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   @           #-X@ USUK  2         >      F                      #| x     Quebec's Quiet revolution: What is it?  How has it changed Quebec's 
             society?  How has it affected Confederation?


 The EnglishFrench relations have not always been easy.  Each
is always arguing and accusing the other of wrong doings.  All this
hatred and differences started in the past, and this Quiet
revolution, right after a new Liberal government led by Jean Lesage
came in 1960.  Thus was the beginning of the Quiet Revolution.

 Lesage had an excellent team of cabinet ministers which
included Rene Levesque.  The Liberals promised to do two things
during the Quiet Revolution; one was to improve economic and social
standards for the people of Quebec, and the other was to win
greater respect and recognition for all the French people of
Canada.  The Liberals started a program to take control of hydroelectric power companies.  FrenchCanadian engineers from all over
Canada returned to Quebec to work on the project.  Slogans during
these times were "we can do it" and "masters in our own homes". 
The government also started to replace programs the Church
previously ran, which included hospital insurance, pension schemes
and the beginning of MediCare.  For these programs, the Quebec
Liberals had to struggle with Ottawa for a larger share of the tax
dollars.

 One of the greatest reforms was the modernization of the
entire school system.  The Church used to own the schools of
Quebec.  Most of the teachers were Priests, Nuns and Brothers. 
They provided a good education but Quebec needed more in business
and technology.  Lesage wanted a governmentrun school system that
would provide Quebec with people in engineering, science, business
and commerce.

 With the new freedom of expression, lots of books, plays and
music about French culture were all developed in Quebec.  French
contemporary playwrights were very famous during that time. 
However, not all was going well in Quebec.  The FrenchEnglish
relation was going bad.  Many studies showed that FrenchCanadian
Quebecers were earning the lowest wage in all of the ethnic groups
in Canada.  Other complaints were that the top jobs in Quebec were
given to English speaking Canadians.  Canada was going through the
worst crisis in its history, and unless equal partnership was found
a breakup would likely happen.  Some Quebecers thought that
separation was the only solution.  They thought that as long as
Quebec was associated with the rest of Canada, FrenchCanadians
would never be treated equal.

 The FLQ (Front De Lib)ration Du Qu)bec) was founded in 1963. 
It was a smaller, more forceful group of separatists.  They were a
collection of groups of young people whose idea was to use
terrorism to achieve independence for Quebec.  The ALQ (L'Arm)e de
Lib)ration de Quebec) was even more of a violent separatist group. 
Some of their actions included robbing banks in order to get money. 
For their ammunition they had to raid arms depots of the Canadian   h)        0*0*0*  Armed Forces.

 There were many Federalists that believed that separatism had
no future and that FrenchCanadians could play a role in a bilingual Canada.  There were three Quebec men that believed in
Federalism.  These men were Liberals and their names were Pierre
Trudeau, Jean Marchand and G)rard Pelletier.  The President of
France, General De Gaulle came to Quebec in 1967 and gave speeches
to separatist groups that deemed him an enthusiast of the thoughts
of the separatists in the struggle to fight for the liberation of
Quebec.  The Prime Minister at the time, Lester B. Pearson,
criticized De Gaulle's remarks and said that Quebec belonged to
Canada and there was no need for their liberation.  In 1970,
British Trade Commissioner James R. Cross was kidnapped by FLQ and
wanted in return for Cross, 23 political prisoners.  Quebec Labour
Minister, Pierre Laporte was also kidnapped which started a Quebec
crisis.  After a few months Cross returned when Laporte was
assassinated.  The Quebec crisis ended several years of violence in
Quebec.  This crisis made many Quebecers upset because Ottawa sent
the army into Quebec.  Therefore EnglishFrench turmoil did not
end.

 Rene Levesque was a leader who became very popular in Quebec
with his views on independence.  In 1976, Rene Levesque and the
Parti Quebecois won the Provincial election.  Now many Quebecers
thought he could build up Quebec.  Since many French were lower
then English in status, Quebecers thought the Parti Quebecois could
do something about it.

 Then the two languages became a major issue.  Many businesses
had a sign in French only, and doctors and nurses had to speak
French.  These were all effects on Bill 101 by the Parti Quebecois. 
Immigrants were educated only in French.  Businesses accused the
Parti Quebecois of practising economic blackmail.

 Quebec Nationalists wanted an independent state so that they
could have full control over their territory.  But many top
authorities in Canada say it is not legal for a Province to leave. 
Levesque said that he wanted a Quebec that was independent but
joined Canada in the market.  Levesque wanted to protect Quebec
culture.  Many people in Quebec opposed the separation.  An
organization called the Positive Action Committee was formed to
help fight the separation dispute.

 Quebec was not the only Province that wanted more political
power for themselves.  Canada was working an a new Constitution and
wanted to replace the BNA Act of 1867.  If a new Constitution was
made, Quebec might remain a part of Canada.  The Constitution had
to make all the Provinces happy.  It would have to recognize the
partnership between the French and the English in the history of
Quebec.  The Federal  Liberals probably helped tip the balance in
favour of the no vote.

 The referendum campaign in the early 80's was intense.    h)         0*0*0*  Premier of Quebec, Rene Levesque and the PQ desperately wanted the
vote to be a resounding "oui".  The referendum was a critical test
for the PQ government.  The PQ's (Parti Quebecois) was elected out
of the separatist platform.  Their party represented the bone of
forming independence of Quebec.  In order for the independence
movement to take greater strides, the Parti Qubecois would have to
encourage an "our" vote in the Referendum.  There were intense
battles to win the opinion and admiration of the Quebec population
with ads in newspapers, magazines, on T.V and radio.  With a
resounding "no vote" in the makings, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau
was prepared to bring on the Constitution.  Trudeau made a speech
on May 14th, which was a sincere commitment to a new Canada.  He
was determined that Canada would have a new Federal system of
government. 

 




