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For those who are interested, a backgrounder in Quebec's Language Law history. Some of you might be interested in comparing this to the current discussion regarding language in the US. The two main players on the Quebec political scene since ~1970 have been the Liberals (anti-seperatist) and the Parti Québecois (seperatist), who will henceforth be referred to as the PQ.
1974: The Liberal government passes Bill 22, making French the official language of the province of Quebec. This bill also restricts access to English public schools to children who had at least one parent educated in English in Canada. This last requirement is a deliberate stab at immigrants to Quebec, who aresupposedly eroding the nature of Quebec society by choosing to educate their children in English in large numbers.
1976: For the first time, the PQ is elected into power. Part of their platform is the pledge to hold a provincial referendum on the issue of Quebec sovereignty.
1977: Bill 101, also known as "La Charte de la Langue Français" (Charter of the French Language) is passed by the PQ. This law declares French to be the only language allowed on commercial signs in Quebec. It also specifically bans the use of English.
1980: The first referendum on Quebec sovereignty is held. The "no" side wins by a clear margin ~60%-40%.
1982: The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is agreed to by all provinces except Quebec. Prime Minister Trudeau signs it into effect, as does the visiting Queen, Elizabeth II. For the first time, Canada has a Constitution. Due to the fact that Quebec did not agree to it, governments here have always maintained that it is illegitimate.
1988: The Supreme Court of Canada declares Bill 101 unconstitutional. It also decides that requiring the predominance of French on commercial signs would be constitutional. The Liberal government of Quebec passes Bill 78, which allows bilingual signs inside commercial establishments, but retains the French-only requirement for outdoor signs. Knowing that this bill is also unonstitutional, the government invokes the notwithstanding clause of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, making it impossible to contest its unconstitutionality.
1990: The Meech Lake talks to draft a new Canadian Constitution fall through.
1992: The Charlottetown accord, a proposed new Canadian Constitution, is signed by the governments of all provinces and territories. When it goes to a nation-wide referendum it is rejected by the populations of 6 provinces and 1 territory: Nova Scotia, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon. Nationwide, it receives 45% support.
1993: The United Nations Human Rights Commission declares that Quebec's sign laws contravene international treaties regarding civil and political liberties. The Liberal government of Quebec immediately passes Bill 86 allowing bilingual outdoor commercial signs so long as the French lettering is at least twice as large as the English lettering.
1995: The second referendum on Quebec sovereignty is held. The "no" side wins a bare majority, rejecting an allegedly unclear question by a less than 1% margin. There are allegations of vote tampering by PQ return officers.
1999: A Quebec court rules that the province of Quebec must prove that the French language in Quebec is in imminent danger in order to continue to impose language restrictions on commercial signs.
2000: The Quebec court ruling is overturned by a Quebec superior court. This decision is still being appealed.
2002: The PQ seem to have tabled the idea of a referendum for the next decade or so. Popular support for sovereignty has fallen since the 1995 referendum, despite the fact that the PQ has won two consecutive majority governments since then.
1974: The Liberal government passes Bill 22, making French the official language of the province of Quebec. This bill also restricts access to English public schools to children who had at least one parent educated in English in Canada. This last requirement is a deliberate stab at immigrants to Quebec, who aresupposedly eroding the nature of Quebec society by choosing to educate their children in English in large numbers.
1976: For the first time, the PQ is elected into power. Part of their platform is the pledge to hold a provincial referendum on the issue of Quebec sovereignty.
1977: Bill 101, also known as "La Charte de la Langue Français" (Charter of the French Language) is passed by the PQ. This law declares French to be the only language allowed on commercial signs in Quebec. It also specifically bans the use of English.
1980: The first referendum on Quebec sovereignty is held. The "no" side wins by a clear margin ~60%-40%.
1982: The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is agreed to by all provinces except Quebec. Prime Minister Trudeau signs it into effect, as does the visiting Queen, Elizabeth II. For the first time, Canada has a Constitution. Due to the fact that Quebec did not agree to it, governments here have always maintained that it is illegitimate.
1988: The Supreme Court of Canada declares Bill 101 unconstitutional. It also decides that requiring the predominance of French on commercial signs would be constitutional. The Liberal government of Quebec passes Bill 78, which allows bilingual signs inside commercial establishments, but retains the French-only requirement for outdoor signs. Knowing that this bill is also unonstitutional, the government invokes the notwithstanding clause of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, making it impossible to contest its unconstitutionality.
1990: The Meech Lake talks to draft a new Canadian Constitution fall through.
1992: The Charlottetown accord, a proposed new Canadian Constitution, is signed by the governments of all provinces and territories. When it goes to a nation-wide referendum it is rejected by the populations of 6 provinces and 1 territory: Nova Scotia, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon. Nationwide, it receives 45% support.
1993: The United Nations Human Rights Commission declares that Quebec's sign laws contravene international treaties regarding civil and political liberties. The Liberal government of Quebec immediately passes Bill 86 allowing bilingual outdoor commercial signs so long as the French lettering is at least twice as large as the English lettering.
1995: The second referendum on Quebec sovereignty is held. The "no" side wins a bare majority, rejecting an allegedly unclear question by a less than 1% margin. There are allegations of vote tampering by PQ return officers.
1999: A Quebec court rules that the province of Quebec must prove that the French language in Quebec is in imminent danger in order to continue to impose language restrictions on commercial signs.
2000: The Quebec court ruling is overturned by a Quebec superior court. This decision is still being appealed.
2002: The PQ seem to have tabled the idea of a referendum for the next decade or so. Popular support for sovereignty has fallen since the 1995 referendum, despite the fact that the PQ has won two consecutive majority governments since then.
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