There was once a time when Quebec was less than 2% away from becoming independent to all of Canada.
While Quebec’s independence movement may be well known across of Canada (especially in the education system), the fundamental reasons why may not be so clear to most people. It actually began in the year of 1967, with one of the most controversial speeches ever delivered in Canadian history.
Flashback to July 24th, 1967, French president Charles de Gaulle delivers a speech in from the balcony of Montreal’s City Hall during the Canadian Expo in 1967. The crowd gathers under Gaulle, awaiting his words. Some people are confused, others excited, others apprehensive. The crowd goes silent for an instant, and Gauelle utters the four most appalling words of his entire life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l1EYNoHY1A
“Vive le Quebec…libre.”
The crowd sits stunned for a few seconds, only to burst into applause. Gaulle had made history.
Nobody thought that Gauelle’s words would have the impact that it did in Canada, entrenching itself as the first step on Quebec’s road to rebellion. By uttering that infamous line, Gaulle would spark the largest Canadian diplomatic incident which would not only end Gaulle’s visit to Canada, but also French interference in the domestic affairs. More notoriously, Gaulle’s words would also start the Quebec revolution for independence. To add a touch of insanity to the already incongruous event, Gaulle was not even arranged to speak to the Canadian people on that day, but he instead said
“I have to speak to those people who are calling for me.”
In the upcoming years, the rest of the story would be history. In 1968 the Parti Quebecois would begin to appeal the constitutional negotiations on a matter of “political sovereignty.” In 1980, Quebec, in the political party of the “Parti Quebecois” would make the first attempt forward to be of a “sovereignty-association,” and fail at the House of Commons. In 1995, Quebec would host a second referendum, widely known as the closest referendum in Quebec history, with a winning margin of 50.58%. The words of Gaulle had finally been quelled in the most nerve-racking manner, but the tensions between Quebec and the rest of Canada would still linger into the 21st century.
The lesson of the story? Words matter. They educate, they enliven, they inspire. Please use them wisely.
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