This formulized the French Language as the official language of Quebec. It also restricted access to English schools to anyone other than whose parents had attended English schools in Quebec. French schooling became compulsory for all English-speaking immigrants. 🧵 9/18
Wait is that quite true? I remember my brother and sister being able to attend anglophone school because I was already attending it? (Ancient memory—I could be wrong about why, but they definitely attended Anglo schools)
Yes, if your siblings or parents went to English schools in the past you and your children have the right to attend English schools. Also applicable for Canadians moving in Québec.
Yes! Even tho we were immigrants from US!
I like to think I saved my siblings from the horror of French school! The horror, the horror! The result is I speak much better French than them!
A large number of schools in primarily English speaking communities also chose to either outright ignore it, or come up with some extremely convoluted paperwork to bypass it
His government prohibited discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, created the province's first environment ministry, established a labour standards commission and ruled women cannot be discriminated against because of pregnancy in various areas of life. 🧵 10/18
That’s pretty cool.
On Feb. 6, 1977, Lévesque accidently ran over Edgar Trottier, a homeless man lying on the road. Trottier, who had done this type of thing before to get a hospital bed, was killed. Lévesque was fined $25 for not wearing his glasses while driving at night. 🧵 11/18
On May 20, 1980, his government put forward a referendum on Quebec independence. The Yes side won 40% of the vote, failing to capture the majority needed. Lévesque considered it the toughest defeat of his career, but another major battle was still to come. 🧵 12/18
During the effort to repatriate the Canadian Constitution from Britain, Lévesque opposed the new centralized federal powers over the economy and the constitutionally-entrenched Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Lévesque joined eight premiers in opposition. 🧵 13/18
With the promise of a notwithstanding clause, the seven English-speaking premiers were won over, while Levesque continued to oppose. When the repatriated Constitution was signed by Queen Elizabeth II in 1982, it had the support of every premier except for Lévesque. 🧵 14/18
After 1982, there were growing doubts in the party about the leadership of Lévesque, although his leadership was reaffirmed at a convention in January 1985. Nonetheless, he chose to resign as premier in June 1985. On Nov. 1, 1987, he died of a heart attack. 🧵 15/18
His state funeral and funeral procession was attended by 100,000 people. As his coffin was carried into the church, the crowd sang Gens du pays, the unofficial anthem of Quebec. Several roads are named for him in Quebec, as are various buildings in the province. 🧵 16/18
A statue of Lévesque was unveiled in 1999 outside the Parliament Building in Quebec City. The statue was later moved to New Carlisle, and replaced with a larger-than-life statue. Among many Quebec residents, he is considered the province's greatest premier. 🧵 17/18
I hope you enjoyed that look at Rene Lévesque. If you enjoy my Canadian history content, you can support my work with a donation at 👇 www.buymeacoffee.com/craigu *sources in next post* 🧵 18/18
Sources: Canadian Encyclopedia: buff.ly/3EuDy0w Assemblée nationale du Québec: buff.ly/KfaNfSF New Carlisle: buff.ly/Qem2dpG Dictionary of Canadian Biography: buff.ly/KA0xx5G
The thing people outside of the PQ don't realise was that Quebec had a long history of corruption, and interference from the Catholic Church The insanity of the referendum and the complete cluster fk of how Bill 101 was enforced aside, it was the most stable Gov't Quebec had seen in decades
