English-French Relations

English – French relations are depicted from the Party Quebecois, the official languages act, Pierre Trudeau, Maitre chez nous, October crisis, Bill 101, and Rene Levesque. The Party Quebecois was formed in 1968 through a union of two movements; the MSA and the RIN movement. The party gained 23% of the votes and passed a number of laws. They raised the minimum wage to the highest level. They abolished the rights of employers to fire an employee on strike. The Party Quebecois introduced maternity leave for working women, a government day-care system, and they increased family allowances. Also, they started an auto insurance plan. English – French relations was portrayed by the official languages act which was passed in 1969. This act declared Canada as a bilingual nation and allowed the nation to communicate with the federal government through English or French. There were bilingual services offered anywhere there was a 10 % + minority of either language. The English felt that they were being forced to learn another language. As well as, English – French relations was represented by Pierre Trudeau; a French Canadian who gained support of all English Canada. He was the 15th prime minister of Canada and was young and promising. He was strictly against separatism. Also, Maitre chez nous (masters in our own house) shows English – French relationship. In Maitre chez nous, the French wanted equal partnership with English Canada. It was a partnership in which Quebec would determine its own fate. There were a few goals of the Lesage government such as, facilitate the speedy modernization of Quebec, ensure the survival of French language and culture in Quebec, achieve full equality in the Canadian partnership, and place the Quebec economy in the hands of the citizens of Quebec. The October crisis portrayed some misunderstanding between the relationship of the English and French Canadians. During the October crisis, the FLQ bombed the Montreal stock exchange which injured 27 people and held 20 banks. The FLQ kidnapped James cross, and Pierre Laporte from the front of his house. James cross was a British commissioner while Pierre was a provincial cabinet member. During this event, the war measures act was invoked, which allowed the government to arrest anyone with any warrants. Later on, Pierre was murdered and found in a car’s trunk while James was found by the police. Although there were some misunderstanding between the French and English, the Bill 101 strengthened their relationship. The Bill 101 was passed and allowed French to be the official language of courts, government, and businesses in Quebec. It also allowed the children to attend French school unless if English was your first language. Even the immigrants had to go to French schools in Quebec. Lastly, Rene Levesque was a premier of Quebec who was a journalist. He supported Quebec a lot and had one main objective; Quebec’s sovereignty. These were the Canadian English – French relations.