POL214Y5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Civic Nationalism, Lower Canada, English Canada
Document Summary
Although french-speaking residents now make up less than one-quarter of the canadian population, they constituted a majority of the european population in the area that is now canada until the 1800s. Even though french colonies came under british control, the continuation of the french fact in canada is no accident. Supporters of the french fact in canada were also divided between those who saw it centred in quebec and those defending its existence throughout the whole country. Among all the ethnic, linguistic, and cultural issues in canada, the french question has always had the greatest significance. The territorial principle would recognize quebec as the homeland of french canada and give that province powers and resources to protect and promote its linguistic and cultural distinctiveness. The personality principle would treat quebec as une province comme les autres, recognize the existence of french canada across the country, and promote bilingualism at the federal level and in the other provinces and territories.
