High Tensions

 In 1980, the country saw a referendum in Quebec, triggered by the separatist government under Rene Levesque. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau led the side against the question of separation. This editorial cartoon pretty much personifies their relationship.

Here we have Trudeau and Levesque giving speeches in the run up to the referendum, with pauses in the video as the other person takes over. The effect is as though they're debating in the same room. In the end, the referendum was defeated.

A Conservative government under Brian Mulroney attempted to amend the Constitution with the provincial and territorial premiers, through the Meech Lake Accord to alleviate the concerns that had led to the referendum in the first place. In the end, the Accord failed.

1995 saw another referendum on the issue of Quebec separation. It was narrowly defeated- the closest the country ever came to coming apart.

Francophone communities are found throughout the country, and the nation is officially bilingual.

The next section focuses on human rights, and the country has evolved over time to embrace them, from voting rights to citizenship to discrimination

This is the work of an artist, Laila Binbrek, called Mirror Mirror. It has two sides of a dressing table, with her dual identities represented- western on the one side and middle eastern on the other.

Charles De Gaulle Can Rot In Hell

I look forward to the reactions that title will bring. And apologies in advance for the language.

In 1967, French President Charles de Gaulle paid a state visit to Canada and started a diplomatic firestorm by standing on the balcony of Montreal's city hall and telling the crowd below, "Vive le Quebec libre," or "long live a free Quebec." The state visit would get cut short.

I've long held to the position that history would have been better served if a lucky German sniper had taken him out before he got over to Britain in 1940. He did absolutely nothing in World War Two but position himself as the leader of Free France just because he thought so, antagonized and irritated the Allies (who were busy liberating his country by the way, no thanks from him), and stroked his own bloody ego. Other officers could have taken on the task without being egomaniacs and gotten more done. I would submit that he had an ego bigger than Napoleon (who at least had accomplishments to his name), and for all intents and purposes, was a complete prick, and one of history's biggest assholes. I suspect these days he's roasting in hell, still complaining about everything.

A separatist movement rose up in strength later, even forming the provincial government in the form of the Parti Quebecois.

In 1980, a referendum on the separatist movement was held. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau headed up the side advocating against separatism.

Premier Rene Levesque, a chain smoking politician who's probably also spending eternity in hell these days, headed up the yes side.

It was close, but the separatist agenda was voted down.

In 1995, another referendum. The yes side was headed up by Premier Jacques Parizeau and Bloc Quebecois leader Lucien Bouchard. Parizeau is represented here by a puppet- the man famously blamed money and the "ethnic vote" for the defeat of the referendum in a speech in which he'd probably had too much to drink. Another fellow who's no doubt joined de Gaulle and Levesque in hell.

The Quebec Liberal leader Daniel Johnson headed the No side, and was joined by federal politicians, including the Prime Minister, Jean Chretien, here portrayed in puppet form.

In the end, it was close. But no to separation was the choice.

If you don't hear from me again, chances are I've been strangled by the ghosts of de Gaulle, Levesque, and Parizeau.

Turmoil Within The Country

This is the powow dress of Amanda Larocque, a Mi'kmaq fancy dance performer. 

The next thematic area deals with Quebec, and with Francophones generally in Canada. It starts with a jersey and hockey stick belonging to one of the greatest to ever play the game- Maurice "Rocket" Richard, a hero and legend worshiped by fans of the Montreal Canadiens.

Albums by various Quebec musicians are seen together.

One of the more insufferable moments of the 1960s involved a man whose entire life could be summed up by that word. Charles de Gaulle had weaseled his way into power in France by making the absolute most of his reputation from the Second World War. In truth, there was nothing he did of any real note that couldn't have been done by another Free French officer. The man was an insufferable egomaniac, impossible to work with, in love with his own place in history. In short, an asshole. 

He came to Canada on a state visit, went to Montreal, where he gave a speech to crowds from a balcony, and ended up feeding into the sovereignty movement by calling, "vive le Quebec libre!"

This of course set off a diplomatic firestorm, and it wasn't long before the old man was out of the country.

Again: an asshole. If there's any justice, he's roasting in hell right about now, griping about why no one's paying attention to him.

The 1960s had also seen the rise of extremism and terrorism in Quebec. The Front de Liberation du Quebec (FLQ) spent years setting off bombs. Their actions culminated in the October Crisis- the kidnapping of a British diplomat, and the kidnapping and murder of a provincial cabinet minister.

The first referendum on the question of separation ensued some years later. For the no side, the Prime Minister of the country led efforts. Pierre Trudeau is seen here speaking to supporters.

On another screen, the provincial premier, Rene Levesque, the driving force for separation, speaks in turn, creating the effect of a political debate.

Quebecois

We start today with a series of record covers by Quebec musicians of the period of the Quiet Revolution.

In 1967, Charles de Gaulle, the self proclaimed war hero of France who had weaseled his way into leading France years later, came to Canada on tour. He came to Montreal, gave a speech at the city hall to the crowds outside, and shouted "Vive le Quebec Libre". It fed the mood of separatists, outraged the country as a whole, and pretty much fed into his rampant ego. Arguably the biggest ego ever to stride the planet, and all based on a house of cards. Can you tell I'm not a fan of Charles Bloody de Gaulle? 

In short, the man was an asshole.

Over the course of several years during this period, the Front de liberation du Quebec (FLQ) operated a terror campaign of bombings, going beyond political activism into violence for Quebec sovereignty. 

Here we have police protective gear and equipment typical of a bomb squad of the period.

The October Crisis of 1970 erupted when the FLQ kidnapped James Cross, a British diplomat, and Pierre Laporte, a Quebec cabinet minister. Pierre Trudeau invoked the War Measures Act in response; Cross was released but Laporte was killed before the crisis was brought to an end.

An editorial cartoon of two eternal adversaries. The Parti Quebecois premier Rene Levesque is at left. Prime Minister Trudeau, in Mountie attire, is at right.

The two men would be at their most acrimonious during the first Quebec separation referendum. Levesque would fail in his endeavor to break Quebec out of Canada. Video of both men speaking from that time are found here.