In the aftermath of the Quiet Revolution, French Canadians in Quebec, who in the early days were simply called “Canadians”, almost instantly became “Québécois”. On the other hand, their English-speaking fellow citizens kept their identity as English Canadians unchanged.
Although, little by little, certain changes appeared on this side, first in their daily language which began to use strange words like “convenience store”, “cégep”, “poutine”, to the point where the thing was noticed in Toronto . And many began to send their children to French schools and to learn French. But, after the election of the Parti Québécois (PQ) in 1976, they were suddenly confronted with a decisive and traumatic choice: to be or not to be, stay or go. Many left, but most stayed. It was a turning point.
Those who chose Quebec naturally continued to evolve. As it accentuated its distinct character, they deepened their Quebec roots. And now, a few decades later, a major development has occurred: their universities are proposing to the Quebec government to replace the increase in tuition fees imposed on students from other Canadian provinces with compulsory French courses.
For perhaps the first time, our English-speaking fellow citizens are adopting a purely Quebecois attitude on a subject that differentiates them from their Canadian compatriots. Concerned about the place and future of French in Quebec, they intervene publicly in support of a French Quebec. An attitude that would have been unthinkable fifty years ago.
Another interesting development: a growing number of Canadians from other provinces are voluntarily choosing to immigrate to Quebec due in particular to its quality of life, its artistic creativity and the more egalitarian nature of its social life. When they arrive, they are already lovers of Quebec.
It therefore seems to me that we are gradually seeing the emergence of a community that could henceforth be referred to as “Anglo-Quebecoise”. These English Quebecers make Quebec an important place in the very definition of their identity. Like many French-speaking Quebecers elsewhere, they have a dual nationality, Canadian-Quebec. For example, when one of our people has sporting or cultural success, they feel Quebecois and proud of it. And, in our economic life, they continue to contribute powerfully to our success, often with French-speaking partners.
This Anglo-Quebecois community does not only include the former English minority who have lived here since the Conquest. It also includes the descendants of ethnic minorities who chose to assimilate on the English-speaking side. However, here too, attitudes are changing. No doubt under the effect of Bill 101, these communities are constantly moving closer to the majority. This is particularly the case for Italians and Greeks who frequent our health and social institutions in large numbers, but also for more recent communities of Latin American or North African origin.
Several of these communities are also divided: a part, sometimes a majority, of their members are French-speaking. Their Quebec identity increasingly acts as a counterbalance to their Canadian identity.
This transformation, however, is gradual and far from complete. For it to continue, constitutional guarantees are necessary. Our minority situation in North America should make us understand the fear that our English minority feels of losing, within a French-speaking majority, the rights that are historically theirs.
Our commitments in this regard must, therefore, be scrupulously respected, but the current situation is unacceptable and this should not prevent us from energetically pursuing our efforts to give a French face to Montreal and make French the common language throughout Quebec. I am happy to see that the Anglo-Quebecois community increasingly agrees with this opinion.
This is why we must hope that an agreement will be reached quickly on the historic proposal that English-speaking universities made to the Quebec government.