A Quebecer has created a petition to have the Quebec tartan recognized by the government, and, at the same time, the Scottish roots of the province.
Linda Janes began her efforts in 2019 to have the tartan officially recognized as registered in the Scottish Tartan Register, Global News reported on Saturday.
“I think we should be proud of it and recognize that it’s part of Quebec, that it’s part of Quebec history,” she said in an interview with the media.
Quebec’s tartan was designed in the 1960s, along with those of other provinces, in honor of Canada’s centennial, according to Bruce Bolton, former president of the St. Andrew’s Society of Montreal.
The CAQ MP for the riding of Huntingdon, Claire IsaBelle, supports Ms. Janes’ initiative and even filed a petition to this effect in the National Assembly last fall, according to Global News.
The Prime Minister’s parliamentary assistant for relations with English-speaking Quebecers, Christopher Skeete, is also in favor of the idea.
“I think it is important for us to recognize not only our French history, but also our unique history of Irish descent, of Scottish descent,” he told the media.
Named “Plaid du Québec”, the tartan bears the colors of the coat of arms of the Belle Province, namely blue, green, red, gold and white.
Nearly 135 people have already signed the petition, which is available until February 10 on the National Assembly website.
Quebec had proclaimed April 6 as Tartan Day in 2003, but remains the only Canadian province not to have officially adopted a tartan.