Quebec Confronts Canada: Two Competing Societal Projects Searching for Legitimacy (original) (raw)

1996, Publius: The Journal of Federalism

Forced centralist policies, made possible by the utilization of Ottawa's spending, taxation powers, and frequent of>position to Quebec's policy preferences led a large number of Quebecers to favor greater sovereignty. The federal government's attempts to reduce provinces to junior governments in the federation have backfired in Quebec's case, and led to the construction of a modern, liberal, pluralistic, and territorial nationalist project. Meanwhile, Quebecers continue to shape a vision of themselves lhal is marked by sharp differences with the Canadian political project of undifferentiated citizens and that erects instead a communitarian model inspired by social democratic values. U n 30 October 1995, Quebecers came within a whisker of forcing a reform of the Canadian federation and taking Canada closer to a Maastricht type political and economic arrangement. An impressive turnout of 93.48 percent confirmed the deep concern of Quebecers from all linguistic groups, political allegiances, and regions with this decision. 1 In the end, only 52,448 votes in favor of the status quo demarcated the two options. Opposition to the sovereignty-partnership project was registered within most nonfrancophone communities, with the exception of the Latino-Quebecers who were more inclined to support the nationalist project. 2 Youth, low and middle income earners, unemployed, people on welfare, francophones, and intellectuals gave their overwhelming support to the nationalist cause. 3 Changes advanced by the Quebec government, under the leadership of the Parti Quebecois 'Jacques Parizeau, the Bloc Quebecois Official Opposition 'See Guy Lachapelle, "Les raisons du vote massif des Quebecois au referendum," Bulletin d'histoire polUiqueA (Spring 1996): 23-26.