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This page gathers various on line documents and resources that we have chosen to help visitors understand what Québec sovereignists and other independentists are fighting for. Whenever possible, we provide English language material and we have even translated some documents ourselves for the sake of our English-speaking visitors. However, | This page gathers various on line documents and resources that we have chosen to help visitors understand what Québec sovereignists and other independentists are fighting for. Whenever possible, we provide English language material and we have even translated some documents ourselves for the sake of our English-speaking visitors. However, bear in mind that most of the pro-independence literature has not necessarily been translated to English. This is only the tip of the iceberg. | ||
Now, be ready to discover the story of a very old national liberation movement that | Now, be ready to discover the story of a very old national liberation movement that continues to this day. | ||
==Basic Notions== | ==Basic Notions== | ||
* Take some [http://www.languageguide.org/francais/ French lessons] on line or immerse yourself into our society by moving to Québec! ;-) | * Take some [http://www.languageguide.org/francais/ French lessons] on line or immerse yourself into our society by moving to Québec! ;-) | ||
* Learn to spot a [http://www. | * Learn to spot a [http://www.logicalfallacies.info fallacy] when you see one | ||
* Learn of common [[Myths and fallacies about Québec|myths and fallacies]] in the Quebec debate | * Learn of common [[Myths and fallacies about Québec|myths and fallacies]] in the Quebec debate | ||
* Have a look at [[a few important facts]] you should not miss | * Have a look at [[a few important facts]] you should not miss | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
''Québécois'' and Canadian intellectuals agree on the basics... | ''Québécois'' and Canadian intellectuals agree on the basics... | ||
* Read | * Read ''[[Common declaration of sovereignist and federalist intellectuals from Canada and Québec]]'', by ''Les Intellectuels pour la souveraineté'' | ||
* Read | * Read ''[[Open letter in support of the democratic right to self-determination for Quebec|Open Letter in Support of the Democratic Right to Self-Determination for Québec]]'', by Gary Kinsman et al. | ||
== Historical Arguments == | == Historical Arguments == | ||
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===Documents=== | ===Documents=== | ||
* 1970: The [[manifesto of the Front de libération du Québec|manifesto]] of the ''Front de libération du Québec'' | * 1970: The [[manifesto of the Front de libération du Québec|manifesto]] of the ''[[Wikipedia:Front de libération du Québec|Front de libération du Québec]]'' | ||
* 1960: The [[manifesto of the Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale|manifesto]] of the ''Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale'' | * 1960: The [[manifesto of the Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale|manifesto]] of the ''[[Wikipedia:Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale|Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale]]'' | ||
* 1958: The [[manifesto of the Alliance laurentienne|manifesto]] of the ''Alliance laurentienne'' | * 1958: The [[manifesto of the Alliance laurentienne|manifesto]] of the ''[[Wikipedia:Alliance laurentienne|Alliance laurentienne]]'' | ||
* 1934: The [[Manifesto of the Action libérale nationale|manifesto]] of the ''Action libérale nationale'' | * 1934: The [[Manifesto of the Action libérale nationale|manifesto]] of the ''[[Wikipedia:Action libérale nationale|Action libérale nationale]]'' | ||
* 1867: The | * 1867: The [[Political Testament of Louis-Joseph Papineau|Political Testament]] of [[Wikipedia:Louis-Joseph Papineau|Louis-Joseph Papineau]] | ||
* 1853: An account of | * 1853: An account of [[An Excursion to Canada]] by [[Wikipedia:Henry David Thoreau|Henry David Thoreau]] | ||
* 1839: The ''[[History of the Insurrection in Canada in refutation of the report of Lord Durham]]'' by Louis-Joseph Papineau | * 1839: The ''[[History of the Insurrection in Canada in refutation of the report of Lord Durham]]'' by Louis-Joseph Papineau | ||
* 1839: The [http://www.canadiana.org/ECO/PageView?id=cb002794415f982e&display=32374+0002 ''Report on the Affairs of British North America''] by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham | * 1839: The [http://www.canadiana.org/ECO/PageView?id=cb002794415f982e&display=32374+0002 ''Report on the Affairs of British North America''] by [[Wikipedia:John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham|John Lambton]], 1st Earl of Durham | ||
* 1838: The ''[[Declaration of Independence of Lower Canada]]'' by Robert Nelson | * 1838: The ''[[Declaration of Independence of Lower Canada]]'' by Robert Nelson | ||
* 1837: The | * 1837: The [[Address of the Fils de la liberté of Montreal to the young people of the colonies of North America|address]] of the ''Fils de la liberté'' of Montreal to the young people of the colonies of North America | ||
* | * 1837: The [[List of the public meetings held in Lower Canada between May and November 1837|resolutions]] adopted during county meetings in response to the ''Ten Resolutions''. | ||
* 1837: John Russell's [[John Russell's Ten Resolutions|Ten Resolutions]] ultimately adopted by the British Parliament | |||
* 1834: The [[The Ninety-Two Resolutions of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada|Ninety-Two Resolutions]] of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada | |||
* 1831: The [[notes of Alexis de Tocqueville in Lower Canada|notes]] taken by Alexis de Tocqueville while visiting Lower Canada | * 1831: The [[notes of Alexis de Tocqueville in Lower Canada|notes]] taken by Alexis de Tocqueville while visiting Lower Canada | ||
* | * 1794: ''[[The Free French to their Canadien Brothers]]'', by [[Wikipedia:Edmond-Charles Genêt|Edmond-Charles Genêt]], Ambassador of the first [[Wikipedia:French First Republic|French Republic]] in the United States | ||
* | * 1784: A ''[[System of Government for Canada]]'', a project of constitutional reform by [[Wikipedia:Pierre du Calvet|Pierre du Calvet]] and [[Wikipedia:Francis Maseres|Francis Maseres]] | ||
* 1774: The ''[[Letter to the Inhabitants of the Province of Quebec]]'' of the [[Wikipedia:First Continental Congress|First Continental Congress]] | |||
===Québec's demands=== | ===Québec's demands=== | ||
In the old dialectic between Québec and Ottawa, the one which started as early as 1867, successive Québec parliaments wrestled the federal executive and legislative powers to keep them out the jurisdictions which are exclusive to provinces, as per the constitutional text of law. The contemporary movement for independence, which truly took form after WWII, initiated the breaking away from this useless dialogue that, even in the best scenario imaginable, would have left Quebec with less than equality. | |||
From the [http://www.saic.gouv.qc.ca/index_en.htm ''Secrétariat aux affaires intergouvernementales canadiennes''] of the Government of Québec: | From the [http://www.saic.gouv.qc.ca/index_en.htm ''Secrétariat aux affaires intergouvernementales canadiennes''] of the Government of Québec: | ||
| Line 60: | Line 65: | ||
===Failure of constitutional reforms=== | ===Failure of constitutional reforms=== | ||
Understood to be a pact between two founding peoples, the 1867 | Understood by Quebec to be a pact between two founding peoples, the "confederation" of 1867 was not always rejected by a majority of Quebec nationalists. The failure of constitutional talks in 1971, 1982, 1989 and 1992 has pushed yet more so called "soft" nationalists to adopt the sovereignist thesis that the time has come for Quebecers to stop asking for permissions to an authority that does not respect them, draft their own constitution and assume all their responsibilities toward themselves. | ||
* Read [http://www.bibliotheque.assnat.qc.ca/01/mono/2005/08/819576.pdf Canadian federalism and the autonomy of Québec: a historical viewpoint] by Marc Chevrier (PDF) | * Read [http://www.bibliotheque.assnat.qc.ca/01/mono/2005/08/819576.pdf Canadian federalism and the autonomy of Québec: a historical viewpoint] by Marc Chevrier (PDF) | ||
| Line 68: | Line 73: | ||
==Linguistic & Cultural Arguments== | ==Linguistic & Cultural Arguments== | ||
Since the 1950s, the Quebec literary and artistic community | Since the 1950s, the Quebec literary and artistic community has been very engaged in the struggle for the independence of Quebec, the defence of the French language and development of Quebec's national culture. The support of talented artists and intellectuals is largely responsible for the wide support Quebec nationalism receives in the general public. You will find many writers, poets, playwrights and song writers under '''Opinions by individual militants''' just below. | ||
=== The complex demolinguistic situation === | === The complex demolinguistic situation === | ||
To understand the desire for independence, we believe it necessary to fully comprehend the fate of Quebec French, language of the majority in Quebec, but language of a national minority inside Canada. Basic notions of language demographics and sociolinguistics are a must. | To understand the desire for independence, we believe it necessary to fully comprehend the fate of Quebec French, language of the majority in Quebec, but language of a national minority inside Canada since the 1850s. Basic notions of language demographics and sociolinguistics are a must. | ||
* Read ''[[The real force of French in Quebec]]'', a translation of a December 2005 article by Charles Castonguay | * Read ''[[The real force of French in Quebec]]'', a translation of a December 2005 article by Charles Castonguay | ||
* Read [http://www.vigile.net/ds-lisee/docs/Langue3-2003-English.ppt ''Conference: The French fact in Québec and Canada: The Hidden Storm''] by Jean-François Lisée, a conference held at the American University Summer Institute, Washington D.C., June 2004 | * Read [http://www.vigile.net/ds-lisee/docs/Langue3-2003-English.ppt ''Conference: The French fact in Québec and Canada: The Hidden Storm''] by Jean-François Lisée, a conference held at the American University Summer Institute, Washington D.C., June 2004 | ||
* Read ''[[What is the real force of attraction of French in Quebec? A critical analysis of the improvement of the situation of French observed in 2001|What is the real force of attraction of French in Quebec?]]'', a translation of a December 2001 article by Charles Castonguay | |||
* Read ''French is on the ropes. Why won’t Ottawa admit it ?'' by Charles Castonguay, in Policy Options / Options politiques, 20, 8 : 39-50, 1999 | * Read ''French is on the ropes. Why won’t Ottawa admit it ?'' by Charles Castonguay, in Policy Options / Options politiques, 20, 8 : 39-50, 1999 | ||
* An good introductory read: [http://www.inroadsjournal.ca/pdfs/Inroads_8_Castonguay.pdf ''Getting the facts straight on French : Reflections following the 1996 Census''] by Charles Castonguay, in [http://www.inroadsjournal.ca/ Inroads Journal], volume 8, 1999, pages 57 to 77 | * An good introductory read: [http://www.inroadsjournal.ca/pdfs/Inroads_8_Castonguay.pdf ''Getting the facts straight on French : Reflections following the 1996 Census''] by Charles Castonguay, in [http://www.inroadsjournal.ca/ Inroads Journal], volume 8, 1999, pages 57 to 77 | ||
| Line 85: | Line 91: | ||
* Peek through the [http://www.independance-quebec.com/musique/liste.php?selection=aucun Independentist Music Directory] (French) | * Peek through the [http://www.independance-quebec.com/musique/liste.php?selection=aucun Independentist Music Directory] (French) | ||
* Read some [http://membres.lycos.fr/poetesse/souvreine/quebec.html Independentist & Sovereignist Poetry] (French) | * Read some [http://membres.lycos.fr/poetesse/souvreine/quebec.html Independentist & Sovereignist Poetry] (French) | ||
* | * The film ''[[Wikipedia:February 15, 1839|15 février 1839]]'' by movie director [http://www.pierrefalardeau.cjb.net/ Pierre Falardeau] (French) | ||
* Read the article [http://www.axess.com/users/jackr/godin.htm ''A Sovereign Presence - The poet and the politician in Gérald Godin''] by Jack M. Ruttan | * Read the article [http://www.axess.com/users/jackr/godin.htm ''A Sovereign Presence - The poet and the politician in Gérald Godin''] by Jack M. Ruttan | ||
* The film [http://www.onf.ca/trouverunfilm/fichefilm.php?id=18114&v=h&lg=en ''A Song for Quebec''] by Dorothy Todd Hénaut | |||
* The film [http://www.onf.ca/trouverunfilm/fichefilm.php?id=13651&v=h&lg=en ''Two Episodes from the Life of Hubert Aquin''] by Jacques Godbout | |||
* 1972: A flash animation of the poem [http://www3.sympatico.ca/etienne.geoffroy/alouette/flash.htm ''L'alouette en colère''] by Félix Leclerc ( >> [[Translations of poems and lyrics|English translation]] << ) | |||
* 1972: | |||
* 1948: Read an English translation of the ''[[Refus global Manifesto|Refus global]]'' manifesto by Paul-Émile Borduas | * 1948: Read an English translation of the ''[[Refus global Manifesto|Refus global]]'' manifesto by Paul-Émile Borduas | ||
* 1888: Read the novel [http://www.amazon.com/Family-Without-Name-Into-Abyss/dp/1589633997 ''A Family Without a Name: Into the Abyss''], by French writer [[Wikipedia:Jules Vernes|Jules Vernes]], on the insurrections of 1837-1838 | * 1888: Read the novel [http://www.amazon.com/Family-Without-Name-Into-Abyss/dp/1589633997 ''A Family Without a Name: Into the Abyss''], by French writer [[Wikipedia:Jules Vernes|Jules Vernes]], on the insurrections of 1837-1838 | ||
==Opinions by individual militants== | |||
* Read [[opinions by individual militants]] | |||
* See the list of [[books]] written by advocates of Quebec independence | |||
==Opinions by militant organizations== | ==Opinions by militant organizations== | ||
| Line 97: | Line 109: | ||
===St-Jean-Baptiste Society=== | ===St-Jean-Baptiste Society=== | ||
The oldest patriotic institution of Quebec, the St-Jean-Baptiste Society was founded in 1834 by Ludger Duvernay. | The oldest patriotic institution of Quebec, the St-Jean-Baptiste Society was founded in 1834 by [[Wikipedia:Ludger Duvernay|Ludger Duvernay]]. | ||
* Read the section dedicated to the [[Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society]] | * Read the section dedicated to the [[Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society]] | ||
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===Les Intellectuels pour la souveraineté (IPSO)=== | ===Les Intellectuels pour la souveraineté (IPSO)=== | ||
* [http://www. | * [http://www.ipsoquebec.org/ Web site] of IPSO (in French) | ||
* | * ''[[Quebec Sovereignty: A Legitimate Goal]]'', 1995 | ||
* | * ''[[A Yes for Change]]'', June 1995 | ||
=== Political parties === | === Political parties === | ||
Many political parties officially advocating a) colonial self-government vis-a-vis London, b) provincial self-government vis-a-vis Ottawa or c) the independence of Québec have been created in history. There are presently two major parties supporting independence: the Parti québécois (PQ) and Québec solidaire (QS). | |||
====Parti québécois (PQ)==== | ====Parti québécois (PQ)==== | ||
| Line 113: | Line 127: | ||
Founded in 1968, the Parti québécois still is today the main political party of Quebec advocating secession from the federal state of Canada. | Founded in 1968, the Parti québécois still is today the main political party of Quebec advocating secession from the federal state of Canada. | ||
* [http://www.pq.org | * [http://www.pq.org Web site] of the Parti québécois | ||
* [http://www.pq.org/tmp2005/finances_english.pdf ''Budget of a sovereign Québec''], by François Legault, October 2005 (PDF) | * [http://www.pq.org/tmp2005/finances_english.pdf ''Budget of a sovereign Québec''], by François Legault, October 2005 (PDF) | ||
* See our page on the [[presidents of the Parti québécois]] | * See our page on the [[presidents of the Parti québécois]] | ||
| Line 122: | Line 135: | ||
The SPQ Libre (Syndicalistes et progressistes pour un Québec libre) is a "political club" officially recognized by the PQ in 2006. The political stance of its member is similar to that of Québec solidaire parti members, however they have refused to completely break away from the PQ. | The SPQ Libre (Syndicalistes et progressistes pour un Québec libre) is a "political club" officially recognized by the PQ in 2006. The political stance of its member is similar to that of Québec solidaire parti members, however they have refused to completely break away from the PQ. | ||
* [http://www.spqlibre.org/ | * [http://www.spqlibre.org/ Web site] of the SPQ Libre | ||
* [http://www.spqlibre.org/default.aspx?page=22 ''Declaration of principles''] (French only) | * [http://www.spqlibre.org/default.aspx?page=22 ''Declaration of principles''] (French only) | ||
====Bloc québécois (BQ)==== | |||
Founded in 1990, the Bloc québécois provides an alternative to Quebecers when voting in federal elections. | |||
* [http://www.blocquebecois.org/fr/publications-english.asp Web site] of the Bloc québécois | |||
====Québec solidaire (QS)==== | ====Québec solidaire (QS)==== | ||
* [http://quebecsolidaire.net | Founded in 2006, Québec solidaire is the result of the merger of the Union des forces progressistes party and Option citoyenne movement. | ||
* [http://quebecsolidaire.net Web site] of the Québec solidaire party | |||
* [http://quebecsolidaire.net/assets/files/english/congres_de_fondation/en_projet_declaration_principes.pdf ''Declaration of principles''] (PDF) | * [http://quebecsolidaire.net/assets/files/english/congres_de_fondation/en_projet_declaration_principes.pdf ''Declaration of principles''] (PDF) | ||
== | ====Historical==== | ||
* | * [[Wikipedia:Parti canadien|Parti canadien]] or [[Wikipedia:Parti patriote|Parti patriote]] (1790s to 1837) | ||
* | * [[Wikipedia:Parti rouge|Parti démocratique]] or [[Wikipedia:Parti rouge|Parti rouge]] (1848 to 1850s) | ||
* [[Wikipedia:Parti républicain du Québec|Parti républicain du Québec]] (1962 to 1964) | |||
* [[Wikipedia:Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale|Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale]] (1964 to 1968) | |||
* [[Wikipedia:Ralliement national|Ralliement national]] (1965 to 1968) | |||
* [[Wikipedia:Parti indépendantiste|Parti indépendantiste]] (1985 to 1990) | |||
* [[Wikipedia:Union des forces progressistes|Union des forces progressistes]] (2002 to 2006) | |||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
| Line 141: | Line 167: | ||
* See a list of [[List of translations done for this site|all our translations]] | * See a list of [[List of translations done for this site|all our translations]] | ||
* Read some famous [[quotes]] by various contemporary and historical figures | * Read some famous [[quotes]] by various contemporary and historical figures | ||
* [http://www.marxists.org/history/canada/quebec/ '' | * [http://www.marxists.org/history/canada/quebec/ ''Quebec's Struggle for Nationhood''] on Maxists.org | ||
Latest revision as of 23:04, 2 November 2010
This page gathers various on line documents and resources that we have chosen to help visitors understand what Québec sovereignists and other independentists are fighting for. Whenever possible, we provide English language material and we have even translated some documents ourselves for the sake of our English-speaking visitors. However, bear in mind that most of the pro-independence literature has not necessarily been translated to English. This is only the tip of the iceberg.
Now, be ready to discover the story of a very old national liberation movement that continues to this day.
Basic Notions
- Take some French lessons on line or immerse yourself into our society by moving to Québec! ;-)
- Learn to spot a fallacy when you see one
- Learn of common myths and fallacies in the Quebec debate
- Have a look at a few important facts you should not miss
- Read our answers to some frequently asked questions
- Learn some of the key concepts in Quebec politics
- The reality of the situation of English speakers in Québec
- Consult our terminology page
Québécois and Canadian intellectuals agree on the basics...
- Read Common declaration of sovereignist and federalist intellectuals from Canada and Québec, by Les Intellectuels pour la souveraineté
- Read Open Letter in Support of the Democratic Right to Self-Determination for Québec, by Gary Kinsman et al.
Historical Arguments
243 years of a just political resistance to imperialism and assimilation in the name of human dignity.
Overview
- Read our translation of the Political Testament of Louis-Joseph Papineau
- Read the page dedicated to the history of our movements
- Discover famous people in the history of Québec
- Read a few selected texts on Québec democracy by the Ministère des relations internationales (PDF)
- Read the section dedicated to other independence movements
Documents
- 1970: The manifesto of the Front de libération du Québec
- 1960: The manifesto of the Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale
- 1958: The manifesto of the Alliance laurentienne
- 1934: The manifesto of the Action libérale nationale
- 1867: The Political Testament of Louis-Joseph Papineau
- 1853: An account of An Excursion to Canada by Henry David Thoreau
- 1839: The History of the Insurrection in Canada in refutation of the report of Lord Durham by Louis-Joseph Papineau
- 1839: The Report on the Affairs of British North America by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham
- 1838: The Declaration of Independence of Lower Canada by Robert Nelson
- 1837: The address of the Fils de la liberté of Montreal to the young people of the colonies of North America
- 1837: The resolutions adopted during county meetings in response to the Ten Resolutions.
- 1837: John Russell's Ten Resolutions ultimately adopted by the British Parliament
- 1834: The Ninety-Two Resolutions of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
- 1831: The notes taken by Alexis de Tocqueville while visiting Lower Canada
- 1794: The Free French to their Canadien Brothers, by Edmond-Charles Genêt, Ambassador of the first French Republic in the United States
- 1784: A System of Government for Canada, a project of constitutional reform by Pierre du Calvet and Francis Maseres
- 1774: The Letter to the Inhabitants of the Province of Quebec of the First Continental Congress
Québec's demands
In the old dialectic between Québec and Ottawa, the one which started as early as 1867, successive Québec parliaments wrestled the federal executive and legislative powers to keep them out the jurisdictions which are exclusive to provinces, as per the constitutional text of law. The contemporary movement for independence, which truly took form after WWII, initiated the breaking away from this useless dialogue that, even in the best scenario imaginable, would have left Quebec with less than equality.
From the Secrétariat aux affaires intergouvernementales canadiennes of the Government of Québec:
- Québec's Positions on Constitutional and Intergovernmental Issues from 1936 to March 2001
- A Quebec-Canada Constitutional Law Lexicon (PDF)
- Québec's historical position on the federal spending power 1944-1998 (PDF)
- Québec and its Territory (PDF)
- Québec's Political & Constitutional Status (PDF)
Failure of constitutional reforms
Understood by Quebec to be a pact between two founding peoples, the "confederation" of 1867 was not always rejected by a majority of Quebec nationalists. The failure of constitutional talks in 1971, 1982, 1989 and 1992 has pushed yet more so called "soft" nationalists to adopt the sovereignist thesis that the time has come for Quebecers to stop asking for permissions to an authority that does not respect them, draft their own constitution and assume all their responsibilities toward themselves.
- Read Canadian federalism and the autonomy of Québec: a historical viewpoint by Marc Chevrier (PDF)
- Read Constitutional saga on this site
- Read on Institutional bilingualism on this site
Linguistic & Cultural Arguments
Since the 1950s, the Quebec literary and artistic community has been very engaged in the struggle for the independence of Quebec, the defence of the French language and development of Quebec's national culture. The support of talented artists and intellectuals is largely responsible for the wide support Quebec nationalism receives in the general public. You will find many writers, poets, playwrights and song writers under Opinions by individual militants just below.
The complex demolinguistic situation
To understand the desire for independence, we believe it necessary to fully comprehend the fate of Quebec French, language of the majority in Quebec, but language of a national minority inside Canada since the 1850s. Basic notions of language demographics and sociolinguistics are a must.
- Read The real force of French in Quebec, a translation of a December 2005 article by Charles Castonguay
- Read Conference: The French fact in Québec and Canada: The Hidden Storm by Jean-François Lisée, a conference held at the American University Summer Institute, Washington D.C., June 2004
- Read What is the real force of attraction of French in Quebec?, a translation of a December 2001 article by Charles Castonguay
- Read French is on the ropes. Why won’t Ottawa admit it ? by Charles Castonguay, in Policy Options / Options politiques, 20, 8 : 39-50, 1999
- An good introductory read: Getting the facts straight on French : Reflections following the 1996 Census by Charles Castonguay, in Inroads Journal, volume 8, 1999, pages 57 to 77
- Read a Transcript of a Standing Joint Commitee on Official Languages hearing with Charles Castonguay, recorded on April 28, 1998
Poems, songs, movies
- Read all our Translations of poems and lyrics
- Peek through the Independentist Music Directory (French)
- Read some Independentist & Sovereignist Poetry (French)
- The film 15 février 1839 by movie director Pierre Falardeau (French)
- Read the article A Sovereign Presence - The poet and the politician in Gérald Godin by Jack M. Ruttan
- The film A Song for Quebec by Dorothy Todd Hénaut
- The film Two Episodes from the Life of Hubert Aquin by Jacques Godbout
- 1972: A flash animation of the poem L'alouette en colère by Félix Leclerc ( >> English translation << )
- 1948: Read an English translation of the Refus global manifesto by Paul-Émile Borduas
- 1888: Read the novel A Family Without a Name: Into the Abyss, by French writer Jules Vernes, on the insurrections of 1837-1838
Opinions by individual militants
- Read opinions by individual militants
- See the list of books written by advocates of Quebec independence
Opinions by militant organizations
St-Jean-Baptiste Society
The oldest patriotic institution of Quebec, the St-Jean-Baptiste Society was founded in 1834 by Ludger Duvernay.
- Read the section dedicated to the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
Les Intellectuels pour la souveraineté (IPSO)
- Web site of IPSO (in French)
- Quebec Sovereignty: A Legitimate Goal, 1995
- A Yes for Change, June 1995
Political parties
Many political parties officially advocating a) colonial self-government vis-a-vis London, b) provincial self-government vis-a-vis Ottawa or c) the independence of Québec have been created in history. There are presently two major parties supporting independence: the Parti québécois (PQ) and Québec solidaire (QS).
Parti québécois (PQ)
Founded in 1968, the Parti québécois still is today the main political party of Quebec advocating secession from the federal state of Canada.
- Web site of the Parti québécois
- Budget of a sovereign Québec, by François Legault, October 2005 (PDF)
- See our page on the presidents of the Parti québécois
SPQ Libre
The SPQ Libre (Syndicalistes et progressistes pour un Québec libre) is a "political club" officially recognized by the PQ in 2006. The political stance of its member is similar to that of Québec solidaire parti members, however they have refused to completely break away from the PQ.
- Web site of the SPQ Libre
- Declaration of principles (French only)
Bloc québécois (BQ)
Founded in 1990, the Bloc québécois provides an alternative to Quebecers when voting in federal elections.
- Web site of the Bloc québécois
Québec solidaire (QS)
Founded in 2006, Québec solidaire is the result of the merger of the Union des forces progressistes party and Option citoyenne movement.
- Web site of the Québec solidaire party
- Declaration of principles (PDF)
Historical
- Parti canadien or Parti patriote (1790s to 1837)
- Parti démocratique or Parti rouge (1848 to 1850s)
- Parti républicain du Québec (1962 to 1964)
- Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale (1964 to 1968)
- Ralliement national (1965 to 1968)
- Parti indépendantiste (1985 to 1990)
- Union des forces progressistes (2002 to 2006)
See also
- List of organizations advocating the independence of Quebec
- Read on the range of attitudes towards Québec
- See a list of all our translations
- Read some famous quotes by various contemporary and historical figures
- Quebec's Struggle for Nationhood on Maxists.org