Quebecois Independence Quebecois Independence MovementMovement

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FactsFacts• Click on the links to read about the Click on the links to read about the

Quebecois Independence Movement:Quebecois Independence Movement:• The Changed Vision of Quebec Indepen

dence• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation arti

cle

• Who: Segment of French-Speaking Who: Segment of French-Speaking QuebecoisQuebecois

• When: Present Day (1995 When: Present Day (1995 Quebec Quebec Mandate)Mandate)

• Why: They feel their culture is Why: They feel their culture is threatened by threatened by English-English-dominated Canada dominated Canada

• Where: Quebec, CanadaWhere: Quebec, Canada

• How: Seek to peacefully become an How: Seek to peacefully become an independent nationindependent nation

• Quebecois for independence have Quebecois for independence have found little international support. found little international support.

Map of Canada with Quebec in color

The DebateThe Debate

QuebecQuebec

• Large enough to sustain Large enough to sustain itself as a nationitself as a nation

• French culture being French culture being threatened by “Anglo” threatened by “Anglo” culture and languageculture and language

• Quebec has the largest Quebec has the largest economy of any province in economy of any province in CanadaCanada

• Does not like being under Does not like being under the British constitutional the British constitutional monarchmonarch

CanadaCanada

• Cannot afford to allow Quebec Cannot afford to allow Quebec to leaveto leave

• Canada is a united federation Canada is a united federation and needs Quebec to and needs Quebec to maintain the current status maintain the current status quoquo

• Canada would lose a large Canada would lose a large population and valuable landspopulation and valuable lands

• Quebec is an important Quebec is an important trading partner with other trading partner with other provincesprovinces

International ReactionInternational Reaction• The international community has The international community has

said that it would refuse to said that it would refuse to acknowledge a separate Quebec.acknowledge a separate Quebec.

• Independence would create trade Independence would create trade problems and perhaps disputes problems and perhaps disputes between a Quebec nation, between a Quebec nation, Canada, and the United States.Canada, and the United States.

• The United States is in the North The United States is in the North American Free Trade Agreement American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and they (NAFTA) with Canada and they are too closely related are too closely related economically to allow Canada’s economically to allow Canada’s largest province to leave the largest province to leave the federation.federation.

• Canada allows for freedom of Canada allows for freedom of religion, and it recognizes the religion, and it recognizes the French language as the official French language as the official language of Quebec. language of Quebec.