Estates General of French Canada

The Estates General of French Canada (French: États généraux du Canada français) were a series of three assizes held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada between 1966 and 1969. Organized by the Ligue d'action nationale and coordinated by the Fédération des Sociétés Saint-Jean-Baptistes du Québec (FSSJBQ), the stated objective of these Estates General was to consult the French-Canadian people on their constitutional future.

Origins

According to Rosaire Morin, editor of the L'Action nationale review, the idea of the Estates General was launched by the FSSJBQ in 1961.[1] Annual assemblies gathering the representatives of several French-Canadian associations occurred around that time, but these involved no more than 30 people.

In May 1963, MLA Jean-Jacques Bertrand presented a motion in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec in which he asked for the setting up of "a special committee to prepare the convocation of the French-Canadian General Estates". However, this move was not followed and the initiative of convening the Estates General came from civil society instead of the Quebec Parliament.

In April 1964, the proposal of the FSSJBQ regarding the Estates General was endorsed by various associations and intermediary bodies of Quebec's civil society.[2][3] In November 1965, a provisional committee composed of 27 members was set up to try to reach out as many associations as possible.

The December 1965 issue of L'Action nationale contained a first article treating the subject of the history and functioning of the Estates General in France. A second article on the same subject was published in the February 1966 issue. A third one was intended for the May–June 1966 issue, but this issue was never published.

The president of the Estates General, lawyer Albert Leblanc, was appointed to the Superior Court of Quebec during the course of the year 1966 and was replaced by law professor Jacques-Yvan Morin.[4]

Preliminary assizes of 1966

The Preliminary assizes of 1966 were the first meeting of the Estates General of French Canada. The assizes, held from November 25 to 27 at Université de Montréal, were said to be preliminary because their objective was to prepare the working material on the basis of which the subsequent assizes were to debate.

National assizes of 1967
Further information: National assizes of 1967 (Estates General of French Canada)

The National assizes of 1967 were the second meeting of the Estates General of French Canada. They were held from November 23 to 26 at Place des Arts in Montreal. the delegates adopted among others an important resolution pertaining to the right to self-determination of the French Canadians in the territory of Quebec, which was declared the "national territory and fundamental political milieu" of their nation.

National assizes of 1969

The National assizes of 1969 were the third and last meeting of the Estates General of French Canada. They were held from March 5 to 9 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. The delegates adopted among others an important resolution proposing to convene a constituent assembly for the drafting of the constitution of Quebec.

Timeline
  • 1966 – On September 13, election of the territorial delegates to the preliminary assizes.
  • 1966 – From November 25 to 27, the preliminary assizes are held at Université de Montréal.
  • 1967 – On April 16, election of the territorial delegates to the first national assizes.
  • 1967 – From November 23 to 26, the first national assizes are held at Place des Arts in Montreal.
  • 1969 – From March 5 to 9, the second national assizes are held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.

Notes
  1. Rosaire Morin. "Les États généraux du Canada français", in L'Action nationale, 1990, 80, 6, p. 799-815.
  2. Fédération des Jeunes Chambres, Fédération des Commissions scolaires, Fédérations des Collèges classiques, Fédération des travailleurs du Québec, Confédération des syndicats nationaux, Union catholique des cultivateurs, Conseil de la vie française, Association d'éducation du Québec, Corporation des instituteurs et institutrices du Québec, Association canadienne des éducateurs de langue française, Conseil d'expansion économique, etc.
  3. EGCF. Les États généraux du Canada français : assises préliminaires tenues à l'Université de Montréal, du 25 au 27 novembre 1966, p. 5.
  4. Rosaire Morin. "Les États généraux du Canada français", in L'Action nationale, 1990, 80, 6, p. 799-815.

References

Further reading
Studies
  • Michel Bock (2001). Comment un peuple oublie son nom. La crise identitaire franco-ontarienne et la presse française de Sudbury (1960-1975), Sudbury: Institut franco-ontarien / Prise de parole, 119 p. (critical review)
  • Marcel Martel (1998). French Canada: An Account of its Creation and Break up, 1850-1967. Ottawa: The Canadian Historical Association, 32 p.
  • Marcel Martel and Robert Choquette (1998). Les États généraux du Canada français, trente ans après : actes du colloque tenu à l’Université d’Ottawa les 5, 6 et 7 novembre 1997, Ottawa : Centre de recherche en civilisation canadienne-française de l’Université d’Ottawa, 422 p.
  • Marcel Martel (1997). Deuil d'un pays imaginé. Rêves, luttes et déroute du Canada-français. Les rapports entre le Québec et la francophonie canadienne, 1867-1975, Ottawa : Presses de l'Université d'Ottawa, 204 p.
Articles
Publications by the Estates General
  • EGCF (1969). Assises nationales tenues à l'hôtel Reine Elisabeth du 5 au 9 mars 1969, Montréal : Action nationale, 646 p. (L'Action nationale, vol. LVIII, N 9 et 10, mai-juin 1969)
  • EGCF. Les Cahiers des États généraux du Canada français, Montréal, 1967-69 (19 issues)
  • EGCF (1968). Les États généraux du Canada français : assises nationales tenues à la Place des arts de Montréal du 23 au 26 novembre 1967, Montréal : Éditions de l'Action nationale, 380 p. (L'Action nationale, vol. LVII, N 6, fév. 1968)
  • EGCF (1967). Les États généraux du Canada français : assises préliminaires tenues à l'Université de Montréal, du 25 au 27 novembre 1966, Montréal, 128 p.
  • EGCF (1967). États généraux du Canada français : exposés de base et documents de travail, Montréal : Éditions de L'Action nationale, 277 p.
  • EGCF (1967). Un peuple en marche, le 16 avril 1967, s.n., 23 p.
  • EGCF (1966). Un peuple parle, s.n., 16 p.
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