Pro arguments

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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, 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

Québécois and Canadian intellectuals agree on the basics...

Historical Arguments

243 years of a just political resistance to imperialism and assimilation in the name of human dignity.

Overview

Documents

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:

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.

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.

Poems, songs, movies

Opinions by individual militants

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.

Les Intellectuels pour la souveraineté (IPSO)

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.

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.

Bloc québécois (BQ)

Founded in 1990, the Bloc québécois provides an alternative to Quebecers when voting in federal elections.

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.

Historical

See also

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