English-speaking friends of Québec

Although they did not, to our knowledge, explicitly voice in favour of the independence of Québec, and might even have voiced against it, preferring an alternative solution to Canada's constitutional crisis, the people listed here are considered friends of Québec because:

1. they have always defended the truth before all;
2. have shown an honest sympathy for our nation's struggle to preserve her language, her laws and customs and obtain democratic self-government.

Too often in political debates, naive patriotism or distasteful chauvinism wins over intellectual honesty and international solidarity. Despite the constant flow of liefull propaganda denigrating, in the English language media of Canada, Quebecers in general, French-speaking ones in particular, and nationalists even more, these individuals have had the honesty to recognize the justice of our cause and the soundness of our core arguments.

Sometimes francophile, sometimes simply passionate for justice and equality to all, they have won our respect and will not be forgotten along with the many more who have openly voiced their support for our national liberation over the course of history.

Contemporary

Gary Caldwell

Biography in Wikipedia: Gary Caldwell

Native of Toronto, Ontario, he graduated from York University and obtained a masters in sociology at Université Laval in Québec. Married to Aurelie Poisson, he presently lives on a farm with his family in Sainte-Edwidge-de-Clifton in the Eastern Townships. After teaching at Bishop's University for 9 years, he became a researcher at Institut québécois de recherche sur la culture, a position he kept from to 1980 to 1992.

Gregory Baum

Biography in Wikipedia: Gregory Baum

Gregory Baum, theologian

Theologian, Gregory Baum has defended the ethical principles behind the Charter of the French language, the main legislative instrument of Quebec's language policy. Gregory Baum would rather that Quebec remains inside a new and reformed Canada, but until then, he intends to vote YES on referendums on sovereignty for Quebec.

• Gregory Baum on nationalism, by Gérald LeBlanc (2002)
• Ethical Reflections on Bill 101 (1993)

Ramsey Clark

Biography in Wikipedia: Ramsey Clark

Ramsey Clark, lawyer, former Attorney General of the United States

Lawyer and former Attorney General of the United States, Ramsey Clark has defended the legitimacy of the the Charter of the French language when it was attacked before the Supreme Court of Canada.

• A legal opinion on international law, language and the future of French-speaking Canada (1993)

Miriam Chapin

Biography in Wikipedia: Miriam Chapin

Quebec author and translator of American origin.

• Read an excerpt of her book entitled Quebec Now (1955)

19th century

Lower Canada

John Neilson

Biography in Wikipedia: John Neilson

John Neilson, Member of Parliament of Lower Canada

Born in Scotland, John Neilson inherited the printing press of his uncle and became the editor of the newspaper The Quebec Gazette / La Gazette de Québec. He supported the Parti canadien and Parti patriote up until 1834 when it became too radical for him. He nevertheless kept voicing against the forced union of the Canadas and defend the rights of his adoptive homeland.

Great Britain

John Arthur Roebuck

Biography in Wikipedia: John Arthur Roebuck, Member of British Parliament

John Arthur Roebuck

Politician, born in Madras, India, on December 28, 1802, died in London, England, November 30, 1879. Fifth son of Ebenezer Roebuck, civil administrator in India and Zipporah Tickell, he was brought up in Upper Canada (Ontario). He was the second agent of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada. One of the greatest defenders of Lower Canada and all American colonies in the British Parliament.

• Remarks on the Proposed Union of the Canadas, 1822
• Debate in the House of Commons, on the 15th April, 1834, on Mr. Roebuck's Motion for "a Select Committee to inquire the means of remedying the evils wich exist in the form of the govenments now existing in Upper and Lower Canada.", 1834
• The Canadas and Their Grievances, 1835
• Existing Difficulties in the Government of the Canadas, 1836
• The Colonies of England : A Plan for the Government of Portion of Our Colonial Possessions, 1849
• History of the Whig Ministry of 1830, to the Passing of the Reform Bill , 1852

John Stuart Mill

Biography in Wikipedia: John Stuart Mill

John Stuart Mill, British philosopher, Member of British Parliament for Westminster (1865–1868)

Born in London, England, in 1806, died in Avignon, France in 1873. Philosopher, political scientist, civil servant and Member of British Parliament.

• Radical Party and Canada: Lord Durham and the Canadians, 1838

"Of the injuries inflicted by a foreign government, the people that suffers them, not the people that inflicts them, is the proper judge; and when such a people revolts, even improperly, against the foreign yoke, its conduct is not treason or rebellion, but war. [...]"

"The people of Canada had against the people of England legitimate cause of war. They had the provocation which, on every received principle of public law, is a breach of the conditions of allegiance. Their provocation was the open violation of their constitution, in the most fundamental of its provisions, by the passing of Resolutions through Parliament, for taking their money from their exchequer without their consent."

Daniel O'Connell

Biography in Wikipedia: Daniel O'Connell

Daniel O'Connell

Daniel O'Connell, Irish patriot, supported the rights of the peoples of Lower Canada and Upper Canada in the British Parliament along with a minority of other enlightened MPs. He voted against the adoption of John Russell's Ten Resolutions.

James Mackintosh

Biography in Wikipedia: James Mackintosh

James Mackintosh

James Mackintosh, philosopher, Member of the British Parliament, was the first agent of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada. In 1822, He informed in time the House of Assembly of Lower Canada that a bill for uniting Upper Canada and Lower Canada was about to be debated in the British House of Commons. The union was ultimately forced upon the Canadas following the military repression of 1837-38.

Henry Brougham

Biography in Wikipedia: Henry Brougham

Henry Brougham

Henry Brougham supported the rights of the peoples of Lower Canada and Upper Canada in the British House of Lords along with a minority of other enlightened MPs in the House of Commons. He voted against the adoption of John Russell's Ten Resolutions.

Joseph Hume

Biography in Wikipedia: Joseph Hume

Joseph Hume

Joseph Hume supported the rights of the peoples of Lower Canada and Upper Canada in the British Parliament along with a minority of other enlightened MPs. He voted against the adoption of John Russell's Ten Resolutions.

• The Celebrated letter of Joseph Hume, Esq., M.P., to William Lyon Mackenzie, Esq., mayor of Toronto, declaratory of a design to "Free these Provinces from the baneful Domination of the Mother Country!", 1834

18th century

Great Britain

Francis Maseres

Biography in Wikipedia: Francis Maseres

Francis Maseres, English mathematician, Attorney General for Quebec (1766-1769)

• Considerations on the expediency of admitting representatives from the American colonies into the British House of Commons, 1770
• A collection of several commissions, and other public instruments, proceeding from His Majesty's royal authority, and other papers, relating to the state of the province in Quebec in North America, since the conquest of it by the British arms in 1760, 1772
• Mémoire à la défense d'un plan d'acte de parlement pour l'établissement des Loix de la province de Québec, contre les objections de Mr. François Joseph Cugnet, 1773
• An Account of the proceedings of the British, and other protestant inhabitants, of the province of Quebeck, in North-America, in order to obtain an House of Assembly in that province, 1775
• Additional papers concerning the province of Quebeck : being an appendix to the book entitled, "An Account of the proceedings of the British and other Protestant inhabitants of the province of Quebeck in North America in order to obtain a House of Assembly in that province", 1776
• Answer to an Introduction to the observations made by judges of the Court of common pleas : for the district of Quebec, upon the oral and written testimony adduced upon the investigation, into the past administration of justice, ordered in consequence of an address of the Legislative Council; with remarks on the laws and government of the province of Quebec, 1790
• The Canadian Freeholder, 3 volumes, 1776-1779
• The Case and claim of the American loyalists impartially stated and considered., 1783
• Questions submitted and proposed to Messrs Powell, Adhemar and de Lisle by the Baron Maseres with the answers of these Messrs, given in their meeting on March 13, 1784
• A Review of the government and grievances of the province of Quebec: since the conquest of it by the British arms, 1788

John Baker-Holroyd

Biography in Wikipedia: John Baker-Holroyd, 1st Earl of Sheffield

Charles James Fox

Biography in Wikipedia: Charles James Fox

Charles James Fox, Member of British Parliament

Charles James Fox spoke against the Quebec Act and was in favour of the creation of a Provincial Parliament in what was then the Province of Quebec along with a minority of other enlightened MPs.

See also

• The page dedicated to the English speakers for the independence of Québec
• The article Meeting with English-speaking sovereignists. Québec, my country
• Norman Delisle, Robert McKenzie fait ses adieux au journalisme, in Trente, Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec, February 2002
• Opinions by individual militants