View source for Declaration in Defense of Quebec's Right to Self-Determination

{{Title|Declaration in Defense of Quebec's Right to Self-Determination|[[Committee to Defend Quebec's Right to Self-Determination]]|in ''[[The Canadian Forum]]'', February 1980.}}

----
'''SUMMARY:''' The Committee to Defend Quebec's Right to Self-Determination, founded in the Fall of 1978, was already circulating this statement to collect signatures in the Summer of 1979.
----


As English-speaking Canadians, we have become disturbed by the refusal of our politicians to acknowledge Quebec's right to self-determination.

Quebec is not a province like the others: the Québécois are a nation. They have a distinct history, a common language, their own civil institutions, and cultural traditions. But perhaps more importantly, they possess a strong sense of their own national identity, and a growing political will to safeguard it through some form of sovereignty. The Québécois, therefore, cannot be denied the right to form an independent state if they so desire.

The so-called "National Unity" campaign, led by the federal government, denies the reality of the two nations of English Canada and Quebec within a single state, and distorts the history of the relations between the two nations. From the conquest on the Plains of Abraham down to the October Crisis of 1970, these relations between the two nations have been neither purely voluntary nor equal. The real thrust of the national unity campaign is to defend the status quo, that is the Canadian state in its existing forms, and to fortify its strength against the Québécois.

Prime Minister Clark, in the last federal election campaign, made it perfectly clear that he would continue the "hard-line" policy of the Trudeau government, bent on denying Quebec's right to self-determination. "Quebec cannot vote its way out of Confederation," he insisted. His government, with virtually no electoral support in Quebec, will preside at the helm of the Canadian state in the critical period of the Quebec referendum and its immediate aftermath. We want to make it perfectly clear that in denying Quebec's right to decide the course of its own political future, including the option of seceding from Confederation, Mr. Clark does ''not'' speak for all English Canada.

We detect a real unease in English Canada with the eventual consequences of the "hard-line" position of the major parties on Quebec. A number of important organizations have already taken positions in support of Quebec's democratic right to self-determination — the Committee for a New Constitution, the United Church of Canada, the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the United Steelworkers among them. The Task Force on Canadian Unity, fashioned by Trudeau to support his rejection of self-determination, was obliged to acknowledge the sentiment it found in English Canada to let the Québécois make the decision.

The time has come to organize ''our'' voices. The signers of this declaration represent a wide diversity of political viewpoints, including differences over Quebec's future. But we are all firmly united on one fundamental point: it is vital at this time for English-speaking Canadians to come to the defense of the Québécois' right to self-determination.

We invite all to join us in defending this right, which is so inextricably related to our own democratic rights.


----


{| 
|-
| width="550" | Norman Penner, professor, Glendon College
| width="550" | Howard Buchbinder, professor, York University
|-
| Wally Seccombe, graduate student, O.I.S.E.
| William Irvine, professor, Glendon College
|-
| Graeme Nicholson, professor, University of Toronto
| Clayton Ruby, lawyer, Toronto
|-
| David Livingston, professor, O.I.S.E.
| Gerry Hunnius, professor, York University
|-
| [[Gregory Baum]], professor, University of Toronto
| Joanne Kates, columnist, Globe and Mail
|-
| Robert Albritton, professor, York University
| Daniel Drache, professor, York University
|-
| Lisa North, professor, York University
| Glen Bell, Parkdale Community Legal Service
|-
| David Shugarman, professor, York University
| Debbie Field, Equal Opportunities Coordinator, O.P.S.E.U.
|-
| Norman Feltes, professor, York University
| ''The Canadian Forum''
|-
| Michael Ornstien, professor, York University
| Catherine Scott, Toronto
|-
| Nick Rogers, professor, York University
| Louis Feldhammer, Professor, Ryerson Polytechnical Institute
|-
| Jamie Meuser, medical student
| Robert Ware, professor, University of Calgary
|-
| Donald Cole, M.D.
| Nestor Makuch, editor, ''Student''
|-
| Barry Edginton, Department of Sociology, McMaster University
| Bohdan Somchynsky, V.P., Ukrainian Canadian Students Union
|-
| Mel Watkins, professor, U of T
| Jars Balan, Hromada, Edmonton
|-
| Maureen Fitzgerald, lecturer, U of T
| Calvin Melnyk, Hromada, Edmonton
|-
| Linda Briskin, teacher Sheridan College
| Bohdan Chomiak, Hromada, Edmonton
|-
| I. Verlann, teacher, Sheridan College
| Andrij Makuch, Hromada, Edmonton
|-
| Michael Mandel, professor, Osgood Law School
| MK Petryshyn, Hromada, Edmonton
|-
| Bruce Kidd, professor, U of T
| R. Petryshyn, researcher, University of Alberta
|-
| Vincent di Norcia, professor, Laurentian University
| John-Paul Himka, Ph.d
|-
| Marjorie Cohen, professor, York University
| Lubomyr Szuch, graduate student, University of Alberta
|-
| Danny Goldstick, professor, U of T
| Larry Pratt, University of Alberta
|-
| Frank Cunningham, professor, U of T
| Max van Manen, professor, University of Alberta
|-
| Rianne Mahon, professor, Carlton University
| Herb Gamberg, professor, Dalhousie
|-
| International Women's Day Committee (Toronto)
| J. Cambell, Toronto
|-
| Gordon Darroch, professor, York University
| Peter Dent, Poco, British Columbia
|-
| M. Bodemann, Department of Sociology, U of T
| Juanita Zerebeski, High School teacher, Toronto
|-
| H.J. Glasbeek, Osgood Hall Law School
| Inge Thierauf, Toronto
|-
| Susan Stylianos, teacher, George Brown College
| Denise Kouri, Saskatchewan Working Women
|-
| Grant Wedge, NPD research staff
| Dan Kossick, Journalist, Regina
|-
| Myer Siemiatycki, teacher, Ryerson Polytechnical Institute
| Almost Tassonyi, lecturer, Laurentian University
|-
| Gail Beneke, St. Lawrence Theatre
| Jennie Hornosty, professor, University of Saskatchewan
|-
| Jack Layton, teacher, Ryerson Polytechnical Institute
| Patricia Marchak, professor, University of British Columbia
|-
| Richard Lee, professor, U of T
| Murray MacAdam, Canadian News Synthesis Project
|-
| Harriet Rosenberg, professor, Glendon College, York University
| Paul Carson, professor, U of T
|-
| Rene Champagne, professor, University of Sudbury
| Roberta Ann Imboden, professor, Ryerson Polytechnical Institute
|-
| Peter Fitting, professor, U of T
| David Grimshaw, Instructor, Ryerson
|-
| J.G. Debanne, professor, University of Ottawa
| Derek Allen, professor, U of T
|-
| Philip Resnick, professor, University of British Columbia
| Caroline Dawson, St. Michael's College, Ontario
|-
| Michael Wallace, professor, University of British Columbia
| Norman Epstein, professor, University of British Columbia
|-
| Albert Watson, Institute of Christian Thought, U of T
| Peter Rosenthal, professor, U of T
|-
| Bob Luker, Neill-Wycik Cooperative College, Toronto
| Wayne Roberts, Research Associate, McMaster University
|-
| Ben Shek, professor, University of Toronto
| E.G. Petter, Nelson, British Columbia
|-
| Chandler Davis, professor, U of T
| Sandra Gryziak, Toronto
|-
| Anthony Mardiros, professor emeritus, University of Alberta
| Rabbi Reuben Slonim, Congregation Habonim, Toronto
|-
| Pat Armstrong, Vanier College, Montreal
| Paul Genuist, professor, University of Saskatchewan
|-
| Hugh Armstrong, Marianopolis College, Montreal
| T.P. McKenna, Therafields, Toront
|-
| Charles Roach, lawyer, Toronto
| Lillian Marcus, Toronto
|-
| Sherrill Cheda, teacher, Seneca College
| Gordon Cleveland, Lecturer, Seneca College
|-
| Marcelo Acuna, York University
| E. Mahood, professor, University of Saskatchewan
|-
| Lorenne Clark, professor, U of T
| O. McKayne, professor, University of Saskatchewan
|-
| Robert Brym, professor, U of T
| Leon Muszynski, Toronto
|-
| R.C. Hutchinson, professor, U of T
| John Marshall, M.D. Occupational Health Consultant, Ontario Federation of Labour
|-
| Paul Copeland, lawyer, Toronto
| Michael Gaynes, Toronto
|-
| Roland Penner, professor, University of Manitoba
| Greg Keyley, professor, Dalhousie of Ottaw
|-
| A. Wernick, professor, Trent University
| Caroline Andrew, professor, University of Ottawa
|-
| Phil Hebert, Executive of Graduate Assistants Association, York University
| Robert Dickson, professor, Laurentian University
|-
| Stephen Endicott, professor, York University
| Geoffrey Tesson, professor, Laurentian University
|-
| Dan Heap, NDP, Alderman, Toronto
| Peter Gallus, Business Agent, Graduate Assistants Association
|-
| Gordon Cressy, NDP Alderman, Toronto
| Jean Lafontant, professor, Laurentian University
|-
| Gad Horowitz, professor, U of T
| Andrew Jackson, Instructor, Capilano College, Vancouver
|-
| Henry Laycock, professor, Queens University
| Sandy Stienecker, Instructor, Seneca College
|-
| Dan McKinnon, shop steward, CUPW, Edmonton
| John Bell, Instructor, Seneca College
|-
| Evie Mandel, Edmonton Women's Coalition
| Gary Webster, Lecturer, University of P.E.I.
|-
| Michael Lebowitz, professor, Simon Fraser University
| F.P. von Dreger, professor, U. of P.E.I.
|-
| Don Brown, professor, University of British Columbia
| Lloyd Wagner, professor, Laurentian University
|-
| Nelson Clark, Parkdale Community Legal Aid
| Jim Robb, lawyer, Edmonton
|-
| Chris Huxley, professor, Trent University
| Rick Lampshire, National Representative, PSAC, Edmonton
|-
| Charlene Ganage, Teaching Assistant, Trent University
| Muriel Zenn, Executive Director, Outreach, Edmonton
|-
| Michael Cooke, Christian Movement for Peace, Toronto
| Bill Petrie, staff representative, CUPE, Edmonton
|-
| Alice Heap, NDP, Toronto
| [[Henry Milner]], Committee of Anglophones for Sovereignty-Association, Montreal
|-
| Graduate Assistants Association, York University
| Phyllis Jensen, University of Toronto
|-
| [[Gary Caldwell]], professor, Bishop's University, Quebec
| F. Murray Greenwood, University of British Columbia
|-
| Myrna Kostasch, author, Toronto
| J.F. Conway, professor, University of Regina
|-
| Michael Michi, president, York G.A.A.
| John Fagan, Instructor, University of Regina
|-
| Canadian Peace Congress
| K.M. Knuttila, Lecturer, University of Regina
|-
| James Rinehart, U. of Western Ont.
| D.M. Kouri, Instructor, University of Regina
|-
| Roderic Beanjot, U. of Western Ont.
| J.K. Roberts, professor, University of Regina
|-
| Ruth Gamberg, Dalhousie
| Pam Smith, Laboratory Instructor, University of Regina
|-
| Frank Natch, Trent Univ.
| Dr. R.M. Stirling, professor, University of Regina
|-
| J.P. Lapointe, Trent Univ. 
| B. Barlow, professor, University of Regina
|-
| T. Morris, Trent Univ.
| R. Renshaw, Holy Cross Fathers, Toronto
|-
| Sister Ruth McLaren, SSND
| R. Warburton, University of Victoria, B.C.
|-
| Sister Helen Zettel
| Don Mitchell, Lecturer, University of Regina
|-
| Sister Mary-Jo Pellerin
| Martha Tracey, Researcher, University of Regina
|-
| Corrine Schnurr, SSND
| Thomas J.A. Hartley, Teacher, Centennial College
|-
| Phil Rawkins, Ryerson
| Ed File, professor, York University
|-
| Jennifer Welsh, Ryerson
| Pamela McCallum, professor, Trent University
|-
| Gregory Macleod College of Cape Breton
| John Hillman, professor, Trent University
|-
| Tim Ryan, Toronto School of Theology
| Alan Lewis, professor, Trent University
|-
| Cy Gonick, Canadian Dimension Magazine
| Jean Paul Lapointe, professor, Trent University
|-
| Sandra Aunger, Queens
| Peter Royle, professor, Trent University
|-
| Jack Layton, Ryerson
| H.B. Lapointe, professor, Trent University
|-
| Paul Trollope, Editorial Committee, Body Politic
| 
|-
| Phyllis Clarke, U. of T.
| 
|-
| Michael Kaufman, Social Science, York U.
| 
|-
|}



[[Category:Declarations]]
[[Category:20th century]]
[[Category:1980]]