Parti Quebec
- This is a preview of the essay.
To view the full text you must login!
Parti Qubecois (PQ), provincial political party committed to the
independence of Quebec. Founded in 1968, it soon became a force in
provincial elections. In 1976, led by Ren Lvesque, it captured control of
the provincial assembly. Among its first acts was the passage of Bill 101,
controversial legislation that made French the official language of Quebec
and prohibited the use of English on signs and in most commercial
transactions. It also introduced much social legislation, such as no-fault
auto insurance legislation. In May, 1980, voters in the long-awaited
provincial referendum rejected the proposition that Quebec should proceed
to negotiate for its independence. Despite this, the party won the 1981
provincial elections. Internal dissension over the result of the 1980
referendum led to a weakening of the party. Lvesque resigned as party
leader in 1985, and the PQ was defeated in provincial elections later that
year. Subsequent party leaders Pierre-Marc Johnson and Jacques Parizeau
struggled to return the PQ to its earlier success...