- started by Premier Jean Lesage (Liberal)
- a movement to modernize politics, industry, education, and social services in Quebec
- growing demands for special status for Quebec
- provincial legislature renamed the National Assembly
- HydroQuebec nationalized (i.e. taken over by the government) for greater Francophone control over the province's energy supply
- more emphasis on being Quebecois than Canadien
1968: Rene Levesque leads the formation of the Parti Quebecois (PQ) out of the Liberal party. Its goal: Sovereignty Association for Quebec(i.e. a type of independence for Quebec but with close ties to Canada).
1970: FLQ Crisis (see earlier work as well for details)
1976: PQ forms the Quebec provincial government
1977: PQ passes Bill 101 making French the only language of business, education, and communications in Quebec. Therefore, English signs became illegal.
1980: Sovereignty-Association Referendum in Quebec Yes: 40% No: 60%
1982: Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau officially brings Canada's Constitution "home" from Britain with a Charter of Rights and Freedoms. All provinces agree to this except Quebec. Why did Quebec not agree?
- the Charter would guarantee people access to English speaking schools. Quebec wanted to put limits on who could attend English schools in the province- bilingualism was imposed more heavily on Quebec than Ontario although Ontario has the largest minority French speaking population of any province- the constitution did not recognize Quebec as a "distinct society"
1985: PQ voted out and the Liberals take over the Quebec provincial government
1987: PM Brian Mulroney tries to address Quebec's constitutional demands with the Meech Lake Accord. It would recognize Quebec as a "distinct society within Canada" with the power to "preserve and promote its society". Questions arose as to how much power Quebec was being given. Would a Quebec provincial government be able to legally restrict freedom of expression? (i.e. banning English signs). Note: Under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Bill 101 was deemed illegal by the courts, however it could continue with the use of the notwithstanding clause. In order for the Meech Lake Accord to become law, it needed the approval of all the provinces and the federal government. Manitoba and Newfoundland opposed it and it was defeated.
1989: BC passes a provincial law requiring a referendum for approval of any future proposed constitutional changes affecting BC
1992: PM Mulroney puts forward the Charlottetown Accord; similar to the Meech Lake Accord with Senate reform and other add ons. Rejected in a national referendum.
1992: Bloc Quebecois (BQ) forms led by Lucien Bouchard - a former Mulroney Cabinet Minister. Its goal: Independence for Quebec.
1993: English on commercials signs in Quebec becomes legal again but French must be included in larger print
1993: Federal Election: - Jean Chretien becomes Prime Minister - BQ forms Official Opposition
1994: Quebec Provincial Election: PQ wins with Jacques Parizeau as Premier
1995: Quebec Independence Referendum. BQ and PQ work together to try and gain independence for Quebec, but the effort falls just short. Yes: 49.4% No: 50.6%
1995: After a close referendum, Chretien passes a resolution in the House of Commons recognizing Quebec as a "distinct society". Note: This is not a constitutional change; many separatists would argue that the gesture is only symbolic and does not give Quebec new powers to promote and protect its society.
1996: Lucien Bouchard leaves the BQ in Ottawa and joins the PQ in Quebec becoming the new Premier after Jacques Parizeau resigns. Note: In Quebec, the premier is referred to as Prime Minister.
1997: Federal Election: Jean Chretien wins again, but the BQ loses its Official Opposition status to the Reform party
1998: All provinces, except Quebec, pass resolutions recognizing Quebec's "unique character" but maintaining equality amongst all provinces. This is known as the Calgary Declaration. Again this is not a constitutional change and separatists view it as a shallow attempt at appeasing Quebec.
late 1998: Quebec Provincial Election. The Parti Quebecois is re-elected. Premier Bouchard says he will call another referendum on Quebec Independence when "winning conditions" are in place.
2000: Federal Election. The Bloc Quebecois loses further support.
2001: Lucien Bouchard resigns as Quebec premier citing his inability to gain independence for the province amid impatience by hard core separatists at his cautious approach. Bernard Landry takes over as PQ premier.