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WHAT DOES QUEBEC WANT?

Explore the response of other provinces to Quebec's demands for recognition of its unique character and powers, within the context of Canadian political culture and federalism. Analyze potential solutions to language issues and the challenges of accommodation.

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WHAT DOES QUEBEC WANT?

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  1. WHAT DOES QUEBEC WANT? November 15, 2001

  2. The Response of the Other Provinces • the “Calgary Declaration” (1997) • all provinces and citizens are equal • recognizes Quebec “unique character” • if any constitutional amendment confers powers on one province, these powers must be available to all provinces • commitment to federal-provincial partnership • Quebec’s response to the Calgary Declaration • negative!

  3. Possible Avenues for Accommodation

  4. The Quebec Issue and... • the constitutional context • the political-cultural context • federalism • language • the international context

  5. Canadian Political Culture – Shaping the Response to Quebec • strong desire to remain distinct from the United States • Quebec is a central element of Canadian distinctiveness • Canadian political culture and the federalism issue • insistence on constitutional equality of the provinces • historical roots are unclear • many more precedents of provincial inequalities than equalities • insistence on limits to decentralization • having a strong federal government allows us to have the types of social programs that keep us distinct from the US

  6. Canadian Political Culture – Shaping the Response to Quebec • strong desire to remain distinct from the United States • Quebec is a central element of Canadian distinctiveness • Canadian political culture and the federalism issue • insistence on constitutional equality of the provinces • insistence on limits to decentralization

  7. Language Issues – Potential Solutions • pan-Canadian bilingualism • Charter of Rights and Freedoms • pan-Canadian rights • minority language education rights • not a solution for Quebec • minority language rights as a matter of federal responsibility • decisions must be made at the federal level -- where English Canadians are an overwhelming majority • the French language needs special protection within Quebec • Bill 22, Bill 101, Bill 178 • unpopular in unilingual English provinces

  8. Language Issues – Potential Solutions • pan-Canadian bilingualism • pan-Canadian bilingualism and special protection of French language in Quebec • least acceptable option to most English Canadians • seen as “unfair” • fairness requires either equality of individual rights • equal treatment of linguistic minorities or equal application of territorial unilingualism

  9. Language Issues – Potential Solutions • pan-Canadian bilingualism • pan-Canadian bilingualism and special protection of French language in Quebec • territorial unilingualism • unacceptable to English minorities in Quebec • unacceptable to French minorities outside Quebec • unacceptable to significant strand of English Canadian political culture • would require limits on pan-Canadian individual rights

  10. Language Politics – Defending Pan-Canadian Linguistic Rights • minority language rights – political defense • contribute to national unity • difficult to defend considering reaction of Quebec and various parts of Canada

  11. Language Politics – Defending Pan-Canadian Linguistic Rights • minority language rights – political defense • minority language rights in Quebec – rights-based defense • “My Canada includes Quebec.” (bumper sticker) • pan-Canadian linguistic rights as a right • preserves pan-Canadian mobility of English-speaking Canadians (Kymlicka) • Quebec reaction • pan-Canadian equality of linguistic rights ignores the fact that English as a language is not threatened

  12. Quebec and Canadian Political Culture • English Canada and Quebec both under threat • English Canada worried about Americanization • Quebec worried about linguistic (and hence cultural) assimilation • accommodation constrained by elements of Canadian political culture • strong federal government • equality of the provinces • equality of linguistic rights • inviolability of individual rights

  13. Quebec and Canadian Political Culture • English Canada and Quebec both under threat • accommodation constrained by elements of Canadian political culture • paradoxes • English Canada and Quebec share some of the same fears – yet it is these fears that makes it so difficult for them to see the point of view of the other • English Canada wants Quebec to stay to keep us from being like the Americans but accommodation is made difficult by our attachment to American-like ideals

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