One of the main concerns since the creation of the Canadian Confederation in 1867 has been the Quebec question. Nowadays, it is still a big issue in Canadian politics. Quebec has always appeared as a 'distinct society' within the country. It is the core of the main cleavage in Canada: the linguistic cleavage between French and English. Quebec also claims cultural and ethnic specificity. For the Quebec separatists, these particularities justify the independence of the province. They consider that Quebec is like a colony and they do not want to be ruled by the English majority anymore. Two referendum had already taken place in order to know if it was the will of the majority of the Quebeckers. The first occurred in 1980 and the Quebeckers refused the proposed 'sovereignty-association' (40% were in favour of the proposition). But in 1995, the result of the second referendum was not that clear (49.9% of 'yes'), even though the 'no' side won again. More than ten years later, we wonder what the current aspirations concerning the Quebec independence movement are and how the separatist movement dealt with those two defeats.
[...] Quebec debates its future. (Oolichan Books and the Institute for Research on Public Policy, 1991). Page 1. FIDLER, Richard. Canada, Adieu ? Quebec debates its future. (Oolichan Books and the Institute for Research on Public Policy, 1991). Page 23. YOUNG, Robert. The Struggle for Quebec. (McGill-Queen's University Press, 1999). Page 127. DORAN, Charles. Why Canadian Unity Matters and why American Care. Democratic Pluralism at Risk. (University of Toronto Press, 2001). Page 67. www.cbc.ca Stats Can FIDLER, Richard. Canada, Adieu ? [...]
[...] If this essay aims at checking the potential threat that the Quebec separatism represent for the Canadian unity, it means that we consider that this movement is powerful. So we will first have a look on the elements which allow us to affirm that the Quebec separatism remains powerful. We could assert that the two previous referenda and their failure weakened the movement in favour of an independent Quebec. But in fact, history is what makes the strength of separatism. [...]
[...] As Charles Doran argues, the success of Quebec separatism could trigger off awareness of First Nations. In fact, Natives could take exactly the same arguments as Quebeckers to justify secession. They could argue that their history, their geographical concentration (in the territory on Nunavut for example) and their particular culture are sufficient reasons for a separation. The independence of Quebec would also question the existence of Canada. There would be a necessary reconstruction and “reconstitution”[30] of the country and no one knows what would be the result of it. [...]
[...] Why Canadian Unity Matters and why American Care. Democratic Pluralism at Risk. (University of Toronto Press, 2001). Page 67. YOUNG, Robert. The Struggle for Quebec. (McGill-Queen's University Press, 1999). Page 124. FIDLER, Richard. Canada, Adieu ? Quebec debates its future. (Oolichan Books and the Institute for Research on Public Policy, 1991). Page 36. DORAN, Charles. Why Canadian Unity Matters and why American Care. (University of Toronto Press, 2001). Page 76. YOUNG, Robert. The struggle for Quebec. (McGill-Queen's University Press, 1999). Page 127. DORAN, Charles. Why Canadian [...]
[...] Canada is mainly Protestant or Anglican, whereas Quebec is primarily Roman Catholic. Even if religion has lost a great part of its former influence in this region and is quite weak now, it remains, to some degree, a supplementary cleavage between Quebec and the rest of Canada. Even the shape of the state is significant; Canada is a federalist state and this allows a strong regionalism. Of course, Canada cannot be considered only as a ‘country of regions' and all of its regions do not have aspirations to independence. [...]
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