Québec.
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7
About 200 000 people
marched in Montreal’s St.
Jean Baptiste
Day parade, June 24, 1994.
The lead banner proclaims,
“Next year — My country.”
CP Picture Archive (Ryan Remiorz).
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson Education Ltd.
8
1995 Quebec Referendum
question.
Chief Electoral Officer of Québec.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson Education Ltd.
9
Lucien Bouchard (left) and
Jacques Parizeau (right) in
Quebec City on October 2,
1995, shortly before the
referendum. Premier
Parizeau resigned after the
referendum; Lucien
Bouchard
replaced him.
Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson Education Ltd.
10
Canada’s francophone
population, 1996. Note
the French-speaking
community’s strong majority position in Quebec,
but minority status (less
than 5 percent of the total
population) in all other
provinces and territories,
with the exception of
New Brunswick.
Source: Statistics Canada, 2001 Census, Highlight Tables, Mother Tongue: Canada, Provinces, Territories.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson Education Ltd.
11
Celine Dion
CP PHOTO/AP Photo/Express-News, Kevin Geil
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson Education Ltd.
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