The History of French English Relations in Canada

World War One Conscription Crisis

Jan 1, 1917

http://www.cbc.ca/history/EPISCONTENTSE1EP12CH2PA3LE.html
In 1917 the Canadian federal government decided to make conscription mandatory for youngmen and send them overseas to fight in the war. This enraged the French-Canadians who did not feel any ties to the British; they felt they should not be forced to defend them.

Creation of the Union Nationale Party

Jan 1, 1935

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/union-nationale/
The Union Nationale was a Quebec political party. It defended provincial autonomy, conservatism, economic liberalism and rural life.

The Duplessis Era/ The Great darkness

Jan 1, 1936

https://canadianhistoryformartians.wordpress.com/franco-anglo/the-boss-maurice-duplessis/
Maurice Duplessis was the Premier of Quebec from 1936-1939 and 1944-1959. This time in known as the Great Darkness because Duplessis discouraged unions and used strong arm tactics against them. He also refused money from the federal government and there was bad working conditions.

World War Two Conscirption Crisis

Jan 1, 1944

http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/newspapers/canadawar/conscription_e.shtml
The Conscription Crisis of the Second World War came after Prime Minister Mackenzie King had promised not to make military service compulsary. However high casualty rates forced him to change his promise and make conscription compulsary in 1944.

The Quiet Revolution

Jan 1, 1960

http://www.cbc.ca/history/EPISCONTENTSE1EP16CH1PA1LE.html
The Quiet Revolution was a period when Quebec went through a period of rapid reform and modernization. Jean Lesage replaces Duplessis after his death and starts modernizing education, politics and culture.

Quebec Separatist Movement

Jan 1, 1960

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/separatism/
During the beginning of the 1960s Quebec was the center of terrorist movements trying to separate Quebec from the rest of Canada and establish a French speaking nation.

Maitre Chez Nous

Jan 1, 1962

http://www.parli.ca/maitres-chez-nous/
"Maitre Chez Nous" was the rally cry of Jean Lesage's Quebec Liberals and means "masters in our own home." It was aimed at strengthening Quebec's economy, including electrical utilities.

Front de liberation du Quebec LQ party is formed

Jan 1, 1963

http://www.histori.ca/peace/page.do?pageID=342
The Front de liberation du Quebec was a national liberation movement founded in 1963. Its goal was to achieve Quebec independence by resorting to terrorism.

Canada's New Flag

Feb 15, 1965

http://www.canadahistory.com/sections/politics/Symbols/Flag.html
Under the Pearson government it was decided to have a flag without a British symbol on it. It also acted as a means to unify the country. The Maple Leaf flies for the first time.

Canada's immigration policy becomes "Colour Blind"

Jan 1, 1967

http://www.pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/immigration-regulations-order-in-council-pc-1967-1616-1967
Prior to this the immigration policy was restrictive, giving preference to English speaking applicants. Now the policy was based on the Points System, where applicants were scored. Jobs were given higher points than jobs in less demand.

Trudeau becomes Prime Minister

Jan 1, 1968

http://www.britannica.com/biography/Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau became leader of the Liberal Party on April 6th 1968, and two weeks later he became Prime Minister. He is a Federalist.

Bi & Bi Commission investigation

Jan 1, 1969

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/royal-commission-on-bilingualism-and-biculturalism/
In 1963, Leaster Pearson appointed the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism.The commission's report called for Canada to become more bilingual, with English and French as its two official languages.

Official Languages Act passed

Jan 1, 1969

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/official-languages-act-1969/
The Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism called for Canada to become more bilingual, with English and French as its two official languages. In 1969 Pierre Trudeau signed the Official Languages Act, making Canada officially bilingual.

The War Measures Act

Oct 1, 1970

http://www.canadahistoryproject.ca/1914/1914-04-war-measures-act.html
The War Measures Act was enacted again in 1970 when it was used to make searches and arrests during the FLQ Crisis when French Separatists were involved in murder and kidnapping.

The October Crisis (FLQ Crisis)

Oct 5, 1970

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/october-crisis/
The October Crisis was when the FLQ (Le Front de Liberation du Quebec) kidnapped British diplomat, James Cross. The FLQ wished the release of their FLQ prisoners before releasing Cross. The FLQ later kidnaps Pierre La Porte and Trudeau enacts War Measures Act, but La Ports strangled body is found in the trunk of a car.

Policy of Multiculturalism

Jan 1, 1971

http://www.pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/canadian-multiculturalism-policy-1971
Trudeau enacts the Policy of Multiculturalism in 1971. Multiculturalism encouraged people to express their cultures and in doing so would de-emphasize the French as the only cultural group in Canada.

Bill 22 introduced by Robert Bourassa

Jan 1, 1974

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/bill-22/
Bill 22, also known as The Charter of the French Language, made French the only language of Quebec. (It was no bilingual like the rest of Canada). Declining birth rates in Quebec saw the slow death of French Canada.

Immigration policy moves to 'sponsorship program'

Jan 1, 1976

http://www.pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/immigration-act-1976
Families and businesses could vouch for or sponsor a new immigrant, meaning they would take responsibility for this new person's set up in Canada.

1976 Parti Quebecois wins provincial election on Quebec

Jan 1, 1976

http://www.canadahistory.com/sections/eras/trudeau/pq_come_to_power.htm
The Liberals called an election for November 15, 1976. The Parti Quebecois who won 71 seats, which left the Liberals with just 26 seats. This showed the rest of Canada that Quebec would actually vote a separatist government into power.

Bill 101 introduced by Parti Quebecois

Jan 1, 1976

http://globalnews.ca/news/1237519/fact-file-what-is-bill-101/
Rene Levesque propsed Bill 101 to replace Bill 22. Bill 101 required that French be the language used by governments, courts and businesses in Quebec, and that commercial signs be displayed in French only.

Bill 101 passed

Aug 26, 1977

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/bill-101-is-official
Bill 101 is passed and is known as the Charter of the French Language. It created enormous backlash within Quebec and across the country. As a result, many English businesses left Quebec for other parts of Canada.

Referendum on Sovereignty Association

Jan 1, 1980

http://www.cbc.ca/history/EPISCONTENTSE1EP17CH1PA1LE.html
Levesque's government calls referendum asking Quebekers to vote yes to negotiating a new agreement with Canada based on soverignty-association. He propsed that Quebec become politically independent, yet maintain a close economic relationship with Canada. 40% yes, 60% no to soverignty-association.

The Constitution Act

Jan 1, 1982

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/patriation-of-the-constitution/
The new constitution included an amending formula, which gave Canadians the ability to make changes to the constitution (changes which would no longer require the consent of the British Parliament), and also included the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However Quebec felt betrayed and did not sign the constitution as the were left out of the agreement process.

Patriation of the Constitution

Jan 1, 1982

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/patriation-of-the-constitution/
1867 BNA Act fell under British jurisdiction and no changes chould be made without British approval. Prime Minister Trudeau wanted Canada's constitution to belong to Canada, and therefore proposed the Constitution Act of 1982. The ten premiers met to draft the new constitution. However on the final night all were awakened in the middle of the night to reach an agreement, except Rene Levesque. Quebec felt betrayed.

Brian Mulroney becomes Prime Minister

Jan 1, 1984

http://www.britannica.com/biography/Brian-Mulroney
Brian Mulroney, the leader of the Progressive Conservatives becomes Prime Minister in 1984, when the Liberals loose to the Progressive Conservatives.

Bloc Quebecois Formed

Jan 1, 1987

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/bloc-quebecois/
Lucien Bouchard, a powerful member of Mulroney's Cabinet, resigned in protest of the Meeach Lake Accord and formed the Bloc Quebecois. This party promotes Quebec's interests and Quebec sovereignty.

Reform Party Created

Jan 1, 1987

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/reform-party-of-canada/
The Reform Party of Canada was created in 1987. It was a Western-based political party formed to voice Western concerns at a national level. Preston Manning was chosen as its leader.

Meech Lake Accord 1987

Jan 1, 1987

http://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/politics/wells-government-meech.php
Prime Minister Mulroney and all ten premiers, including Quebec, met at Meech Lake to change the constitution to include Quebec. This was Brian Mulroney's attempt to create constitutional harmony by bringing Quebec into the fold. All ten premiers reached a tentative agreement at Meech Lake. Thus began a three-year race to get unanimous consent from Ottawa and the other nine provinces.

Department of Multiculturalism formed

Jan 1, 1988

http://www.pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/canadian-multiculturalism-act-1988
The Department of Multiculturalism was created in 1988. Supporters of multiculturalism felt that the policy of multiculturalism brought Canadians closer together by mutual respect. Critics felt that it hindered the creation of a national identity - that it would be better to follow the 'melting pot' model of the USA where people were encouraged to assimilate.

Meech Lake Accord 1990

Jan 1, 1990

http://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/politics/wells-government-meech.php
There were a number of concerns with the Meech Lake Accord. It included a clause that referred to Quebec as a 'distinct society'. In this context the term distinct society meant that French speakers in Quebec wanted a separate definition of what it meant to be Quebecois. This clause worried many English-Canadians. Therefore Man, NB and NFLD withold support and the accord disintegrates. Desire to separate rises to 64%.

Charlottetown Accord

Jan 1, 1992

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-charlottetown-accord/
As a result of the failure of the Meech Lake Accord, Quebec was still not included in Canada's constitution. Again, all leaders met in Charlottetown to try and reach a new agreement. The Charlottetown Accord was a new proposal which was similar to the Meech Lake Accord. This round of negotiations was called the Canada Round. Only four of the ten provinces approved the Charlottetown accord; 54% Canadians rejected it.

Parti Quebecois returned to power

Jan 1, 1994

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/parti-quebecois/
In 1994, the Parti Quebecois defeated the Liberals in the Quebec provincial election, and Jacques Parizeau became the Premier of Quebec.

2nd Referendum on Sovereignty Association

Oct 30, 1995

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec-referendum-1995/
The rejection of Charlottetown left many French-Canadians feeling that the rest of Canada was indifferent to their wishes. In 1995, Jacques Parizeau, Premier of the Parti Quebecois. held another referendum on the question of Quebec's sovereignty - whether or not to separate from Canada. The 'non' side won with 50.6%.

Clarity Bill and the Supreme Court decision

Jan 1, 1998

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-clarity-act-bill-c-20/
Prime Minister Jean Chretien sent the issue of Quebec separatism to Supreme Court of Canada in 1998. Courts rule that Quebec didn't have right to separate and would have to negotiate separation with federal government and 9 provinces before doing so. Chretien follows up with the 'clarity act/bill', which stated that any future referenda, Quebec must ask a clear question and win a clear majority.