Quebec’s history and geography clearly sets it apart as a distinct political and cultural North American region. It is uniquely the only large cultural hearth of French language, customs, and heritage on the continent. With this uniqueness comes solidarity among the people of Quebec and sometimes feelings of separation from the rest of Canada.
One thing that no one can doubt that brings together the nation of Canada is their national sport- hockey. Everyone knows that hockey is a well-loved competitive sport all over Canada but in Quebec their home team the Montreal Canadiens takes all the cheers. With Quebec’s sense of “isolation” their hockey team becomes one of pride and unity all over Quebec. By taking a closer look at the Province of
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With its 600,000 square miles of land area, it is the largest province in the country. “If this province were ever to secede from Canada, it would become the world’s 18th largest country in land area—more than twice the size of Texas and three times the size of France”(Hardwick, 2013, p. 109). Quebec takes up nearly one-sixth of Canadas’s total land area and is second in population (Ontario is first). In Figure 1, you can see the massive size of Quebec as compared to the rest of North America (WorldAtlas.com). Quebec has a predominantly French-speaking population with French being the official language of the province. Most people that live in Quebec live near the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City, the capital of the province. …show more content…
It has the claim of being the only French-speaking province in Canada. This fact sets it apart from all other regions in North America. Each group of people who settled in Canada contributed some cultural aspects to the modern Quebec cultures and traditions. The factors that contributed include the aboriginals, French-speaking Acadians, English settlers, the maritime tradition, and even Quebec’s harsh winter climate (Grunert). But no other group had as much influence as the French.
The Quebecois identity incorporates cultural aspects like values, norms, and customs that are derived from its French heritage. “90% of the Quebec population is Francophone and research suggests that the Quebecois identity is strongly associated with the defense of the French language and of the Quebecois cultural heritage” (Arias-Valenzuela, 2016, p. 4). Because the Quebecois identity thrives on cultural features that native-borns are accustomed to, non-natives may not or might find it difficult to identify with this cultural
As its own state Quebec would have the capacity to act, consolidate and further create their own cultural identity (Heard, 2013). For example, Quebec could foster the national language to be French. By gaining independence from Canada, Quebec can then create their own laws, own immigration rules and levy taxes (Heard, 2013). This would allow Quebec to be completely independent from the rest of Canada, but they would have connecting boarders like the United States and Canada do.
Quebec’s social identity and defining characteristics contradict and conflict with those of rest of Canada. Since the genesis of our country, the political, social disagreements, and tensions between Quebec and the rest of Canada have been unavoidable. Utilizing Hiller’s key contradictions in the analysis of a Canadian society, we will compare and contrast the nature of the societal identity in Quebec compared to that of rest of Canada, emphasising on the major differences and tensions between the province and the rest of the country.
Canada: The Quiet Revolution in Quebec The English-French relations have not always been easy. Each is always arguing and accusing the other of wrong doings. All this hatred and differences started in the past, and this Quiet revolution, right after a new Liberal government led by Jean Lesage came in 1960. Thus was the beginning of the Quiet Revolution.
The fall of Quebec was a turning point in Canadian history, changing it from a French colony to a British colony. Had this battle gone the other way, English might be the second language, not French. The battle of Quebec was one of many battles during the 'Seven Year War'. They called it the Maritime War. It was officially declared in May 1756. Britain and Prussia were on one side and France, Spain, and Austria on the other. The war moved across the Atlantic Ocean from Europe because the French and the British were fighting over furs and land. Britain, while subsidizing and aiding Prussia, its only European ally, sought victory in America and sent what was for that century an overwhelming number of regular troops in order to stiffen the military of the American colonies.
Quebec has struggled with a need to be maitres chez nous “masters of their own house” (Young, 1998). Many attempts at resolving Quebec's issues has resulted in tensions from both sides. Because Quebec has a strong national identity, and do not define themselves as strictly Canadian, Quebec is seen as difficult, unyielding and discontented. Quebec's separation perhaps is inedible and the future of Canada questionable. Canada without Quebec will bring about many complications and whether there is a rest of Canada (ROC) after Quebec a major challenge. Western alienation and the lack of representation in federal affairs will be a factor; moreover, past actions and historical events may have turned Canada into a time bomb, and the deterioration of the provinces the only sulotion. How First Ministers react to Quebec's sovereignty regarding economic factors, political structure, and constitutional issues will be of great importance. Whether emotional issues will play a major role in decision making is subjective; however, it is fair to say that it will be an emotionally charged event and it could either tear apart the ROC or fuse it together. Placing emphasis on investigating what keeps Canada together is perhaps the key to Canada's future, and salvaging a relationship with Quebec.
According to research conducted after the 1995 referendum, a large number of Quebecers, who speak French, believe that there is a real threat to the language. This is due to the fact that in the early 90s, francophones were the majority of people in Quebec, but that in the late 90s, they started to become the minority, which obviously scared a lot of people. By looking into more research as to why the population of French-speakers was decreasing, mostly in Montreal, it was found that as Montreal is a big, multicultural city, there are a lot of immigrants coming in, and dominating over the francophones. But this doesn’t explain why francophones are being replaced so rapidly. Looking into the population of French-speakers throughout the province on Quebec, it was found that the reason for the decrease in francophones in Montreal, is that many franchonphones are moving to the outer cities, which could mean that the French language threat which people perceive is due to people moving around, and not due to the decrease of French-speakers.
The native language of Quebec was French, and their religion was focused on the Roman Catholic Churches. It was different from the other nine provinces, which had a majority of English population following Protestant Churches. For the Quebecers, they felt that their distinct cultural identities had been neglected. They felt uncomfortable about being part of a nation that refused to understand their own culture, history, and language. The possibility that one day Quebec would be dominated by an English population threatened the stability of the French societies’ culture, language, and educational system.
One of the most contentious issues in Canada’s history is that of the Metis. Some people feel this unique group of people does not deserve any sort of recognition, whereas others believe their unique history and culture is something to be recognized and cherished. The history of the Metis people is filled with struggle; not only struggles against other powers, but also a struggle for self-identification. Despite strong opposition, the Metis people of Canada have matured as a political force and have taken great strides towards being recognized as a unique people.
In Canadian history, nationalism and sovereignty have been common themes prevalent since Confederation. A well-known example of this in Quebec was during the Quiet Revolution, which strengthened the need for change through Premier Lesage’s reforms and in turn, developed a strong sense of nationalism in Quebec. In contrast to beliefs that the rapid modernization of the Quiet Revolution had a positive impact on Quebec, it rather had a negative impact on Quebec and its citizens and identity. The three consequences which arose in Quebec as a result of the revolution are the encouragement of separatism, the elimination of traditional values and roles and the establishment of powerful bureaucratic control. Quebec’s attempt to be more like the rest of Canada and to protect French Canadian identity unleashed a new form of nationalism, capable of threatening Canada’s unity and destroying Quebec itself, as witnessed during the Quiet Revolution.
Canada is known by outsiders to be a very peaceful country. But if you ask any Canadian they well tell you that is unfortunately not the case. For there is a large ongoing conflict between Canadians. The conflict is between the French and the English, or more specifically between Quebec and the rest of Canada. As a result of this conflict, along with some wrongdoing and propaganda. Quebec has considered and has gone as far to hold referendums over Separatism (Surette,2014). Separatism is that the province of Quebec separates from the rest of Canada to form its own country. Which would have immense effects on indubitably Quebec but also the rest of Canada (Martin, 2014). This report will focus on the root causes and origin of Quebec Separatism, the current state of Quebec Separatism and finally how we as a society can act towards Quebec Separatism.
In general, Quebec is overwhelmingly French speaking, while the rest of Canada is overwhelmingly English speaking. Language has remained one of the key symbols of Quebecois nationalism and has been central in the arguments for the protection of a minority culture in Quebec. French Canadians were, and still are overwhelmingly Catholic, while English Canadians tend to be Protestant (Fitzmaurice, 1985). The cause of linguistic segmentation in Canada goes back to the British conquest in Quebec in 1759. The primary institution that has defined the character of French Canadian nationalism in Quebec from the mid 19th to the 20th century is the Roman Catholic Church (Fenwick, 1981). It was the Church that essentially articulated the values and dominated the culture of French Canada and it was the Church that helped provide the elite, which mediated relations between French Canadians and the
Henderson, Ailsa. Hierarchies of belonging: National identity and political culture in Scotland and Quebec. McGill-Queen's Press-MQUP, 2007.
I understand where the French-speaking Canadians are coming from. With the majority of French Canadians residing in the province of Quebec they feel like they are different than the rest of the country. As it stands now, Quebec is one of the more prosperous provinces in Canada, and I wonder if secession were to take place what would happen? We all know that it would take time to become successful, but who knows if they would ever return to the way it is now. Is the price too big to play? With the opposing sides at almost equal size it is important to come to a final situation. Before possible violence breaks out within the province.
...to identity with at least one of the countries predominate languages, English or French, dictated the degree in which they could participate in Canadian life. According to the Commission, this participation was real under two conditions: “that both societies, the French-speaking as well as the English-speaking, accept[ed] newcomers much more rapidly than they have done in the past; and that the two societies willingly allow other groups to preserve and enrich, if they so desire, the cultural values they prize[d]” (RCBB Book 1 xxv). It creates an interesting take on the acceptance of those “othered” groups, as change was necessary not only on the part of the minorities but also from Canada’s French and English-speakers. The Commissions work remains focused on language and culture, more so than ethnicity amongst a bilingual, bicultural and “othered” Canadian society.
Canada’s own identity starts with our remarkable sense of culture and customs. For the native peoples, the Canadian identity stretches thousands of years into the search of struggles to retain elements of their ancient culture. From a colonial perspective, the traditions which surface in Canadian culture seem to be born of an earlier time, of different origins and places, of old-fashioned rituals, and customs. Unlike the United States, its senior neighbor, Canada’s aged-like identity is more reserved and skillful, unwilling to commit it self to anything specific. Within each region of Canada-