It is said that Quebec self-identifies as a distinct society and as a result, it is often referred to as a nation within a nation. As a region, it has been at the centre of political controversy long before it became an official Canadian province. This distinction stems from Quebec’s history and its roots as Canada’s French-Canadian cultural hub. Unlike most provinces that are made up of multiple regional identities, Quebec is often considered an anomaly where provincial borders align with regional boards. Though this label cannot be equally applied to all aspects of Quebec life, or to the population as a whole, the scholarship that surrounds the province is often telling. This paper will assess the works of four Canadian individuals – Paul-Emilie
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Valliéres work focuses on the struggle for freedom in Quebec in the context of decolonization battles around the world and the Black’s struggle in the United States of America. In terms of its importance to Quebec, Valliéres believes that Quebec has been oppressed because both Canada and the United States have exploited their work class. His comparison to African Americans is a rhetorical writing strategy used to express the use of racism because of the capitalist system. For “the workers of Quebec are aware of their condition as niggers, exploited men, second class citizens” (Vallières 21) and wanted to gain control of their destiny (49). Looking at the past retrospectively, Vallières opinion and ideals can be linked from the publishing of his book to the formation of the Front de liberation du Québec (FLQ) and subsequent bombing campaigns done by the group (Stewart and Bethune 3). Pierre Vallières was also one of the FLQ leaders and played a role in the killing of government official Pierre Laporte during the October Crisis in 1970 (4). Vallières work and actions as the hands of the FLQ illustrate a similar radical view of Borduas and yet, not everyone had a radical, violent, extremist views on how Quebec’s French population should be transformed. He was not just talking to people in Quebec through his work, Vallières wanted to appeal to larger audience because of what he saw as their shared oppression. The War Measures Act crushed the October Crisis by placing a suspension on the civil liberties, and subduing Quebec nationalist groups (2). According to James Stewart and Brian Bethune, “Commentators refer to the ‘military occupation of Quebec’ in 1970, as though the Canadian army had marched in against the will of Quebecers, instead of in aid of Canadian citizens” (2) and only paved the way for ethnocentrism and separatism amongst
Valliéres work focuses on the struggle for freedom in Quebec in the context of decolonization battles around the world and the Black’s struggle in the United States of America. In terms of its importance to Quebec, Valliéres believes that Quebec has been oppressed because both Canada and the United States have exploited their work class. His comparison to African Americans is a rhetorical writing strategy used to express the use of racism because of the capitalist system. For “the workers of Quebec are aware of their condition as niggers, exploited men, second class citizens” (Vallières 21) and wanted to gain control of their destiny (49). Looking at the past retrospectively, Vallières opinion and ideals can be linked from the publishing of his book to the formation of the Front de liberation du Québec (FLQ) and subsequent bombing campaigns done by the group (Stewart and Bethune 3). Pierre Vallières was also one of the FLQ leaders and played a role in the killing of government official Pierre Laporte during the October Crisis in 1970 (4). Vallières work and actions as the hands of the FLQ illustrate a similar radical view of Borduas and yet, not everyone had a radical, violent, extremist views on how Quebec’s French population should be transformed. He was not just talking to people in Quebec through his work, Vallières wanted to appeal to larger audience because of what he saw as their shared oppression. The War Measures Act crushed the October Crisis by placing a suspension on the civil liberties, and subduing Quebec nationalist groups (2). According to James Stewart and Brian Bethune, “Commentators refer to the ‘military occupation of Quebec’ in 1970, as though the Canadian army had marched in against the will of Quebecers, instead of in aid of Canadian citizens” (2) and only paved the way for ethnocentrism and separatism amongst