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Parti Québécois
DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)
Spelling variants:Parti Quebecois, PQ
n. — Politics, French relations, especially Quebec
a political party in Quebec that aims to achieve political independence for the province.
Type: 1. Origin — The Parti Québécois (PQ) was founded in 1968 by the union of the Mouvement Souveraineté-Association (MSA) and the Rassemblement pour l'indépendance national (RIN). The party won the provincial election of 1976, and remained in power until 1985 when defeated by the Liberals. The PQ rose to power again in 1994 and was re-elected in 1998, but was defeated again by the Liberals in 2003. In 2012, the PQ won the provincial election to form a minority government.
The mandate of the PQ since its inception has been to achieve political sovereignty/separatism for Quebec. In 1980, the party held a referendum to decide whether to negotiate for sovereignty-association, which resulted in 60% of voters voting against the proposal. Another referendum was held in 1995, with the votes against sovereignty-association in the majority by the narrowest of margins (see Canadian Encyclopedia reference).
Note that the term is not translated in English as "The Quebec Party", but retains its French name in English contexts, albeit often without the French diacritics. Internet searches indicate that the term is most prevalent in Canada (see Chart 1).
See also COD-2, s.v. "Parti Québécois", Gage-5, s.v. "Parti Québécois", which are marked "Cdn", and ITP Nelson, s.v. "Parti Québécois", which is described as "Quebec".
The mandate of the PQ since its inception has been to achieve political sovereignty/separatism for Quebec. In 1980, the party held a referendum to decide whether to negotiate for sovereignty-association, which resulted in 60% of voters voting against the proposal. Another referendum was held in 1995, with the votes against sovereignty-association in the majority by the narrowest of margins (see Canadian Encyclopedia reference).
Note that the term is not translated in English as "The Quebec Party", but retains its French name in English contexts, albeit often without the French diacritics. Internet searches indicate that the term is most prevalent in Canada (see Chart 1).
See also COD-2, s.v. "Parti Québécois", Gage-5, s.v. "Parti Québécois", which are marked "Cdn", and ITP Nelson, s.v. "Parti Québécois", which is described as "Quebec".
See: separatism,Péquiste,language police,sovereignty-association,Meech Lake Accord,sovereignty(meaning 1)
Quotations
1968
"Neither party alone will get the electoral majority," he added, "but together maybe we can do it." The Parti Quebecois was founded last week at a convention in Quebec city. Rene Levesque, a former Liberal resources minister in Quebec, was elected president. The convention was attended by members of Levesque's movement, which wanted equal association of Quebec and Canada in a common currency and free trade area, and the Ralliement National, founded by separatist Gilles Gregoire, a former Creditiste MP.
1977
What we are seeing here then is not a cool analysis of federal-provincial relations, of the factors determining the accession to power of the Parti Quebecois in November, 1976, of the possibility that the people of Quebec will themselves not choose the independence option (here Mr. Levesque's optimistic oratory has carried all before him), of the economic problems facing a separated Quebec.
1985
In less than six months, the political landscape of the country's heartland Quebec and Ontario has been wholly transfigured. It will probably take another six months for the new formation to gel, but there is little question that the last few days will be remembered as the critical week in the process, for two reasons.
The first and obvious one is Monday's massive Liberal election victory in Quebec. After nine years of Parti Quebecois rule, the country's second-largest province has returned to the Liberal fold.
1995
In his farewell words to the Quebec National Assembly yesterday, Parizeau said sovereignty - and the construction of a modern Quebec state - have been the two guiding lights of his 35-year public career.
Parizeau, who led Quebecers to the threshold of sovereignty with a 49.4 per cent score in the Oct. 30 Quebec referendum, will step down after the Parti Quebecois confirms Bloc Quebecois leader Lucien Bouchard as his successor next month.
2003
A bold new strategy to achieve Quebec independence is emerging within sovereigntist ranks.
It would have the Parti Québécois seek a clear mandate in the next election to begin an immediate process to achieve political independence, with a promise to hold a referendum on a new constitution 18 months after taking office. A "yes" vote on the constitution would mean independence.
The strategy does not come from the PQ, however. It was unveiled last weekend at the annual meeting of the Rassemblement pour l'indépendence du Québec, a hard-line pro-sovereignty group. The fact that it surfaced there is an illustration of how the sovereignty debate has opened up since the PQ lost the election last spring.
References
- COD-2
- Gage-5
- ITP Nelson
- Canadian Encyclopedia • "Quebec Referendum (1995)"
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