Political Change and TurmoilPolitical LeadersQuiet RevolutionFLQOfficial Languages ActOctober Crisis

Pearson VS DiefenbakerPearson Diefenbaker• Appealed to younger,

urban voters, especially in Central Canada

• Wanted Canada to sever British connections and create an identity meaningful to all Canadians- both French and English

• Introduced trial abolition of the death penalty and easier divorce laws

• Introduced Canada's flag 1965

• Nationalist-wanted to preserve British heritage and stand up to American influence

• Helped create the Bill of Rights• 1st Prime Minister to include

women in his cabinet and appoint an Aboriginal senator

• Gave Aboriginals on reserves the right to vote

• Unpopular with French Canadians due to belief that all Canadians are equal

The Flag DebateMany Canadians saw the old flag as too British

for modern Canada •Led to a debate in Canada- English Canadians wanted to keep the Red Ensign - French Canadians wanted a new flag

Feb 15 1965 the new flag was raised on Parliament

- While English Canadians regaurd the flag with pride, French Canadians continue to fly primarily the Fleur-de-lys

Then and Now

Social Welfare in Canada1966 Pearson expanded Social Welfare programs in

Canada• The Canada Pension Plan- Improved upon existing pension plans

• The Canada Assistance Plan- To help the provinces finance social assistance

programs for people in need

• Medical Care Act- Introduced universal health care

Trudeau: A National Celebrity• A relaxed and charismatic

French Canadian who appealed to the young

• Strong federalist• Drove sports cars, dated

models, went to nigh clubs, very popular with women

• Seen as a rock star- Crowds swarmed his

appearances

Trudeau: Just Society• Though Canada should be

a just society for all Canadians

• Believed that government had a duty to protect the rights and freedoms of people and to foster their economic and social well being

• Did not believe that government had the right to interfere with civil liberties

Jean Lesage• 1960 Liberal who came to

power in Quebec after Duplessis death

Announced it was a Time for Change and wanted to end government corruption

- Contracts and jobs now awarded based on merit not connection

- Wages and pensions increased

- Removed restrictions on trade unions

Quiet Revolution• A wave of change in which the Quebec

government modernized the economy, politics, education, and culture

• People were encouraged to think for themselves which led to a decline in the influence of the Catholic Church

• Expanded social services and education- Students were now required to take more

sciences and technology courses

The Birth of Separatism• Quebec nationalism and separatism born in the

1960s/70s• Resented English Canadian dominance in Canada- The national capital was mostly English speaking- wanted more French speaking politicians in the

cabinet- French schools and hospitals should be available

outside of Quebec- French shouldn’t be expected to speak English in

stores and work

Parti Quebecois PQ• Broke away from the

Liberals• Led by Rene Levesque• Supported Separation

• Believed that Canada and Quebec should divorce peacefully than to continue a marriage of two cultures that seemed unworkable

Front de Liberation du Quebec• FLQ terrorist group

fighting for an independent country of Quebec

• Blew up mailboxes and attacked symbols of English Canadian power in Quebec

• Resorted to kidnapping and bombings

Bi and Bi Commission•Royal Commission on Bilingualism and

Biculturalism- To investigate solutions to help French

Canadians feel more a part of a united Canada

Recommended that Canada become bilingual with both French and English as the official languages of Canada and adopt strategies to protect language minorities

Official Languages Act• Official Languages

Act (1969), federal statute that declares French and English to be the official languages of Canada,

• All federal institutions must provide their services in English or French at the customer's choice.

• Both languages taught in schools across the country

Official Languages Act Faced mixed reviews

Some Western Canadians felt Some French Canadians- French was being forced

upon them- Ottawa was being

controlled by Quebec while the Western provinces were being ignored

• Wanted special status for Quebec in which it did not have to include English

• Trudeau insisted Quebec be treated like any other province

October Crisis: Kidnapping• Oct 1970 members of the

FLQ kidnapped British diplomat James Cross

- demanded the release of FLQ members serving prison sentences and a public reading of the FLQ manifesto

- Quebec Premier agreed to all term but the release of prisoners, so the FLQ kidnapped Quebec Labour minister Pierre Laporte

October Crisis: Trudeau Fights Back• In response, Trudeau

imposed the War Measures Act

- First time it was used in peace time

- Suspended Canadians civil rights so anyone could be arrested and detained without being charged

• Outlawed the FLQ

• Trudeau “Just Watch Me”

On Oct 16 federal troops patrolled the streets of Ottawa and Montreal. Hundreds of pro-separatists were arrested. This hard line approach was uncharacteristic of Trudeau’s government and led to massive protests

End of the October Crisis• Oct 17th 1970 the body of

Pierre Laporte was found in the truck of a car

• His murder increased pressure in the government to crack down on the FLQ

• James Cross was handed over after 60 days in exchange for safe passage to Cuba

- Out of 450 people detained, most were released without charges

Bill 22Made French the sole language in Quebec

to be used in civic administration and services and in the workplace

- Done to pacify French separatists after the October Crisis

- forced hundreds of thousands of businesses and professionals who were not proficient in French to move out of the province

Bill 101• 1976 the Part Quebecois won

the provincial election- Wanted to strengthen the

French language and fight English influences in Quebec

Passed Bill 101 which specified- French was the only official

language and all government employees had to work in French

- Commercial outdoor signs in French only

- Children of immigrants must attend French schools