The Parti Québécois is a provincial party in Québec City. The party was formed by René Lévesque, who was its leader from 1968 to 1982. In that period, the PQ formed the government in Quebec from 1976 to 1982. They published "Quebec Canada A New Deal" (188k full text) in 1979, outlining their desire to take Quebec out of the Canadian federation.
Lévesque
Founder of the Party |
There was a referendum on secession in 1980, though it's hard to find in the question:
"The government of Quebec has made public its proposal to negotiate a new agreement with the rest of Canada based on the equality of nations; This agreement would enable Quebec to acquire the exclusive power to make its own laws, levy its taxes and establish relations abroad -- in other words, sovereignty -- and, at the same time to maintain with Canada an economic association including a common currency; No change in political status resluting from these negotiations will be effected without approval by the people through another referendum; ON THESE TERMS DO YOU GIVE THE GOVERNMENT OF QUEBEC THE MANDATE TO NEGOTIATE THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT BETWEEN QUEBEC AND CANADA? _____ Yes _____ No."
 40.44%
|
 59.56%
|
Parizeau
Led Second Secession Attempt |
After the defeat, Lévesque stated "...until next time" (hear it). The next leader was Pierre-Marc Johnson, followed in 1988 by a Lévesque minister Jacques Parizeau. Mr Parizeau was leader until 1996. During that period, the PQ formed the goverment from 1994-1996 (1994 Election platform).
There was a second referendum on secession in 1995 (direct cost $63.5 million), with a shorter yet still unclear question:
"Do you agree that Quebec should become sovereign, after having made a formal offer to Canada for a new Economic and Political Partnership, within the scope of the Bill respecting the Future of Quebec and of the agreement signed on June 12, 1995 Yes or No?"
 49.42%
|
 50.58%
|
After the people again said no, Parizeau gave an infamous speech blaming the loss on "money and the ethnic vote." |
Bouchard: waiting for
'winning conditions' |
The next leader of the PQ was Lucien Bouchard. The PQ currently forms the provincial government in Québec City (government website).
The PQ is a 'rainbow' coalition with members
spanning from far right to far left, from moderate to fanatical. The glue
that ties the party together is ethnic nationalism, manifesting in a call
for a separate and independent state. Their party apparatus is as sophisticated
as any western democratic party (see 1996 convention highlights).
The 1998 election saw the federalist Liberals obtain
more votes than the PQ, but the PQ got the
bulk of the seats in the provincial legislature (see their 1998 platform, in French).
The party spends millions on promoting the secession strategy on the
international stage. France is their main ally, supportive of the secessionist project since Charles de Gaulle shouted "Vive le Québec libre!" in Montreal in the 1960s. Current French President Jacques Chirac has been less boisterous, preferring a policy of "accompanying Quebec on whichever course it chooses." US President Clinton, however, made Canadian history by speaking out against secession in 1999 in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec. His speech only referred to Quebec once, and reiterated the US policy of supporting a "strong and united Canada". But it was crystal-clear to whom he was speaking, even making eye contact with Bouchard in the front row at key points in the address.
Meanwhile, Bouchard knew he didn't have 50% of the population on side. If he asked a straight question, the answer's even more straight - on average 'no' by 65-35. Still, he had to placate the nationalist wing of his party, so he came up with the concept of 'winning conditions'. This bought him time; he would only call a referendum (RIII, we call it) when winning conditions are in place. Bouchard faced this undemocratic doctrine, coupled with the fact that the PQ has been told 'no' twice by the population, unflinchingly. It is also unquestioned by the Quebec media, which is largely nationalist.
This is all interplayed with a 1998 Supreme Court of Canada ruling on secession, which states the PQ must obtain a clear majority (50% +1 being only a 'simple majority') and ask a clear question for the federal government to negotiate secession.
In early 2001, following a row caused by antisemetic statements made by a prominent PQ member, it was all to much for Bouchard, and he quit unexpectedly, joining a prominent federalist law firm in Montreal.
The current leader of the PQ is hardliner Bernard Landry, who started his term by calling the Canadian flag "bits of red rag" and ramping up secessionist rhetoric.
TALE OF THE NUMBERS
(party with most votes in red)
Election
Date |
A.D.Q. |
P.C. |
P.É. |
P.L.Q. |
P.N.P. |
 |
R.C. |
U.N. |
IND. |
|
5.6.66 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
50 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
56 |
2 |
|
29.4.70 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
72 |
-- |
7 |
12 |
17 |
-- |
|
29.10.73 |
-- |
2 |
-- |
102 |
-- |
6 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
15.11.76 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
26 |
1 |
71 |
1 |
11 |
-- |
|
13.4.81 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
42 |
-- |
80 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
2.12.85 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
99 |
-- |
23 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
25.9.89 |
-- |
-- |
4 |
92 |
-- |
29 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
12.9.94font face="Arial" size="2">6 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
15.11.76 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
26 |
1 |
71 |
1 |
11 |
-- |
|
13.4.81 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
42 |
-- |
80 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
2.12.85 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
99 |
|
1 |
-- |
-- |
47 |
-- |
77 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
30.11.98 |
1 |
-- |
-- |
48 |
-- |
12.9.94font face="Arial" size="2">6 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
15.11.76 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
26 |
1 |
71 |
1 |
11 |
-- |
|
13.4.81 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
42 |
-- |
80 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
2.12.85 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
99 |
n="center">
76 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
A.D.Q. |
Action démocratique du Québec |
P.N.P. |
Parti national populaire |
|
P.C. |
Parti créditiste / Creditiste Party |
|
Parti québécois |
|
12.9.94font face="Arial" size="2">6 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
15.11.76 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
26 |
1 |
71 |
1 |
11 |
-- |
|
13.4.81 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
42 |
-- |
80 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
2.12.85 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
99 |
p align="left">P.É. |
Parti égalité / Equality Party |
R.C. |
Créditiste / Social Credit |
|
P.L.Q. |
Parti libéral du Québec / Québec Liberal Party |
U.N. |
Union nationale |
|
|
|
IND. |
Indépendant |
