Quebec sovereignty movement: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Independence movement in Canada}}

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{{Use Canadian English|date = February 2019}}

[[File:Oui1995referendum.jpg |thumb|270x270px| right|A poster for Quebec sovereignty during the [[1995 Quebec referendum|1995 referendum]]: {{langnf|fr|links=no|Oui, et ça devient possible|Yes, and it becomes possible}}.]]

[[File:Map of mainland North America, with independent Quebec.svg|thumb|270x270px| right|Location, in dark blue, of Quebec within North America.]]The '''Quebec sovereignty movement''' (French: ''mouvement souverainiste du Québec'', {{IPA|fr|muvmɑ̃ suvʁɛnɪst d͡zy kebɛk|pron}}) is a [[political movement]] advocating for Quebec's independence from Canada. Proponents argue that Quebecers form a distinct nation with a unique culture, language, history, and set of values, and thus should exercise their right to [[self-determination]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-05-07 |title=Le pays |url=https://www.blocquebecois.org/le-pays/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Bloc Québécois |language=fr-FR}}</ref> This principle includes the possibility of choosing between integration with a third state, political association with another state, or full independence, enabling Quebecers to establish a sovereign state with its own constitution.

Supporters believe that an independent Quebec would be better positioned to promote its economic, social, environmental, and cultural development.<ref name=":0" /> They contend that self-governance would allow Quebec to manage its resources, such as its vast renewable natural assets and strategic geographic ___location, in alignment with its interests.<ref name=":0" /> Additionally, sovereignty would enable Quebec to establish its own fiscal policies, participate directly in international forums, and uphold its commitment to the French language and intercultural integration model.<ref name=":0" />

[[Image:Quebec.png|thumb|300px|Quebec]]

The '''Quebec sovereignty movement''' is a movement calling for the attainment of [[sovereignty]] for [[Quebec]], a [[province]] of the country of [[Canada]]. It has been and remains to this day, a minority group.

The movement is rooted in [[Quebec nationalism]], emphasizing the province's distinct identity and the desire for political autonomy to achieve its full potential as a nation.

The sovereigntists allege that Quebecers have the right to [[self-determination]] and therefore the right to democratically make the Province of Quebec a separate and independent [[nation]] from the rest of Canada. The net effect of their goal is to split the country into four separate parts: [[Labrador]], [[Newfoundland]], the [[Maritime Provinces]], and [[Ontario]] through to [[British Columbia]] plus the northern territories.

==Overview==

With a sovereign state, Quebec sovereigntists believe that the people of Quebec will be better equipped to foster their own economic, social, and cultural development. Quebec sovereigntists are generally not in opposition to [[federalism]] as a concept, but are opposed to the present federal system of Canada and do not believe it can be reformed in a way that could answer what sovereigntists view as to how Quebec should govern itself.

{{unreferenced section |date=November 2021}}

The goal of Quebec's sovereignist movement is to make Quebec an independent state.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Indépendance |url=https://pq.org/independance/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Parti Québécois |language=fr-FR}}</ref> In practice, the terms ''independentist, sovereignist,'' and ''separatist'' are used to describe people adhering to this movement, although the latter term is perceived as pejorative by those concerned as it de-emphasizes that the sovereignty project aims to achieve political independence without severing economic connections with Canada. Most of the prime ministers of Canada's speeches use the term ''sovereignist'' in French to moderate remarks made on the Quebec electorate. In English, the term ''separatist'' is often used to accentuate negative dimensions of the movement.

The idea of Quebec sovereignty is based on a nationalist vision and interpretation of historical facts and sociological realities in Quebec, which attest to the existence of a Québécois people and a Quebec nation. On November 27, 2006, the House of Commons of Canada adopted, by 266 votes to 16, [[Québécois nation motion|a motion]] recognizing that “Québécois form a nation within a united Canada”.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-11-27 |title=House passes motion recognizing Quebecois as nation |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/house-passes-motion-recognizing-quebecois-as-nation-1.574359 |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> On November 30, the [[National Assembly of Quebec]] unanimously adopted a motion recognizing "the positive character" of the motion adopted by Ottawa and proclaiming that said motion did not diminish "the inalienable rights, the constitutional powers and the privileges of the 'National Assembly and of the Quebec nation'".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Perspective Monde|url=https://perspective.usherbrooke.ca/bilan/quebec/evenements/23776|access-date=2025-05-08|website=perspective.usherbrooke.ca}}</ref>

The idea of sovereignty for Quebec is based, according to its proponents, on the historical and sociological evidence that Quebecers are a [[people]] and a political [[nation]], that they have democratic control over a state of their own, but that inside the Canadian federation as it currently stands, this state does not have the constitutional powers needed by the Quebec government to be the normal national government of all Quebecers. Sovereignists claim that within Canada, the national policies of Quebec clash with the national policies of the federal government. Sovereignists further state that in thir opinion the various attempts at changing the federal system of Canada have thus far failed due, theyu claim, to the conflicting interests between the majority of Quebecers and the majority of Canadians (see [[Constitutional debate of Canada]]).

Sovereignists believe that the natural final outcome of the Québécois people's collective adventure and development is the achievement of [[political independence]], which is only possible if Quebec becomes a [[sovereign state]] and if its inhabitants not only govern themselves through independent democratic political institutions, but are also free to establish external relations and makes international treaties without the federal government of Canada being involved.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

The [[United Nations]] does not recognize the sovereigntists claim to the right to self-determination for Quebec and follows legal principles which allows independence for colonial peoples or only for those whose territory is the subject of foreign occupation. And, present-day international law does not guarantee any specific territorial rights to linguistic, ethnic or religious minorities. In ''[[Reference re Secession of Quebec]]'', the [[Supreme Court of Canada]] advised that the right to a unilateral declaration of independence is not recognized as being applicable to Quebec under Canadian or international law; however, the court also noted that nothing prevented a province from ''negotiating'' secession: "It is recognized that there is no right under the Constitution of Canada to effect the secession of a province from Canada unilaterally and that, therefore, an amendment to the Constitution of Canada would be required for any province to secede from Canada, which in turn would require negotiations involving at least the governments of all of the provinces and the government of Canada."

Through parliamentarism, Québécois currently possess a certain democratic control over the Quebec state. However, within the Canadian federation, Quebec does not have all the constitutional powers that would allow it to act as a true national government. Furthermore, the policies pursued by Quebec and those pursued by the federal government often come into conflict. Various attempts to reform the Canadian federal system have failed (most notably the defunct [[Meech Lake Accord|Meech Lake]] and [[Charlottetown Accord]]s), due to conflicting interests between the sovereignist and [[Federalism in Quebec|federalist]] elites of Quebec, as well as with [[rest of Canada|English Canada]] (see [[Constitutional debate in Canada|Constitutional Debate in Canada]]).

The ''[[Clarity Act]]'' legislation was passed by the [[Parliament of Canada]] to give effect to the opinion in the Quebec Secession Reference rendered by the Supreme Court of Canada on August 20, 1998. Under the Clarity Act, the federal government laid down the terms under which it would agree to negotiate the outcome of referendum by a Canadian province, specifically Quebec. Two of the conditions set out by the act are a clear majority of voters responding to a clear [[referendum]] question. A "clear majority" is not defined in the legislation, but is widely believed to entail significantly more than "50% + 1" of the vote. The government of the sovereigntist [[Parti Quebecois]] in Quebec responded with its own act, symbolic legislation titled an [[Act respecting the exercise of the fundamental rights and prerogatives of the Québec people and the Québec State|legislation]], stating that it would regard 50% + 1 as sufficient majority for a mandate to begin negotiations.

Although Quebec's independence movement is a political movement, cultural and social concerns that are much older than the sovereignist movement, as well as Quebecers' national identity, are also at the base for the desire to emancipate Quebec's population. One of the main cultural arguments sovereigntists cite is that if Quebec were independent, Québécois would have a national citizenship, which would solve the problem of Québécois cultural identity in the North American context (ex. who is a Québécois and who is not, what is uniquely Québécois, etc.). Another example is that by establishing an independent Quebec, sovereigntists believe that the [[Culture of Quebec|culture of Québécois]] and their collective memory will be adequately protected, in particular against [[cultural appropriation]] by other nations, such as the incident with [[O Canada|Canada's national anthem]], originally a [[French Canadian]] patriotic song appropriated by the anglophone majority of Canada. Adherents also believe an independent Quebec would also adequately and definitively resolve the issue of needing to protect the French language in Quebec; French is the language of the majority in Quebec, but since it is the language of a cultural minority in Canada – and since Quebec does not have the legislative powers of an independent state – French is still considered threatened by many Quebecers (see [[Language demographics of Quebec]], [[OQLF]], and [[Charter of the French Language]]).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Indépendant |first=Mouvement Québec |title=Le Québec ne peut être français qu'indépendant ! |url=https://www.mqi.quebec/fr/prise-de-position/quebec-francais |access-date=2025-07-03 |website=Mouvement Québec Indépendant |language=fr-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-18 |title=Semaine de la Francophonie : quel avenir pour la langue française au Québec ? {{!}} TV5MONDE - Informations |url=https://information.tv5monde.com/international/semaine-de-la-francophonie-quel-avenir-pour-la-langue-francaise-au-quebec-36202 |access-date=2025-07-03 |website=information.tv5monde.com |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Guide d'accès à l'indépendance : pour la survie du Québec français,essai,Guy Bertrand, Fondation littéraire Fleur de Lys |url=https://manuscritdepot.com/a_guy_bertrand_01.htm |access-date=2025-07-03 |website=manuscritdepot.com}}</ref>

Although it is primarily a political question, the sovereigntists claim cultural concerns are also at the root of their desire for independence. The central cultural argument of the sovereigntists is that only [[citizenship]] for Quebec can adequately and permanently resolve the difficult issue of the language of the majority ([[Quebec French]]), allow Quebecers to establish their [[nationality]], preserve their [[cultural identity]], and keep their [[collective memory]] alive.

==History==

{{Main|History of the Quebec sovereignty movement}}

=== Before the 1960s ===

==Sovereignty-Association==

{{One source section|date=May 2024}}

''Sovereignty'' and ''sovereignism'' are terms derived from the modern independence movement, which started during the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s. However, the roots of Quebecers' desire for political autonomy are much older than that.

Francophone nationalism in North America dates back to 1534, the year [[Jacques Cartier]] landed in the [[Gaspesie|Gespe'gewa'gi]] district of [[Miꞌkmaꞌki]] claiming [[Canada (New France)|Canada for France]], and more particularly to 1608, the year of the founding of [[Quebec City|Québec]] by [[Samuel de Champlain]], the first permanent settlement for French colonists and their descendants in New France (who were called Canadiens, Canayens or Habitants). Following the British [[conquest of New France]], the ''{{lang|fr|i=no|Canadien}} movement'', which lasted from 1760 to the late 18th century and sought to restore the traditional rights of French Canadians abolished by the [[Royal Proclamation of 1763]], began. During this period, French Canadians began to express an indigenous form of nationalism which emphasized their longstanding residence in North America. The period was briefly interrupted by the [[Quebec Act of 1774]], which granted certain rights to {{lang|fr|Canadiens}} but did not truly satisfy them, and was notably exacerbated by the 1783 [[Treaty of Paris (1783)|Treaty of Paris]], which ceded parts of the Quebec to the United States, and the [[Constitutional Act of 1791]], which established the [[Westminster system]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Courville|first=Serge|title=Quebec: A historical geography|year=2008|publisher=University of British Columbia Press|isbn=9780774814256|pages=6–7|translator-first=Richard |translator-last=Howard}}</ref>

''Main article: [[Mouvement Souveraineté-Association|Sovereignty-Association Movement]]''

The [[Patriote movement]] was the period lasting from the beginning of the 19th century to the defeat of the Patriotes at the [[Battle of Saint-Eustache]] in 1837, the final battle in the Patriotes War. It began with the founding of the [[Parti Canadien]] by the {{lang|fr|Canadiens}}. It stands out for its notorious resistance to the influence of the [[Château Clique]], a group of wealthy families in [[Lower Canada]] in the early 19th century who were the Lower Canadian equivalent of the [[Family Compact]] in [[Upper Canada]].

The sovereigntist movement of Quebec is generally considered to have started in the 1960s with the [[Quiet Revolution]]. The use of the word "sovereignty" and many of the ideas of this movement originated in the 1967 [[Mouvement Souveraineté-Association|Sovereignty-Association Movement]] of [[René Lévesque]]. This movement ultimately gave birth to the [[Parti Québécois]] in [[1968]].

{{blockquote|The perfidious plans of the British authorities have broken all ties of sympathy with a motherland which shows itself to be insensitive. A separation has begun between parties whose union it will never be possible to cement again, but which will continue with increasing vigor, until an unexpected and unforeseen event, as we are offered from time to time in the course of the present times, provides us with a favorable opportunity to take our place among the independent sovereignties of America. We missed two great opportunities: let's all be prepared for a third.<ref>{{cite web |title=Les Patriotes de 1837@1838 – Adresse des Fils de la Liberté (1837). Présentation et annotation de M. Daniel Latouche (Le Manuel de la parole) |url=http://www.1837.qc.ca/1837.pl?out=article&pno=document51 |website=www.1837.qc.ca |access-date=2021-03-19 |archive-date=August 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825174405/http://www.1837.qc.ca/1837.pl?out=article&pno=document51 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sovereignty-Association (French: ''Souveraineté-Association'') is the combination of two concepts:

– 1837 Address of the Sons of Liberty}}

# The achievement of [[sovereignty]] for the Quebec state

# The creation of a political and economic [[association]] between this new independent state and Canada.

{{lang|fr|La Survivance}} is the period beginning after the defeat of the Patriotes in the rebellions of 1837–1838 and lasting until the Quiet Revolution. It concerns the survival strategies employment by the French-Canadian nation and the ultramontane of the Catholic Church following the enactment of the [[Act of Union of 1840]] which established a system whose goal was to force the cultural and linguistic assimilation of French Canadians into English-Canadian culture. In addition to {{lang|fr|[[la Revanche des berceaux]]}}, a phlegmatic character was adopted in response to the mass immigration of English-speaking immigrants. Some French Canadians left Quebec during this period in search of job security and protection of their culture. This phenomenon, known as the {{langnf|fr|Grande Hémorragie|great bleeding}}, is the origin of the [[Quebec diaspora]] in New England and Northeastern Ontario among other places. It led to the creation of permanent resistance movements in those new locations. Groups of nationalists outside Quebec have since then promoted Quebec's cultural identity, along with that of the [[Acadians]] in the [[Maritime provinces]] and in [[Louisiana]], represented by the [[Société Nationale de l'Acadie]] since 1881. [[Louis-Alexandre Taschereau]] coming to power in 1920 created an upheaval in French-Canadian society for most of the [[interwar period]]. The confrontations and divergence of political opinions led to the rise of a new form of nationalism, called clerico-nationalism, promoted by [[Maurice Duplessis]] and the [[Union Nationale (Quebec)|Union Nationale]] party during the [[Grande Noirceur]] of 1944 to 1959.

It was first presented in Lévesque's political manifesto, [[Option Québec]].

During the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s to 1970s, the modern ''Québécois sovereignist movement'' took off, with [[René Lévesque]] as one of its most recognizable figures. Various strategies were implemented since its rise, and it constitutes a continuity in French-speaking nationalism in North America. Now the patriotism is Quebec-focused, and the identifier has been changed from French-Canadian nationalism or identity to Québécois nationalism or identity.

The Parti Québécois defines sovereignty as the power for a state to levy all its taxes, vote on all its laws and sign all its treaties (as mentioned in the [[1980_Quebec_referendum#The_question|1980 referendum question]]).

===The Quiet Revolution (1960s-1970s)===

The type of association between an independent Quebec and the rest of Canada was described as a monetary and customs union as well as joint political institutions to administer the relations between the two countries. The main inspiration for this project was the then emerging [[European Community]]. However, the sovereigntists proposal for an undefined "association" with the rest of Canada had no legitimate basis because the Referendum was limited to only those Canadians residing in the Province of Quebec.

{{Main|Quiet Revolution}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2024}}

{{Cleanup rewrite|date=August 2024|this section doesn't explain the events of the Quiet Revolution and how it made the modern sovereignist movement emerge. As such, the reader will understand the modern movement poorly and won't understand how it led to the referendums. The sentences here also fail to flow into each other to tell a cohesive series of events|section=yes}}

The Quiet Revolution in Quebec brought widespread change in the 1960s. Among other changes, support for Quebec independence began to form and grow in some circles. The first organization dedicated to the independence of Quebec was the Alliance Laurentienne, founded by [[Raymond Barbeau]] on January 25, 1957.

On September 10, 1960, the [[Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale]] (RIN) was founded, with [[Pierre Bourgault]] quickly becoming its leader. On August 9 of the same year, the Action socialiste pour l'indépendance du Québec (ASIQ) was formed by [[Raoul Roy]]. The "independence + socialism" project of the ASIQ was a source of political ideas for the [[Front de libération du Québec]] (FLQ).

The hyphen between the words "sovereignty" and "association" was often stressed by Lévesque and other PQ members, to make it clear that both were inseparable. The reason stated was that if Canada decided to boycott Quebec exports after voting for independence, the new country would have to go through difficult economic times, as the barriers to trade between Canada (including Quebec) and the USA were very high. Quebec would have been a nation of 7 million people stuck between two inpenetrable protectionist countries.

On October 31, 1962, the Comité de libération nationale and, in November of the same year, the Réseau de résistance were set up. These two groups were formed by RIN members to organize non-violent but illegal actions, such as vandalism and civil disobedience. The most extremist individuals of these groups left to form the FLQ, which, unlike all the other groups, had made the decision to resort to violence in order to reach its goal of independence for Quebec. Shortly after the November 14, 1962, [[1962 Quebec general election|Quebec general election]], RIN member [[Marcel Chaput]] founded the short-lived [[Parti républicain du Québec]].

After the signing of the free trade agreement between the USA and Canada, the sovereignty-associationists revisited their option, and the need for an association with the rest of Canada was made optional. That is, an association with Canada is still wished for, but were it to fail, sovereignty would be economically viable because Quebec can (and currently does) freely export to the US market. At the present, PQ members and outside supporters will often speak of 'sovereignty' alone.

In February 1963, the [[Front de libération du Québec]] (FLQ) was founded by three Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale members who had met each other as part of the Réseau de résistance. They were [[Georges Schoeters]], [[Raymond Villeneuve]], and [[Gabriel Hudon]].

Those in favour of independence vacillate between terming it "sovereignty" and "independence," but the two terms are considered to be synonymous. A small group of people prefer "independence" over the other term. They are often stigmatized for this choice. The use of the term "Sovereignty-Association" is a lot less frequent, but is still heard (refer to the [[Quebec_sovereigntism#Modernization|Modernization section below]]).

In 1964, the RIN became a provincial political party. In 1965, the more conservative [[Ralliement national]] (RN) also became a party.

==Ambivalence==

During this period, the [[Estates General of French Canada]] are organized. The stated objective of these Estates General was to consult the French-Canadian people on their constitutional future.

Quebec federalist nationalists think that the Quebec people should be recognized as a ''de facto'' nation by the federal government of [[Canada]] and initiate the constitutional reforms that presuppose such a recognition. Their position is often so close to that of some moderate Quebec sovereigntists that many have jumped the fence both ways (former Premier of Quebec [[Lucien Bouchard]] and Quebec lawyer [[Guy Bertrand]] are well-known examples of this). A great proportion of Quebec sovereigntist politicians were formerly in the reformist camp of the greater liberal family before joining the MSA or later the PQ.

The historical context of the time was a period when many former European colonies were becoming independent. Some advocates of Quebec independence saw Quebec's situation in a similar light; numerous activists were influenced by the writings of [[Frantz Fanon]], [[Albert Memmi]], and [[Karl Marx]]. {{Citation needed|date=March 2014}}

In June 1967, French president [[Charles de Gaulle]], who had recently granted independence to [[Algeria]], shouted "{{lang|fr|[[Vive le Québec libre]]!}}" during a speech from the balcony of [[Montreal]]'s city hall during a state visit to Canada. In doing so, he deeply offended the federal government, and English Canadians felt he had demonstrated contempt for the sacrifice of Canadian soldiers who died on the battlefields of France in two world wars. The visit was cut short and de Gaulle left the country.

==History==

Finally, in October 1967, former [[Parti libéral du Québec|Liberal]] cabinet minister [[René Lévesque]] left that party when it refused to discuss sovereignty at a party convention. Lévesque formed the [[Mouvement souveraineté-association]] and set about uniting pro-sovereignty forces.

''Main article: [[History of the Quebec independence movement]]''

He achieved that goal in October 1968 when the MSA held its only national congress in [[Quebec City]]. The RN and MSA agreed to merge to form the [[Parti Québécois]] (PQ), and later that month Pierre Bourgault, leader of the RIN, dissolved his party and invited its members to join the PQ.

===Precursor ideas and events===

Meanwhile, in 1969 the FLQ stepped up its campaign of violence, which would culminate in what would become known as the [[October Crisis]]. The group claimed responsibility for the bombing of the Montreal Stock Exchange, and in 1970 the FLQ kidnapped British Trade Commissioner [[James Cross]] and Quebec Labour Minister [[Pierre Laporte]]; Laporte was later found murdered.

''See: [[Quebec nationalism]]''

Jacques Parizeau joined the Parti Québécois on September 19, 1969, and [[Jérôme Proulx]] of the [[Union Nationale (Quebec)|Union Nationale]] joined on November 11 of the same year.

Sovereigntism and sovereignty are terms that refer to the modern movement in favour of the political independence of Quebec. However, the roots of Quebec's desire for [[self-determination]] can be traced further back, to the [[Alliance Laurentienne]] of 1957, the writings of [[Lionel Groulx]] in the 1920s, the [[Francoeur Motion]] of 1917, the flirtation of [[Honoré Mercier]] with this idea (especially in his historic [[Honoré Mercier's April 3, 1893 speech|speech of 1893]]), and for a few of the supporters of "[[Lower Canada Rebellion]]" of [[1837]].

In the [[1970 Quebec general election|1970 provincial election]], the PQ won its first seven seats in the [[National Assembly of Quebec|National Assembly]]. René Lévesque was defeated in Mont-Royal by the Liberal [[André Marchand (politician)|André Marchand]].

Political controversies around language and culture in early post-[[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]] Canada, such as the [[Manitoba Schools Question]], Ontario's [[Regulation 17]], the [[Conscription Crisis]] and the execution of [[Metis]] leader [[Louis Riel]] following his trial and conviction, also created significant resentment in Quebec, in turn feeding the emerging nationalist movement.

===EmergenceThe referendum of 1980===

{{Main|1980 Quebec referendum}}

The [[Quiet Revolution]] of [[Quebec]] brought widespread change in the [[1960s]]. Among other changes, support for Quebec independence began to form and grow in some circles. The first organization dedicated to the independence of Quebec was the [[Alliance Laurentienne]], founded by [[Raymond Barbeau]] on [[January 25]], [[1957]].

{{One source section|date=May 2024}}

In the [[Quebec general election, 1976|1976 election]], the PQ won 71 seats — a majority in the National Assembly. With voting turnouts high, 41.4 percent of the electorate voted for the PQ. Prior to the election, the PQ renounced its intention to implement sovereignty-association if it won power.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/parti-qu%C3%A9b%C3%A9cois-first-elected-35-years-ago-today-1.726446 |title=Parti Québécois first elected 35 years ago today |date=15 November 2011 |access-date=25 October 2017 |publisher=[[CTV News (Montreal)]] |archive-date=May 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512015509/https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/parti-quebecois-first-elected-35-years-ago-today-1.726446 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On August 26, 1977, the PQ passed two main laws: first, the law on the financing of political parties, which prohibits contributions by corporations and unions and set a limit on individual donations, and second, the [[Charter of the French Language]].

On [[September 10]], [[1960]] the [[Rassemblement pour l'ind&eacute;pendance nationale]] (RIN) was founded.

On [[August 9]] of the same year, the [[Action socialiste pour l'indépendance du Québec]] (ASIQ) was formed by [[Raoul Roy]].

On [[October 31]], [[1962]], the ''Comité de libération nationale'' and in November of the same year, the ''Réseau de résistance'' were setup. These two groups were formed by RIN members to organize non-violent but illegal actions, such as vandalism and civil disobedience. Shortly after the [[November 14]], [[1962]], [[Quebec general election, 1962|Quebec general election]], RIN member [[Marcel Chaput]] founded the short-lived [[Parti républicain du Québec]].

On May 17 PQ [[National Assembly of Quebec|Member of the National Assembly]] [[Robert Burns (Quebec)|Robert Burns]] resigned, telling the press he was convinced that the PQ was going to lose its referendum and fail to be re-elected afterwards.

In [[1964]], the RIN became a provincial political party. In [[1965]] the more conservative [[Ralliement national]] (RN) also became a party.

At its seventh national convention from June 1 to 3, 1979, the {{Not a typo|sovereignist}} adopted their strategy for the coming referendum. The PQ then began an aggressive effort to promote sovereignty-association by providing details of how the economic relations with the rest of Canada would include free trade between Canada and Quebec, common tariffs against imports, and a common currency. In addition, joint political institutions would be established to administer these economic arrangements.

The historical context of the time was a period when many former European colonies, such as [[Cameroon]], [[Congo]], [[Senegal]], [[Algeria]], [[Jamaica]] etc., were becoming independent. Some advocates of Quebec independence naturally saw Quebec's situation in a similar light. Numerous activists were influenced by the writings of [[Franz Fanon]] and [[Karl Marx]] and for many, [[Cuba]] was seen as the new ideal.

Sovereignty-association was proposed to the population of Quebec in the [[1980 Quebec referendum]]. The proposal was rejected by 60 percent of the Quebec electorate.

Finally, in [[October]] [[1967]] former [[Parti libéral du Québec|Liberal]] cabinet minister [[René Lévesque]] left that party when it refused to discuss sovereignty at a party convention. Lévesque formed the [[Mouvement souveraineté-association]] and set about uniting pro-sovereignty forces.

In September, the PQ created a national committee of Anglophones and a liaison committee with ethnic minorities.

He achieved that goal in October [[1968]] when the MSA held its first (and last) national congress in [[Quebec City]]. The RN and MSA agreed to merge to form the [[Parti Québécois]] (PQ), and later that month [[Pierre Bourgault]], leader of the RIN, dissolved his party and invited its members to join the PQ.

The PQ was returned to power in the [[1981 Quebec general election|1981 election]] with a stronger majority than in 1976, obtaining 49.2 percent of the vote and winning 80 seats. However, they did not hold a referendum in their second term, and put sovereignty on hold, concentrating on their stated goal of "good government".

===The Early Years of the Parti Quebecois===

[[Jacques Parizeau]] joined the party on [[September 19]], [[1969]], and [[Jérôme Proulx]] of the [[Union nationale]] did the same on November 11 of the same year.

In the [[1970René Quebec electionLévesque]], theretired PQin elected1985 its(and firstdied sevenin members1987). ofIn the [[National1985 AssemblyQuebec ofgeneral Quebecelection|National1985 Assemblyelection]]. Renéunder Lévesquehis successor [[Pierre-Marc Johnson]], the PQ was defeated in Mont-Royal by the Liberal [[André Marchand]]Party.

====Sovereignty-association====

In the [[1973 Quebec election|1973 election]], the PQ won six seats, a net loss of one. However, its share of the popular vote had significantly increased.

{{See also|Mouvement Souveraineté-Association}}

{{One source section|date=May 2024}}

The history of the relations between French-Canadians and English-Canadians in Canada has been marked by periods of tension. After colonizing Canada from 1608 onward, [[Kingdom of France|France]] lost the colony to [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] at the conclusion of the [[Seven Years' War]] in 1763, in which France ceded control of [[New France]] (except for the two small islands of [[Saint Pierre and Miquelon]]) to Great Britain, which returned the [[French West Indies|French West Indian]] islands they had captured in the [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|1763 Treaty of Paris]].{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Over the next century, [[French Canadians]] were supplanted by waves of Anglophone immigrants, notably outside of Quebec (where they became a minority) but within the province as well, as much of the province's economy was dominated by English-Canadians. The cause of Québécois nationalism, which waxed and waned over two centuries, gained prominence from the 1960s onward. The use of the word "sovereignty" and many of the ideas of this movement originated in the 1967 [[Mouvement Souveraineté-Association]] of René Lévesque. This movement ultimately gave birth to the Parti Québécois in 1968.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

[[Image:Referendum_1980,_The_Flag_and_the_People.jpg|right|thumb|175px|A public gathering for the YES side of the 1980 Quebec referendum.]]

Sovereignty-association ({{langx|fr|links=no|souveraineté-association}}) is the combination of two concepts:

===The referendum of 1980===

In the [[1976 Quebec election]], the PQ elected 71 candidates to the general astonishment of all of Quebec and the rest of Canada. Discontent with the government of [[Robert Bourassa]] by both the English and French speaking population resulted in one of the highest voting turnouts in Quebec history. Discontented voters, including many Anglophone and Allophone voters switched their vote to the [[Union Nationale]]. As a result, the vote splitting allowed the Parti Quebecois to win a majority of the seats with only 41.4 per cent of the vote and to therefore form a government.

On [[August 26]], [[1977]], the PQ passed two important laws: first, the law on the financing of political parties, which prohibits contributions by corporations and unions and set a limit on individual donations, and second, the [[Charter of the French Language]].

# The achievement of sovereignty for the Quebec state.

On [[May 17]], [[Robert Burns (Quebec)|Robert Burns]] resigned, telling the press he was convinced that the PQ was going to lose its referendum and fail to be re-elected afterwards.

# The creation of a political and economic association between this new independent state and Canada.

It was first presented in Lévesque's political manifesto, [[An Option for Quebec|''Option Québec'']].

At its seventh national convention on June 1 to 3, [[1979]], the sovereigntists adopted their strategy for the coming referendum. The PQ then began an aggressive effort to promote sovereignty-association by providing details of how the economic relations with the rest of [[Canada]] would include [[free trade]] between Canada and Quebec, common tariffs against imports, and a common currency. In addition, joint political institutions would be established to administer these economic arrangements.

The Parti Québécois defines sovereignty as the power for a state to levy all its taxes, vote on all its laws, and sign all its treaties (as mentioned in the [[1980 Quebec referendum#Question|1980 referendum question]]).

Sovereignty-association was proposed by the Parti Quebecois government to the population of Quebec in the [[1980 Quebec referendum]]. The proposal was rejected by 60 per cent of the Quebec electorate, the same percetage that had voted against the Parti Quebecois in the 1976 election that brought them to power.

The type of association between an independent Quebec and the rest of Canada was described as a monetary and customs union as well as joint political institutions to administer the relations between the two countries. The main inspiration for this project was the then-emerging [[European Community]]. In [[An Option for Quebec|''Option Québec'']] Lévesque expressly identified the EC as his model for forming a new relationship between sovereign Quebec and the rest of Canada, one that would loosen the political ties while preserving the economic links. The analogy, however, is counterproductive, suggesting Lévesque did not understand the nature and purpose of the European Community nor the relationship between economics and politics that continue to underpin it. Advocates of European integration had, from the outset, seen political union as a desirable and natural consequence of economic integration.<ref>Dennis Swann (1992) The Economics of the Common Market, p. ix {{ISBN|0140144978}}</ref>

Despite having lost the referendum, the PQ was returned to power in the [[1981 Quebec election]] with a stronger majority than in 1976, obtaining 49.2 per cent of the vote and electing 80 candidates. However, they did not hold a referendum in their second term and put sovereignty on the back burner, concentrating on their stated goal of "good government".

The hyphen between the words "sovereignty" and "association" was often stressed by Lévesque and other PQ members, to make it clear that both were inseparable. The reason stated was that if Canada decided to boycott Quebec exports after voting for independence, the new country would have to go through difficult economic times, as the barriers to trade between Canada and the United States were then very high. Quebec would have been a nation of 7&nbsp;million people stuck between two impenetrable protectionist countries. In the event of having to compete against Quebec, rather than support it, Canada could easily maintain its well-established links with the United States to prosper in foreign trade.

[[René Lévesque]] retired in [[1985]] (and would later die in [[1987]]). In the [[1985 Quebec election]] under his successor [[Pierre-Marc Johnson]], the PQ was defeated by the [[Parti libéral du Québec|Liberals]].

Sovereignty-association as originally proposed would have meant that Quebec would become a politically independent state, but would maintain a formal association with Canada — especially regarding economic affairs. It was part of the 1976 {{Not a typo|sovereignist}} platform which swept the Parti Québécois into power in that year's provincial elections – and included a promise to hold a [[referendum]] on sovereignty-association. René Lévesque developed the idea of sovereignty-association to reduce the fear that an independent Quebec would face tough economic times. In fact, this proposal did result in an increase in support for a sovereign Quebec: polls at the time showed that people were more likely to support independence if Quebec maintained an economic partnership with Canada. This line of politics led the outspoken [[Yvon Deschamps]] to proclaim that what Quebecers want is an independent Quebec inside a strong Canada, thereby comparing the {{Not a typo|sovereignist}} movement to a spoiled child that has everything it could desire and still wants more.

===Repatriation, Meech, Charlottetown===

In 1979 the PQ began an aggressive effort to promote sovereignty-association by providing details of how the economic relations with the rest of Canada would include [[free trade]] between Canada and Quebec, common tariffs against imports, and a common currency. In addition, joint political institutions would be established to administer these economic arrangements. But the {{Not a typo|sovereignist}} cause was hurt by the refusal of many politicians (most notably the premiers of several of the other provinces) to support the idea of negotiations with an independent Quebec, contributing to the Yes side losing by a vote of 60 percent to 40 percent.

<!-- In development

This loss laid the groundwork for the [[1995 Quebec referendum|1995 referendum]], which stated that Quebec should offer a new economic and political partnership to Canada before declaring independence. An English translation of part of the [[Act Respecting the Future of Quebec|Sovereignty Bill]] reads, "We, the people of Quebec, declare it our own will to be in full possession of all the powers of a state; to levy all our taxes, to vote on all our laws, to sign all our treaties and to exercise the highest power of all, conceiving, and controlling, by ourselves, our fundamental law."

Following the defeat of 1980, "the ball was in the federalist camp" to use a common expression of the time. Pierre Trudeau, then Prime Minister of Canada and the leaders of the "No" camp had promised Quebecers that a rejection of the sovereignty-association proposal was going to be received as a strong signal that Canada had to change.

This time, the {{Not a typo|sovereignists}} lost in a very close vote: 50.6 percent to 49.4 percent, or only 53,498 votes out of more than 4,700,000 votes cast. However, after the vote many within the {{Not a typo|sovereignist}} camp were very upset that the vote broke down heavily along language lines. Approximately 90 percent of English speakers and allophones (mostly immigrants and first-generation Quebecers whose native language is neither French or English) Quebecers voted against the referendum, while almost 60 percent of Francophones voted Yes. [[Quebec premier]] [[Jacques Parizeau]], whose government supported sovereignty, attributed the defeat of the resolution to "[[money and the ethnic vote|money and ethnic votes]]." His opinion caused an outcry among English-speaking Quebecers, and he resigned following the referendum.

The federal government quickly initiated a process to repatriate the constitution of Canada and amend it. All provincial governments were invited at the negociation table.

An inquiry by the director-general of elections concluded in 2007 that at least $500,000 was spent by the federalist camp in violation of Quebec's election laws. This law imposes a limit on campaign spending by both option camps. Parizeau's statement was also an admission of failure by the Yes camp in getting the newly arrived Quebecers to adhere to their political option.

-->

Accusations of an orchestrated effort of "election engineering" in several polling stations in areas with large numbers of non-francophone voters, which resulted in unusually large proportions of rejected ballots, were raised following the 1995 referendum.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}} Afterward, testimony by PQ-appointed polling clerks indicated that they were ordered by PQ-appointed overseers to reject ballots in these polling stations for frivolous reasons that were not covered in the election laws.

===The Referendum of 1995===

The PQ returned to power in the [[1994 Quebec election]] under [[Jacques Parizeau]], this time with 44.75% of the popular vote. In the intervening years, the failures of the [[Meech Lake Accord]] and [[Charlottetown Accord]] had revived support for sovereignty, which had been written off as a dead issue for much of the [[1980s]].

While opponents of sovereignty were pleased with the defeat of the referendum, most recognized{{example needed|date=August 2012}} that there were still deep divides within Quebec and problems with the relationship between Quebec and the rest of the country.

Another consequence of the failure of Meech was the formation of the [[Bloc Québécois]] (BQ) under charismatic former [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]] cabinet minister [[Lucien Bouchard]]. For the first time, the PQ supported pro-sovereigntist forces running in federal elections; during his lifetime L&eacute;vesque had always opposed such a move.

===The referendum of 1995===

The [[Union Populaire]] had nominated candidates in the 1979 and 1980 federal elections and the [[Parti nationaliste du Québec]] had nominated candidates in the 1984 federal election. Neither of these parties enjoyed the official support of the PQ; nor did they enjoy significant public support among Quebecers.

{{Main|1995 Quebec referendum}}

The PQ returned to power in the [[Quebec general election, 1994|1994 election]] under Jacques Parizeau, this time with 44.75% of the popular vote. In the intervening years, the failures of the Meech Lake Accord and [[Charlottetown Accord]] had revived support for sovereignty, which had been written off as a dead issue for much of the 1980s.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

In the [[1993 Canadian election]], following the collapse of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Conservatives]], the BQ elected enough [[Member of Parliament|MP]]s to become Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition in the [[Canadian House of Commons|House of Commons]].

Another consequence of the failure of the [[Meech Lake Accord]] was the formation of the [[Bloc Québécois]] (BQ), a {{Not a typo|sovereignist}} federal political party, under the leadership of the charismatic former [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]] federal cabinet minister Lucien Bouchard. Several PC and Liberal members of the federal parliament left their parties to form the BQ. For the first time, the PQ supported pro-sovereigntist forces running in federal elections; during his lifetime Lévesque had always opposed such a move.

[[Image:Landry_and_the_bust_of_Levesque.jpg|thumb|right|175px|[[Bernard Landry|Landry]] now pursues the ideal of independence and interdependence like his mentor [[René Lévesque|Lévesque]].]]

The [[Union Populaire]] had nominated candidates in the [[1979 Canadian federal election|1979]] and [[1980 Canadian federal election|1980 federal elections]], and the [[Parti nationaliste du Québec]] had nominated candidates in the [[1984 Canadian federal election|1984 election]], but neither of these parties enjoyed the official support of the PQ; nor did they enjoy significant public support among Quebecers.

Parizeau promptly called a new referendum. The [[1995 Quebec referendum|1995 referendum]] question differed from the 1980 question in that the negotiation of an association with Canada was now optional.

In the [[1993 Canadian federal election|1993 federal election]], which featured the collapse of Progressive Conservative Party support, the BQ won enough seats in Parliament to become [[Official Opposition (Canada)|Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition]] in the [[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]].

This time, the Yes camp lost in a very close vote, by less than one percent. As in the previous referendum, the English-speaking ([[anglophone]]) minority in Quebec overwhelmingly (about 90%) rejected sovereignty, and support for sovereignty was also weak among [[allophone (Canadian usage)|allophones]] in immigrant communities and first-generation descendants, while by contrast almost 60 per cent of [[francophone]]s of all origins voted Yes (82 per cent of Quebecers are francophone).

At the Royal Commission on the Future of Quebec (also known as the Outaouais Commission) in 1995, the [[Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist)|Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada]] made a presentation in which the party leader, [[Hardial Bains]], recommended to the committee that Quebec declare itself as an independent republic.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.mlpc.ca/briefs/19950210quebec.html| last=Bains| first=Hardial| title=Brief to the Outaouais Commission on the Future of Quebec|publisher=Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada| date=10 February 1995| access-date=8 February 2009| quote=I propose that the preamble of such a Constitution should read as follows: We, the people of Quebec... hereby declare the formation of the Republic of Quebec....| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090407035715/http://www.mlpc.ca/briefs/19950210quebec.html| archive-date=April 7, 2009| url-status=dead}}</ref>

In an ill-considered outburst, [[Premier of Quebec|Premier]] [[Jacques Parizeau]] attributed the defeat of the resolution to ''[[money and the ethnic vote]]''.

[[File:Quebec referendum,1995 - Results By Riding (Simple Map).svg|350px|thumb|left|1995 referendum results by constituency]]

Parizeau promptly advised the Lieutenant Governor to call a new referendum. The [[1995 Quebec referendum|1995 referendum]] question differed from the 1980 question in that the negotiation of an association with Canada was now optional. The open-ended wording of the question resulted in significant confusion, particularly amongst the "Yes" side, as to what exactly they were voting for. This was a primary motivator for the creation of the ''Clarity Act'' (see below).

The "No" campaign won, but only by a very small margin — 50.6% to 49.4%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.electionsquebec.qc.ca/en/tableaux/Referendum_1995_8481.asp |title=I'm voting |date=September 13, 2010 |publisher=Le Directeur Général des Elections du Québec |access-date=22 September 2010 |language=fr }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> As in the previous referendum, the English-speaking ([[English-speaking Quebecer|anglophone]]) minority in Quebec overwhelmingly (about 90%) rejected sovereignty, support for sovereignty was also weak among [[allophone (Canadian usage)|allophone]]s (native speakers of neither English nor French) in immigrant communities and first-generation descendants. The lowest support for the Yes side came from Mohawk, Cree, and Inuit voters in Quebec, some first Nations chiefs asserted their right to self-determination with the [[Cree]] being particularly vocal in their right to stay territories within Canada. More than 96% of the Inuit and Cree voted No in the referendum. However, The [[Innu]], [[Attikamek]], [[Algonquin people|Algonquin]] and [[Abenaki people|Abenaki]] nations did partially support Quebec sovereignty. In 1985, 59 percent of Quebec's Inuit population, 56 percent of the Attikamek population, and 49 percent of the Montagnais population voted in favour of the Sovereignist Parti Québécois party. That year, three out of every four native reservations gave a majority to the Parti Québécois party.<ref>Drouilly Pierre, L'année politique au Québec 1997–1998 _Les tendances du vote 1985–1995 Université du Québec à Montréal, 1999</ref>

==Present Time==

By contrast almost 60 percent of [[francophone]]s of all origins voted "Yes". (82 percent of Quebecers are Francophone.) Later inquiries into irregularities determined that abuses had occurred on both sides: some argue that some "No" ballots had been rejected without valid reasons, and the October 27 "No" rally had evaded spending limitations because of out-of-province participation.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dgeq.gouv.qc.ca/en/pdf/publications/dge_6350.3_v.a.pdf |title=I'm voting |date=September 13, 2010 |publisher=Le Directeur Général des Elections du Québec |access-date=22 September 2010 |archive-date=July 4, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704173923/http://www.dgeq.gouv.qc.ca/en/pdf/publications/dge_6350.3_v.a.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> An inquiry by "Le Directeur général des élections" concluded in 2007 that the "No" camp had exceeded the campaign spending limits by $500,000.

The PQ won re-election in the [[1998 Quebec election]], which was almost a "clone" of the previous [[1994 Quebec election|1994 election]] in terms of number of seats won by each side. However, public support for sovereignty remained too low for the PQ to consider holding a second referendum during their second term. Meanwhile, the federal government passed the [[Clarity Act]] to govern the wording of any future referendum questions and the conditions under which a vote for sovreignty would be recognized as legitimate. Federal liberal politicians stated that the ambiguous wording of the 1995 referendum question was the primary impetus in the bill's drafting.

===The 1998 Quebec general election===

In the [[2003 Quebec election]], the PQ lost power to the [[Parti libéral du Québec]]. However, in early [[2004]] the Liberal government of [[Jean Charest]] had proved to be somewhat unpopular, and that, combined with the federal [[Liberal Party sponsorship scandal]] contributed to a resurgence of the BQ. In the 2004 federal elections, the Bloc Québécois won with 54 MPs, compared to 33 previously.

{{One source section

| date = August 2024

}}

Expecting Bouchard to announce another referendum if his party won the [[1998 Quebec general election]], the leaders of all other provinces and territories gathered for the [[Calgary Declaration]] in September 1997 to discuss how to oppose the sovereignty movement. Saskatchewan's [[Roy Romanow]] warned "It's two or three minutes to midnight". Bouchard did not accept his invitation; organizers did not invite Chrétien. Experts debated whether Quebec was a "[[distinct society]]" or "unique culture".<ref name="turner19970920">{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-sep-20-mn-34188-story.html |title=Provinces Brainstorm on Issue of Quebec Secession |last=Turner |first=Craig |date=1997-09-20 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=2019-07-08 |language=en-US |issn=0458-3035 |archive-date=July 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708231735/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-sep-20-mn-34188-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

While opponents of sovereignty were pleased with their referendum victories, most recognized that there are still deep divides within Quebec and problems with the relationship between Quebec and the rest of Canada.

The Parti Québécois won re-election despite losing the popular vote to Jean Charest and the Quebec Liberals. In the number of seats won by both sides, the election was almost a clone of the previous 1994 election. However, public support for sovereignty remained too low for the PQ to consider holding a second referendum during their second term. Meanwhile, the federal government passed the ''[[Clarity Act]]'' to govern the wording of any future referendum questions and the conditions under which a vote for sovereignty would be recognized as legitimate. Federal Liberal politicians stated that the ambiguous wording of the 1995 referendum question was the primary impetus in the bill's drafting.

[[Image:Bouchard_%26_Chretien_Divided.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Bouchard & Chrétien divided.]]

While opponents of sovereignty were pleased with their referendum victories, most recognized that there are still deep divides within Quebec and problems with the relationship between Quebec and the rest of Canada.

===The Clarity Act===

{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2024}}

In conformity with1999, the ruling by the Supreme Court[[Parliament of Canada, in [[1999]], at the urging of [[ParliamentPrime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] passed the [[ClarityJean Act|Bill C-20Chrétien]], (also known aspassed the ''[[Clarity Act]]''), a law that, amongst other things, set out the conditions under which the Government of Canada[[Queen-in-Council|Crown-in-Council]] would deal withrecognize a vote by any province to leave Canada. ControversiallyIt required a majority of eligible voters for a vote to trigger secession talks, thenot Actmerely gavea plurality of votes. In addition, the peopleact requires a clear question of Canadasecession throughto itsinitiate electedsecession representativetalks. inControversially, the [[Canadianact gave the House of Commons]] the power to decide whether a proposed referendum question was considered clear, and allowed Parliamentit to decide whether a clear majority has expressed itself in any referendum. It is widely considered by sovereigntists as indefensible and thus inapplicable. Indeed,{{Not a symbolictypo|sovereignists}} actas withoutan legalillegitimate foundation called the ''[[Act respecting the exercisepiece of thelegislation, fundamentalwho rightsasserted andthat prerogativesQuebec ofalone the Québec people andhad the Québecright State]]''to wasdetermine introduced in the Nationalits Assemblyterms of Quebecsecession. byChrétien the [[Parti Quebecois]] provincial government only two days afterconsidered the Claritylegislation Actamong hadhis beenmost introducedsignificant in the [[Canadian House of Commons]]accomplishments.

===From 2000 to the present===

Former Prime Minister Chrétien, under whom the Clarity Act was passed, has remarked that the Act is among his most significant accomplishments.

{{Update|section|date=January 2024}}

"Sovereignty-Association" is nowadays more often referred to simply as "sovereignty". However, in the 1995 Quebec referendum, in which the sovereignty option was narrowly rejected, the notion of some form of economic association with the rest of Canada was still envisaged (continuing use of the Canadian dollar and military, for example) and was referred to as "sovereignty-partnership" ({{langx|fr|links=no|souveraineté-partenariat}}). It remains a part of the PQ program{{when|date=March 2015}} and is tied to national independence in the minds of most Quebecers. This part of the PQ program has always been controversial, especially since Canadian federal politicians usually refuse the concept.

===Modernization===

In 2003, the PQ launched the {{lang|fr|Saison des idées}} ("Season of ideas") which was a public consultation aiming to gather the opinions of Quebecers on its sovereignty project. The program and the revised sovereignty project were adopted at the 2005 Congress.

"Sovereignty-Association" is nowadays more often referred to simply as "sovereignty". However, in the [[1995 Quebec referendum]], which was narrowly rejected, the notion of some form of economic association with the rest of Canada was still envisaged (continuing use of the Canadian dollar, for example). It remains a part of the [[Parti Québécois]] program and is tied to national independence in the minds of most [[Québécois|Quebecers]]. This part of the PQ program has always been controversial, especially since Canadian federal politicians usually refuse the concept.

In the [[2003 Quebec general election|2003 election]], the PQ lost power to the Liberal Party. However, in early 2004, the Liberal government of Paul Martin had proved to be unpopular, and that, combined with the federal [[Liberal Party sponsorship scandal]], contributed to a resurgence of the BQ. In the [[2004 Canadian federal election|2004 federal elections]], the Bloc Québécois won 54 of Quebec's 75 seats in the House of Commons, compared to 33 previously. However, in the [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006 federal elections]] the BQ lost three seats and in the [[2008 Canadian federal election|2008 federal elections]] lost two additional seats, bringing their total down to 49, but was still the most popular federal party in Quebec up until the [[2011 Canadian federal election]], when the BQ was devastated by the federalist [[New Democratic Party|NDP]], with the Bloc at a total of four seats and the loss of official party status in the Commons (compared to the NDP's 59 seats, Conservatives' five seats, and the Liberals' seven seats in Quebec).

In [[2003]], the PQ launched the ''Saison des idées'' (Season of ideas) which is a public consultation aiming to gather the opinions of Quebecers on its sovereignty project. The new program and the revised sovereignty project will be adopted at the 2005 Congress.

Polling data by [[Angus Reid Public Opinion|Angus Reid]] in June 2009 showed the support for Quebec separation was weaker and separatism unlikely to occur in the near future. Polling data showed that 32% of Quebecers believed that Quebec had enough sovereignty and should remain part of Canada, 28% thought they should separate, and 30% say they believed that Quebec does need greater sovereignty but should remain part of Canada. However the poll revealed that a majority (79%) of Quebecers still desired more autonomy. The number one area of autonomy that those polled had hoped for was with regard to culture at 34%, the next highest areas were the economy at 32%, taxation at 26%, and immigration and the environment at 15% each.<ref name="Angus Reid 2009">{{Cite web |date=June 9, 2009 |title=Separation from Canada Unlikely for a Majority of Quebecers |url=http://www.docstoc.com/docs/32029410/Separation-from-Canada-Unlikely-for-a-Majority-of-Quebecers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420140408/http://www.docstoc.com/docs/32029410/Separation-from-Canada-Unlikely-for-a-Majority-of-Quebecers |archive-date=April 20, 2011 |access-date=November 7, 2010 |publisher=[[Angus Reid Public Opinion|Angus Reid]] |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Other Issues==

The 2009 Angus Reid poll also revealed some effects of the Clarity Act in which they asked two questions, one a straightforward question for a separate nation, and the other a more muddled version on separation similar to the one posed in the 1995 referendum. The data on the questions revealed as follows to the first hard line question of "Do you believe that Quebec should become a country separate from Canada?" 34% replied yes, 54% said no, and 13% were unsure. To the less clear question of "Do you agree that Quebec should become sovereign after having made a formal offer to Canada for a new economic and political partnership within a scope of the bill respecting the future of Quebec?" support for separation increased to 40% yes, the no vote still led with 41%, and the unsure increased to 19%. The most startling revelation of the poll was that only 20% or 1 in 5 polled believed that Quebec would ever separate from Canada.<ref name="Angus Reid 2009"/>

===Post-sovereignty territory===

2011 was considered a watershed year for the {{Not a typo|sovereignist}} movement. In the aftermath of the 2011 federal election, [[Léger Marketing]] and pro-{{Not a typo|sovereignist}} newspaper {{lang|fr|[[Le Devoir]]}} conducted a poll on the question.<ref name="Sondage Léger Marketing-Le Devoir - L'appui à la souveraineté ne fléchit pas">{{cite news|last=Dutrisac|first=Robert|title=Sondage Léger Marketing-Le Devoir – L'appui à la souveraineté ne fléchit pas|url=https://www.ledevoir.com/politique/quebec/323376/sondage-leger-marketing-le-devoir-l-appui-a-la-souverainete-ne-flechit-pas|access-date=March 24, 2011|newspaper=Le Devoir|date=March 14, 2011|archive-date=May 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512014948/https://www.ledevoir.com/politique/quebec/323376/sondage-leger-marketing-le-devoir-l-appui-a-la-souverainete-ne-flechit-pas|url-status=live}}</ref> When asked whether they would vote Yes or No in the event of a referendum, 41% of the respondents said they would vote Yes. In 2011, the {{Not a typo|sovereignist}} movement splintered, with several new parties being formed by disaffected politicians, with some politicians dissatisfied with slow progress towards independence, and others hoping to put the sovereignty question on the backburner. Leadership by PQ leader [[Pauline Marois]] was divisive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/08/16/new-movement-quebec-sovereignty-manifesto-pq_n_928289.html|title=New Movement For Quebec: Prominent Sovereigntists Publish Manifesto, Slam PQ As Spent Force|date=16 August 2011|access-date=25 October 2017|publisher=[[Huffington Post]]|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006172418/http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/08/16/new-movement-quebec-sovereignty-manifesto-pq_n_928289.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Image:1867Canada.gif|thumb|300px|Quebec (brown color) in the Dominion of Canada, 1867]]

The issue of a sovereign Quebec's territory has been controversial, and remains one of the most passionate issues in the debate. While Quebec politicians routinely support the of Quebec, some Canadian commentators have expressed the opinion that Quebec would only be entitled to retain the territory it originally held at [[Canadian Confederation]] in [[1867]]. Others refer to the [[Treaty of Paris (1763)]] wherein France chose to keep [[Guadeloupe]] (now a [[département]] of France) and gave the northern portion of [[New France]] to [[Great Britain]].

During the [[2015 Canadian federal election in Quebec|2015 federal election]], the Bloc Québécois won 10 seats, in the 2019 election the BQ increased its number of seats from 10 in 2015, to 32 seats in 2019, both overtaking the NDP to become the third-largest caucus in the House of Commons and regaining official party status.

The boundaries of the Province of Quebec have been altered several times since [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]] was established by [[United Kingdom|British]] law in 1867. In 1870, Canada acquired [[Rupert's Land]] from the [[Hudson's Bay Company]] which was inhabited by the [[aboriginal]] [[Cree]], [[Inuit]], [[Atikamekw]] and [[Algonquin]], [[Montagnais]], and [[Naskapi]]. Over the next few decades, Canada transferred large portions of this territory to Quebec. In [[1898]], the northern boundary of Quebec was set along the eastern shore of [[James Bay]] to the mouth of the Eastmain River, north along the river, then due east to the Hamilton River and down the river to the western boundary of [[Labrador]]. In 1912, the vast territory bounded by the Eastmain River, the Labrador coast, and [[Hudson Bay|Hudson]] and [[Ungava Bay]]s was transferred to Quebec, extending the northern boundary to its present ___location. The Cree, Montagnais, Naskapi and Inuit peoples also inhabited these lands. The ''[[Quebec Boundaries Extension Act]]'' of 1912 included several provisions including the trusteeship of Indians in the territory and management of lands reserved for their use would remain with the Government of Canada. Under the [[Canadian Constitution]], the [[Government of Canada|federal government]] is obligated to preserve and protect the aboriginal people of these territories.

In the [[2021 Canadian federal election in Quebec|2021 Canadian federal election]], the BQ won 32 seats, unchanged from the prior election.

Indian and Inuit lands in Quebec were not covered by treaty or surrender, although some aboriginal groups were granted title over small allotments of land. These natives argue that no annexation of them or their territory to an independent Quebec can take place without their consent, and that if Quebec has the right to leave Canada then the Cree people have the right to choose to keep their territory in Canada.

In 2021, [[François Legault]]'s [[Coalition Avenir Québec]] government in Quebec proposed to amend the [[Charter of the French Language]] and the [[Constitution of Quebec|provincial constitution]] to more strongly entrench French as the sole official language. In response to this, the Bloc Québécois initiated a motion in the House of Commons endorsing the constitutionality of Legault's initiatives. The Commons passed the motion 281–2. There were 36 abstentions.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Bloc Québécois motion acknowledging Quebec's Bill 96 passes 281–2|url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec/bloc-quebecois-motion-acknowledging-quebecs-bill-96-passes-281-2|date=2021-06-17|access-date=2021-06-18|newspaper=Montreal Gazette|language=en-CA|archive-date=June 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618193531/https://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec/bloc-quebecois-motion-acknowledging-quebecs-bill-96-passes-281-2|url-status=live}}</ref>

Prior to the [[1995 Quebec referendum]], the Cree held a referendum, which asked (translated from the native into English):

*Do you consent, in the event of a Yes vote in the Quebec referendum, that the Quebec government take the James Bay Cree and Cree traditional territories out of Canada?

In the [[2025 Canadian federal election in Quebec|2025 Canadian federal election]], the BQ won 22 seats, a loss of 10 seats. It retained official party status, and its status as the third-largest caucus in the House of Commons.

The results were that 96% voted not to be part of a sovereign Quebec. In the same month, Inuit in the province of Quebec held a similar referendum, which asked (translated from the native into English):

*Do you agree that Quebec should become sovereign?''

=={{Not a typo|Sovereignist}} and sympathetic organizations==

The results were that 95% voted not to be part of a sovereign Quebec.

===Sovereignist political parties and parliamentary groups===

Quebec's independence would result in the isolation of [[Labrador]] and the [[Atlantic Provinces|Atlantic provinces]] into geographic [[exclave]]s of Canada. Currently connected by the the Trans Canada Highway and the transcontinental [[Canadian National Railway]] shipping routes, the provinces of [[New Brunswick]], [[Nova Scotia]] and [[Prince Edward Island]] would be cut off from the rest of Canada with the loss of their right to access these vital transportation links. Further, the [[St. Lawrence Seaway]] would fall under the territorial jurisdiction of Quebec, which subjects the shipping ports of [[Ontario]] to numerous political and physical risks through labor [[strike action|strikes]], lax security and a host of vital economic and [[national security]] issues over which Ontario and the rest of Canada would have no say or control. As a result, some Canadian critics of the sovereignty movement have also suggested that Canada would have to keep some of its territory in Quebec in order to maintain essential connections to the [[Maritime Provinces]] and to [[Newfoundland and Labrador]].

* [[Bloc Québécois]] - federal political party

* [[Parti Québécois]] - provincial political party

* [[Québec solidaire]] - provincial political party

* [[Marxist–Leninist Party of Quebec]] - provincial political party

===Sovereignist non-partisan organizations===

===Economic repercussions===

Le '''Réseau Cap sur l'Indépendance (RCI)''' is a network composed of several member organisations,<ref>{{Cite web |title=L'organisation – Cap sur l'indépendance |url=https://capsurlindependance.quebec/le-reseau/lorganisation/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=capsurlindependance.quebec}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Membres du réseau - CAP SUR L'INDÉPENDANCE |url=https://www.capsurlindependance.org/le-reseau/membres-du-reseau/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=www.capsurlindependance.org |archive-date=August 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824012247/https://www.capsurlindependance.org/le-reseau/membres-du-reseau/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> all of which are non-partisan. The RCI states that it seeks to promote and realize Quebec's independence. Its members are:

(''Work in progress'')

# La Fondation Octobre 70

[[Image:Bouchard_%26_Parizeau%2C_Referendum.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Lucien Bouchard and Jacques Parizeau embrace on the stage of a Yes rally.]]

# Les Aînés pour la souveraineté

# [[Organisations unies pour l'indépendance|Organisations unies pour l'indépendance du Québec]] (OUI Québec) - previously "Conseil de la souveraineté du Québec"

# Jeunes Patriotes du Québec (JPQ)

# Les Intellectuels pour la souveraineté (IPSO)

# Mars 2011

# Libre marcheur

# Ligue d’action nationale

# Mouvement des étudiants souverainistes de l’université de Montréal (MESUM)

# Mouvement progressiste pour l’indépendance du Québec (MPIQ)

# Rassemblement pour l’indépendance nationale (RIN)

# Rassemblement pour un pays souverain (RPS)

# Mouvement souverainiste du Québec (MSQ)

# [[Réseau de Résistance du Québécois]] (RRQ)

# Société nationales des Québécoises et Québécois des Laurentides

# Société nationale Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine

# [[Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society|Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society of Montreal]]

# Vigile (newspaper)

# Comité indépendantiste du cégep du Vieux-Montréal

# Comité souverainiste de l’UQÀM

# Regroupement des mouvements indépendantistes collégiaux

# Artistes volontaires

# Nouveau Mouvement pour le Québec

===Sympathetic organizations===

===Violence and terrorism as a tactic===

* The labour unions of the:

** [[Confédération des syndicats nationaux]] (Confederation of national labour unions)

** [[Centrale des syndicats du Québec]] (Quebec labour unions congress)

** [[Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec]] (Federation of Quebec workers)

** [[Union des artistes]] (Artists' Labour Union)

* The '''[[Mouvement national des Québécois et des Québécoises]] (MNQ)''' is a patriotic and non-partisan network of 19 societies. They have a stated mission of defending and promoting Quebecers' identity, as well as Quebec's language, history, culture and heritage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mouvement national des Québécoises et Québécois – Fier coordonnateur de la Fête nationale depuis 1984 |url=https://mnq.quebec/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |language=fr-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sociétés membres {{!}} Mouvement national des Québécoises et Québécois |url=https://mnq.quebec/societes-membres/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |language=fr-CA}}</ref> Its societies are:

# SN de l’Est du Québec

While violence and [[terrorism]] are not accepted as tactics within the mainstream of the sovereignty movement, some fringe groups have used violence to achieve the aim of an independent Quebec.

# SNQ du Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean

# SNQ de la Capitale

# SSJB de la Mauricie

# SN de l’Estrie

# SSJB de Montréal

# SNQ de l’Outaouais

# SNQ d’Abitibi-Témiscamingue et du Nord-du-Québec

# SNQ de la Côte-Nord

# SN Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine

# SNQ de Chaudière-Appalaches

# SNQ de Laval

# SNQ de Lanaudière

# SNQ Région des Laurentides

# SNQ des Hautes-Rivières

# SNQ Richelieu—Saint-Laurent

# SNQ du Suroît

# SSJB Richelieu-Yamaska

# SSJB du Centre-du-Québec

# MNQ Headquarters

==={{Not a typo|Sovereignist}} media===

The combination of [[independence]] and [[socialism]] project of the ''Action socialiste pour l'indépendance du Québec'' was a source of political ideas for the most extremist members of these groups who formed the [[Front de libération du Québec]] (FLQ). While a number of the separatist groups advocated civil disobedience, the FLQ, founded in February of [[1963]] by three RIN members who had met each other as part of the ''Réseau de résistance'' chose [[terrorism]] in order to achieve the independence of Quebec. The three were [[Georges Shoeters]], [[Raymond Villeneuve]], and [[Gabriel Hudon]]. Its intellectual leaders were [[Charles Gagnon]] and [[Pierre Vallières]]. Their activities led to robberies to finance their terrorist campaign of bombings and murders, that resulted in the [[October Crisis]] of 1970.

* ''[[Québecor]]''

**''[[Journal de Montréal]]''

**''[[Journal de Québec]]''

**''[[Groupe TVA]]''

* {{lang|fr|[[Le Devoir]]}}

* {{lang|fr|[[L'Action nationale]]}}

* {{lang|fr|[[L'aut'journal]]}}

* {{lang|fr|Le Couac}}

* {{lang|fr|Souverainete la solution}}

* {{lang|fr|La Gauche}}

* {{lang|fr|Le Mouton noir}}

* {{lang|fr|[[Le Québécois]]}}

* Québec-Radio

* Vigile

===Past parties, organizations and media===

==Allies and Opponents==

* [[Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale]] (RIN) (1960-1968) - political movement

* [[Front de libération du Québec]] (FLQ) (1963-1972) - network of militant groups

* [[Parti nationaliste chrétien]] (PNC) (1967-1969) - religious provincial political party

* {{lang|fr|[[Le Jour]]}} (1974-1978) - newspaper

* [[Union Populaire]] (1979-1980) - federal political party

* [[Parti nationaliste du Québec]] (1983-1987) - federal political party

* [[Parti indépendantiste (1985)|Parti indépendantiste (1985-1990)]] - provincial political party

* [[Action démocratique du Québec]] (1994-2012) – this was a provincial political party that split off from the Quebec Liberal Party and ultimately merged into Coalition Avenir Québec. It was originally sovereigntist and later supported autonomy.

* [[Mouvement de libération nationale du Québec]] (1995-2000) - organisation which organized pro-independence protests and events

* [[SPQ Libre]] (2005-2010) - once a political club that operated from within the Parti Québécois

* [[Parti indépendantiste]] (2008-2018) - provincial political party

* [[Nouvelle Alliance Québec-Canada]] (2009-2011) - provincial political party

* [[Option nationale]] (2011-2018) - provincial political party which merged into Québec solidaire

* [[Groupe parlementaire québécois|Québec debout]] (2018) - parliamentary group

===National=Opinion polls==

{| class="wikitable"

! Graphical summary (2005–present)

|-

| {{Graph:Chart

| width=600

| height=300

| xAxisTitle = Date

| yAxisTitle=Percentage

| yAxisMin = 0

| yAxisMax = 80

| xAxisAngle = -40

| legend=Support

| interpolate = bundle

| showSymbols = 1.5

| xType = date

|xGrid= | yGrid=5

| colors=green, red, grey

| x=2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2016/02/4, 2016/02/15, 2016/05/15, 2016/11/10, 2016/12/12, 2017/01/15, 2017/01/19, 2018/05/2, 2019/01/2, 2020/10/4, 2021/02/9, 2022/02/7, 2023/03/1

| y1Title= Support

| y1=54, 46, 41, 32, 39, 32, 37, 35, 37, 30, 33, 35, 25, 37, 23, 36, 32, 40, 38

| y2Title= Oppose

| y2=46, 54, 59, 68, 61, 59, 63, 50, 63, 70, 67, 65, 55, 63, 23, 54, 56, 59, 51

| y3Title= Undecided

| y3=,,,,, 9,, 15,,,,, 20,, 54, 10, 12,, 10

}}

|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center; line-height: 14px; font-size: 95%;"

! rowspan="2" |Date(s)<br />conducted

! rowspan="2" |Polling organisation/client

! rowspan="2" |Sample size

! colspan="3" |Should Quebec be an independent country?

! rowspan="2" |Lead

|-

! class="unsortable" style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); width: 80px; color: white;" | Yes

! class="unsortable" style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); width: 80px; color: white;" |No

! class="unsortable" style="background: gray; width: 80px; color: white;" | Undecided

|-

|15-18 August 2025

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Rapport-politique-aout-2025-VF.pdf Léger]

|| 977|| 32% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''59%''' || 9% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}27%

|-

|July-August 2025

|[https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2025-08-08/favorables-a-56/montee-spectaculaire-du-souverainisme-chez-les-jeunes.php CROP]

|| 1000|| 41% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''59%''' || - || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}18%

|-

|20-24 June 2025

|[https://www.mainstreetresearch.ca/post/quebec-provincial-survey-june-2025 Mainstreet]

|| 910|| 30% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''59%''' || 11% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}29%

|-

|20–22 June 2025

|[https://qc125.com/proj/2025-06-26-leger.pdf Léger]

|| 1056 || 33% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''59%''' || 8% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}26%

|-

|14–16 June 2025

|[https://qc125.com/proj/2025-06-17-pallas919.pdf Pallas]

|| 1085 || 32% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''56%''' || 12% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}24%

|-

|16–18 May 2025

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Rapport-special-20-mai-2025-1.pdf Léger Marketing]

|| 412 || 33% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''59%''' || 8% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}26%

|-

|10–14 April 2025

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Rapport-Journal-de-Montreal-x-National-Post-16-avril-2025.pdf Léger Marketing]

|| 1,001 || 40% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''60%''' || - || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}20%

|-

|30 January - 2 February 2025

|[https://cultmtl.com/2025/02/support-for-quebec-sovereignty-independance-down-8-points-in-3-months-to-29/ Léger Marketing]

|| 1,017 || 29% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''59%''' || 12% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}30%

|-

|10–11 November 2024

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/11679-283-Politique-au-Quebec-novembre-2024-Version-media-12-novembre-2024.pdf Léger Marketing]

|| 1,010 || 37% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''55%''' || 8% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}18%

|-

|23–25 August 2024

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/11679-281-Politique-au-Quebec-aout-2024-VF.pdf Léger Marketing]

|| 1,041 || 35% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''56%''' || 9% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}21%

|-

|8 June 2024

|[https://www.qc125.ca/p/souverainete-les-deux-camps-raffermissent Pallas]

|| 1,339 || 40% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''52%''' || 8% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}12%

|-

|20–21 April 2024

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/11679-275-Politique-Avril-2024-FINAL-23-avril.pdf Léger Marketing]

|| 1,026 || 36% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''53%''' || 11% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}17%

|-

|16–18 March 2024

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Politique-Mars-2024-v2.pdf Léger Marketing]

|| 1,033 || 36% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''53%''' || 11% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}17%

|-

|5–7 February 2024

|[https://www.qc125.ca/p/pallas-data-quatre-quebecois-sur Pallas]

|| 1,180 || 41% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''48%''' || 11% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}7%

|-

|3–5 February 2024

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/11679-272-Politique-Fev.-2024-Pour-publication-7-fevrier.pdf Léger Marketing]

|| 1,040 || 35% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''56%''' || 9% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}21%

|-

|4–6 December 2023

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rapport-politique-Decembre-2023-pour-publication.pdf Léger Marketing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207180141/https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rapport-politique-Decembre-2023-pour-publication.pdf |date=December 7, 2023 }}

|| 1,066 || 34% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''55%''' || 11% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}21%

|-

|18–19 November 2023

|[https://qc125.com/proj/2023-12-07-pallas-souv.pdf Pallas]

|| 1,178 || 39% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''48%''' || 13% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}9%

|-

|1 November 2023

|[https://legermarketing.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Rapport-politique-Oct.-2023.pdf Léger Marketing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101230949/https://legermarketing.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Rapport-politique-Oct.-2023.pdf |date=November 1, 2023 }}

|| 1,066 || 35% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''54%''' || 11% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}19%

|-

|27–28 September 2023

|[https://qc125.com/proj/2023-10-11-pallas44.pdf Pallas]

|| 1,095 || 37% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''49%''' || 14% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}12%

|-

|20–21 August 2023

|[https://legermarketing.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rapport-politique-Aout-2023-Volet-politique.pdf Léger Marketing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827190626/https://legermarketing.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rapport-politique-Aout-2023-Volet-politique.pdf |date=August 27, 2023 }}

|| 1,036 || 36% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''53%''' || 11% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}17%

|-

|10–12 June 2023

|[https://legermarketing.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Rapport-politique-Juin-2023-publication-14-juin.pdf Léger Marketing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614150719/https://legermarketing.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Rapport-politique-Juin-2023-publication-14-juin.pdf |date=June 14, 2023 }}

|| 1,042 || 37% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''52%''' || 11% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}15%

|-

|24–26 February 2023

|[https://legermarketing.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Rapport-politique-Fevrier-2023.pdf Léger Marketing/Le Devoir] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301161501/https://legermarketing.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Rapport-politique-Fevrier-2023.pdf |date=March 1, 2023 }}

|| 1,000 || 38% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''51%''' || 10% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}13%

|-

| colspan="12" align="center" style="background-color:#CECECE;" |The '''[[Coalition Avenir Québec]] (CAQ) is elected a 2nd term in the [[2022 Quebec general election]] (October 3, 2022)'''

|-

|10 June 2022

|[https://qc125.com/proj/2022-06-16-ms.pdf Mainstreet Research]

|1,404

|33%

|style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);" | '''67%'''

| ?

| style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" |{{ntsh|3}} –

|-

|8–9 February 2021

|[https://lactualite.com/politique/la-souverainete-tient-bon/ Mainstreet Research]

|1,012

|32%

|style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);" | '''56%'''

|12%

| style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" |{{ntsh|3}} 24%

|-

| data-sort-value="2020-10-4" | 2–4 October 2020

||[https://www.journaldequebec.com/2020/10/24/la-souverainete-toujours-vivante Léger Marketing/Le Journal de Québec]

|| 1,013 || 36% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);" | '''54%''' || 10% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}18%

|-

| colspan="12" align="center" style="background-color:#CECECE;" |The '''[[Coalition Avenir Québec]] (CAQ) is elected in the [[2018 Quebec general election]] (October 1, 2018)'''

|-

| data-sort-value="2018-08-01" | August 2018

||[https://amp.assets.huffpost.com/uploads/qc/5029579_sondage-leger-huffpost-identite-quebec_5ba9021b76c61.pdf Léger Marketing/Huffington Post]

|| 1,010 || 37% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);" | '''63%''' || ? || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}26%

|-

| data-sort-value="2018-05-01" | 29 April–2 May 2018

||[https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/politique-quebecoise/201805/02/01-5169359-sondage-ipsos-la-presse-la-caq-toujours-en-tete.php Ipsos]

|| 2,001 || 25% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);" | '''55%''' || 20% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}30%

|-

| data-sort-value="2017-01-19" | 17–19 January 2017

||[https://web.archive.org/web/20170202015946/http://www.leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/SOFR20172301.pdf Léger]

|| 1,005 || 35% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);" | '''65%''' || ? || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}30%

|-

| data-sort-value="2017-01-01" | 12–15 January 2017

||[https://sondage.crop.ca/survey/start/cawi/Politique%20Quebec%20et%20Canada%20-%20Janvier%202017.pdf CROP]

|| 1,000 || 33% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);" | '''67%''' || ? || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}34%

|-

| data-sort-value="2016-05-13" | 7–12 December 2016

|[https://sondage.crop.ca/survey/start/cawi/Politique%20Quebec%20(Decembre%202016).pdf CROP/]

|| 1,000 || 30% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''70%''' || ? || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}40%

|-

| data-sort-value="2016-02-13" | 7–10 November 2016

|[https://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/11-11-sondagepolqc.pdf Léger Marketing]

|| 999 || 37% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''63%''' || ? || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}26%

|-

| data-sort-value="2016-05-13" | 12–15 May 2016

|[https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/politique-quebecoise/201608/18/01-5011615-sondage-crop-la-presse-une-course-avec-le-oui-au-plus-bas.php CROP/La Presse]

|| 1,000 || 35% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''50%''' || 15% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}15%

|-

| data-sort-value="2016-02-15" | 11–15 February 2016

|[https://sondage.crop.ca/survey/start/cawi/Rapport%20politique%20-%20F%C3%A9v%202016.pdf CROP/La Presse]

|| 1,005 || 37% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''63%''' || ? || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}26%

|-

| data-sort-value="2016-02-13" | 01–4 February 2016

|[https://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/sondage020816_qc_pol.pdf Léger Marketing]

|| 1,005 || 32% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''59%''' || 9% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}27%

|-

| data-sort-value="2015-11-01" | November 2015

|[https://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/sondage020816_qc_pol.pdf Léger Marketing]

|| 1,005 || 39% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''61%''' || ? || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}22%

|-

|data-sort-value="2015-09-20" | 17–20 September 2015

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20151117030658/https://sondage.crop.ca/survey/start/cawi/Rapport%20politique%20-%20Sept%202015.pdf CROP]

|| 1,000 || 32% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''57%''' || 11% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}25%

|-

| colspan="12" align="center" style="background-color:#CECECE;" |The '''[[Quebec Liberal Party]] is elected in the [[2014 Quebec general election]] (April 7, 2014)'''

|-

| colspan="12" align="center" style="background-color:#CECECE;" |The '''[[Parti Québécois]] is elected in the [[2012 Quebec general election]] (September 4, 2012)'''

|-

| data-sort-value="2011-05-10" | 9–11 May 2011

|[http://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/sondage14mai.pdf Léger Marketing/Le Devoir]

|| 1,000 || 32% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''68%''' || ? || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}36%

|-

| data-sort-value="2011-04-20" |13–20 April 2011

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20110428074456/http://www.crop.ca:80/sondages/pdf/2011/117250evolutionpolitiquecropavril2011.pdf CROP]

|| 1,000 || 36% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''49%''' || 14% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}13%

|-

| data-sort-value="2009-05-25" |23–25 May 2009

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20160317004941/http://www.leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/095251FR.pdf/ Léger Marketing]

|| 1,053 || 41% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''59%''' || ? || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}18%

|-

| colspan="12" align="center" style="background-color:#CECECE;" |The '''[[Quebec Liberal Party]] is elected in the [[2008 Quebec general election]] (December 8, 2008)'''

|-

| data-sort-value="2006-12-05" | 4–5 December 2006

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20070605013731/http://legermarketing.com/documents/pol/061206fr.pdf/ Léger Marketing]

|| 602 || 46% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''54%''' || ? || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}8%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | 20–24 April 2005

|[https://www.ledevoir.com/non-classe/80417/souverainete-un-oui-a-54 Le Devoir/The Globe and Mail]

|| 1,008 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''54%''' || 46% || ? || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}8%

|-

|}

[http://www.mapageweb.umontreal.ca/durandc/souverainete/recherche_souverainete.html Archive of polls from 1962 until January 2008]

There is a large semantic confusion, sometimes fostered by the Parti Quebecois itself, between the terms sovereignty, separatism, independentism. These terms are sometimes used interchangingly, but PQ supporters usually prefer the term "sovereingty", considered less radical and emotional than "independentism" (preferred by hard-liners), while "separatism" is usually considered pejorative. This ambiguity is further enhanced since the majority of Quebec's media, both written (with the notable exceptions of the [[CHOI-FM]] Libertarian Quebec city radio station and the [[La Presse]] and the [[Montreal Gazette]] newspapers, sometimes support the PQ's left to center-of left politics, but not the party itself. The separatist movement draws however above the Left and Right spectrum, a sizeable minority of more [[conservative]] Quebeckers supporting the PQ's political agenda because of the sovereignty issue, despite reservations about its [[social-democratic]]/[[socialist]] political agenda.

=== Voting intentions before distribution ===

Although one cannot generalize, natural allies of sovereignty tend to be found within the Left: [[labour unions]], the French-speaking [[art|artistic community]], students (non-working members of the younger generations, as compared to Generation-Xers), the media, government employees, the Catholic clergy, [[anti-globalization]] supporters and the academic [[political left]]. Opponents are often found in the [[economics|economic community]], ethnic minorities, the older generations, working class [[Generation-X]]ers, non-French speakers ("allophones"), Jews, French-language Protestants, Libertarians, the non-nationalist [[right-wing politics|political right]], and critics of [[keynesianism]], [[statism]] and big government intervention in general.

[[File:Intentions référendaire au Québec (depuis 1990).svg|900px|center|thumb|History of referendum voting intentions in Quebec since 1990. Undecided non-distributed]]

=== Among French-speaking voters ===

It must be noted, however, that Quebec political standards usually range from the centre-of-left to the left compared to American or even European standards. Right and Left must thus be interpreted within the provincial context; compared to the American continuum, Liberal Party politics generally coincide with the [[Democratic]] while PQ politics are more in tone with the [[Green party]]: there is no mass-equivalent of American conservatism in Quebec's French political culture, due notably to strong government interventionnism and keynesianism shared by all parties since the 1960s (the so-called "Quebec Consensus" since the [[Revolution Tranquille]], and the province's [[Catholic]] and rather homogenous ethnic heritage.

[[File:Intentions référendaire au Québec (chez les Francophones).svg|900px|center|thumb|History of referendum voting intentions in Quebec since 1997. French-speaking voters]]

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center; line-height: 14px; font-size: 95%;"

! rowspan="2" |Date(s)<br />conducted

! rowspan="2" |Polling organisation/client

! rowspan="2" |Sample size

! colspan="3" |Should Quebec be an independent country?

! rowspan="2" |Lead

|-

! class="unsortable" style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); width: 80px; color: white;" | Yes

! class="unsortable" style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); width: 80px; color: white;" |No

! class="unsortable" style="background: gray; width: 80px; color: white;" | Undecided

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | November 11, 2024

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/11679-283-Politique-au-Quebec-novembre-2024-Version-media-12-novembre-2024.pdf]

|| 854 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''45%''' || 45% ||9 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}0%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | May 13, 2024

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/16121-133-Politique-Mai-2024-FINAL-2.0-13-mai-2024.pdf]

|| 854 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''45%''' || 43% ||12 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}2%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | April 22, 2024

|[https://qc125.com/proj/2024-04-25-pallas3.pdf]

|| 977 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''45%''' || 43% ||12 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}2%

|-

|March 18, 2024

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Politique-Mars-2024-v2.pdf]

|| 860 || 43% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''46%''' ||11 || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}3%

|-

|February 5, 2024

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/11679-272-Politique-Fev.-2024-Pour-publication-7-fevrier.pdf]

|| 836 || 43% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''47%''' ||9 || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}4%

|-

|December 4, 2023

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rapport-politique-Decembre-2023-pour-publication.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207180141/https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rapport-politique-Decembre-2023-pour-publication.pdf |date=December 7, 2023 }}

|| 814 || 41% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''47%''' ||13 || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}6%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | November 19, 2023

|[https://qc125.com/proj/2023-12-07-pallas-souv.pdf]

|| 970 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''45%''' || 42% ||13 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}3%

|-

|November 1, 2023

|[https://legermarketing.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Rapport-politique-Oct.-2023.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101230949/https://legermarketing.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Rapport-politique-Oct.-2023.pdf |date=November 1, 2023 }}

|| 797 || 43% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''45%''' ||12 || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}2%

|-

|September 28, 2023

|[https://qc125.com/proj/2023-10-11-pallas44.pdf]

|| 907 || 43% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''45%''' ||12 || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}2%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | August 21, 2023

|[https://legermarketing.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rapport-politique-Aout-2023-Volet-politique.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827190626/https://legermarketing.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rapport-politique-Aout-2023-Volet-politique.pdf |date=August 27, 2023 }}

|| 828 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''44%''' || 44% ||12 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}0%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | June 12, 2023

|[https://legermarketing.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Rapport-politique-Fevrier-2023.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301161501/https://legermarketing.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Rapport-politique-Fevrier-2023.pdf |date=March 1, 2023 }}

|| 803 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''45%''' || 42% ||13 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}3%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | February 26, 2023

|[https://legermarketing.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Rapport-politique-Fevrier-2023.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301161501/https://legermarketing.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Rapport-politique-Fevrier-2023.pdf |date=March 1, 2023 }}

|| 818 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''48%''' || 41% ||11 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}7%

|-

| colspan="12" align="center" style="background-color:#CECECE;" |The '''[[Coalition Avenir Québec]] (CAQ) is elected a 2nd term in the [[2022 Quebec general election]] (October 3, 2022)'''

|-

|August 16, 2022

|[https://www.dropbox.com/s/p41o6u8j1m92hy8/L%C3%A9ger%20-%20Rapport%20%28Version%20finale%29.pdf?dl=0]

|| 805 || 37% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''45%''' ||18 || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}8%

|-

|June 19, 2022

|[https://2g2ckk18vixp3neolz4b6605-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Rapport-politique-provinciale-juin-2022-Intentions-de-vote_V2.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622162605/https://2g2ckk18vixp3neolz4b6605-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Rapport-politique-provinciale-juin-2022-Intentions-de-vote_V2.pdf |date=June 22, 2022 }}

|| 822 || 39% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''45%''' ||17 || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}6%

|-

|June 10, 2022

|[https://qc125.com/proj/2022-06-16-ms.pdf/]{{Dead link|date=June 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

|| 1204 || 41% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''59%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}18%

|-

|February 7, 2022

|[https://grop.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-04-22-Rapport-denquete.pdf]

|| 779 || 29% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''35%''' ||36 || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}6%

|-

|February 9, 2021

|[https://lactualite.com/politique/la-souverainete-tient-bon/]

|| 926 || 39% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''47%''' ||14 || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}8%

|-

|December 13, 2020

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Politique-QC-publication-le-16-dec.-2020.pdf]{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

|| 804 || 33% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''42%''' ||25 || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}9%

|-

| colspan="12" align="center" style="background-color:#CECECE;" |The '''[[Coalition Avenir Québec]] (CAQ) is elected in the [[2018 Quebec general election]] (October 1, 2018)'''

|-

|May 2, 2018

|[https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2018-05/la-presse-la-politique-au-quebec-dt1-5-3-2018.pdf]

|| 1,265 || 38.3% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''61.7%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}23%

|-

|March 16, 2017

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20170319111522/http://www.leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/201703181fr.pdf]

|| 724 || 44% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''56%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}12%

|-

|January 19, 2017

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20170202015946/http://www.leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/SOFR20172301.pdf]

|| 733 || 43% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''57%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}14%

|-

|November 10, 2016

|[https://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/11-11-sondagepolqc.pdf]

|| 753 || 46% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''54%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}8%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | May 5, 2016

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20180524081834/http://leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/sofr20160507.pdf]

|| 731 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''52%''' || 48% || || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}4%

|-

|February 4, 2016

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20160216031755/http://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/sondage020816_qc_pol.pdf]

|| 736 || 43% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''57%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}14%

|-

|November 19, 2015

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20151121232819/http://leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/sofr20151121.pdf]

|| 735 || 48% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''52%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}4%

|-

|June 11, 2015

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20151121233135/http://leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/sofr20150613.pdf]

|| 763 || 49% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''51%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}2%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | May 17, 2015

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20151121232958/https://leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/sofr20150520.pdf]

|| 731 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''51%''' || 49% || || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}2%

|-

|November 13, 2014

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20141129083343/http://www.leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/201411151fr.pdf]

|| 1,017 || 45% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''55%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}10%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | September 25, 2014

|[https://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/sondage_qc_sept2014.pdf]

|| 671 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''51%''' || 49% || || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}2%

|-

|August 25, 2014

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20150924084321/http://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/intentionsvote_aout2014.pdf]

|| 681 || 44% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''56%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}30%

|-

| colspan="12" align="center" style="background-color:#CECECE;" |The '''[[Quebec Liberal Party]] is elected in the [[2014 Quebec general election]] (April 7, 2014)'''

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | March 3, 2014

|[https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/display2.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Finfojdem.com%2F2014%2F03%2F5%2FSondage_Precampagne_Mars2014.pdf]

|| 1,048 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''51%''' || 49% || || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}2%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | January 18, 2014

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20151015165312/http://leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/20141201.pdf]

|| 978 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''44%''' || 41% || 15 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}3%

|-

|December 5, 2013

|[https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/4151568]

|| 787 || 41% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''42%''' ||18 || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}1%

|-

|May 6, 2013

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20160404063709/http://leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/frca20130513.pdf]

|| 1,008 || 40% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''45%''' ||15 || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}5%

|-

|February 6, 2013

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20160404061330/http://leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/frca20130209.pdf]

|| 750 || 45% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''55%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}5%

|-

|November 22, 2012

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20121202234634/http://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/Sondage_DevoirGazette24nov.pdf]

|| 798 || 49% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''51%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}2%

|-

|November 12, 2012

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20141222003636/http://www.angusreidglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/2012.11.21_Quebec_CAN.pdf]

|| 1,017 || 36% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''49%''' || 15 || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}13%

|-

| colspan="12" align="center" style="background-color:#CECECE;" |The '''[[Parti Québécois]] is elected in the [[2012 Quebec general election]] (September 4, 2012)'''

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | January 12, 2012

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20120415161027/http://www.legermarketing.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/Sondage_politique_Leger_Marketing_-_Agence_QMI_15_janvier_2011_FR.pdf]

|| 806 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''44%''' || 42% || 14 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}2%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | May 11, 2011

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231542/http://www.leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/115141FR.pdf]

|| 824 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''42%''' || 42% || 15 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}0%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | September 2, 2009

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20160316184352/http://leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/09981fr.pdf]

|| 795 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''48%''' || 38% || 14 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}10%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | June 27, 2009

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20090710221038/http://www.legermarketing.com:80/documents/pol/096301FR.pdf]

|| 854 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''52%''' || 48% || || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}4%

|-

| colspan="12" align="center" style="background-color:#CECECE;" |The '''[[Quebec Liberal Party]] is elected in the [[2008 Quebec general election]] (December 8, 2008)'''

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | May 17, 2009

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20160317004941/http://www.leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/095251FR.pdf]

|| 833 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''50%''' || 50% || || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}0%

|-

|May 26, 2008

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20080611213943/http://www.cyberpresse.ca/assets/pdf/CP1753529.PDF]

|| 909 || 45% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''49%''' || 6 || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}4%

|-

|November 4, 2007

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20090327021734/http://legermarketing.com/documents/pol/071107fr.pdf]

|| || 43% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''52%''' || 5 || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}9%

|-

|May 27, 2007

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20090327021729/http://legermarketing.com/documents/pol/070527fr.pdf]

|| 810 || 42% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''54%''' || 4 || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}12%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | April 30, 2006

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20061020121157/http://www.legermarketing.com/documents/POL/060508FR.pdf]

|| || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''50%''' || 50% || || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}0%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | September 11, 2005

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20051212145830/http://www.legermarketing.com:80/documents/SPCLM/050914FR.pdf]

|| || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''57%''' || 43% || || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}14%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | May 30, 2005

|[]

|| 879 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''55%''' || 37% || 9 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}8%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | May 14, 2005

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2005/05/050516eng.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410034841/https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2005/05/050516eng.pdf |date=April 10, 2022 }}

|| || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''62%''' || 38% || || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}24%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | April 24, 2005

|[https://2g2ckk18vixp3neolz4b6605-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2005/04/050427eng.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410035719/https://2g2ckk18vixp3neolz4b6605-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2005/04/050427eng.pdf |date=April 10, 2022 }}

|| || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''60%''' || 40% || || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}20%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | April 24, 2005

|[]

|| 879 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''49%''' || 41% || 11 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}8%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | September 26, 2004

|[]

|| 879 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''47%''' || 40% || 13 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}7%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | April 25, 2004

|[]

|| 893 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''49%''' || 39% || 12 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}10%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | January 18, 2004

|[]

|| || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''53%''' || 43% || 4 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}10%

|-

|December 9, 2002

|[]

|| || 46% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''54%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}8

|-

|September 1, 2002

|[]

|| || 39% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''56%''' || 5 || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}17

|-

|May 27, 2002

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20040726192247/http://www.legermarketing.com:80/documents/pol/310502fr.pdf]

|| || 48% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''52%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}4

|-

|February 5, 2002

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20050213200324/http://www.legermarketing.com:80/documents/pol/010202fr.pdf]

||1,017 || 48% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''52%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}4%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | January 14, 2001

|[]

|| 551 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''49.9%''' || 39.7% || 10.3 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}10%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | August 20, 2000

|[]

|| || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''51.7%''' || 48.3% || || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}2%

|-

|June 22, 1999

|[https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2188315]

|| 1,002 || 48.6% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''51.4%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}3%

|-

|November 23, 1998

|[]

|| || 42% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''48%''' || 10% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}16%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | August 27, 1998

|[]

|| || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''50%''' || 41% || 9 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}9%

|-

|February 19, 1998

|[]

|| || 41% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''46%''' || 14% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}5%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | September 30, 1997

|[https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2184706]

|| || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''45%''' || 40% || 14 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}5%

|-

|May 21, 1997

|[]

|| 860 || 43% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''45%''' || 12% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}2%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | March 6, 1997

|[https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2183551]

|| || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''51%''' || 38% || 11 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}13%

|-

| colspan="12" align="center" style="background-color:#CECECE;" |The '''[[1995 Quebec independence referendum]] is held (October 30, 1995)'''

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | June 25, 1995

|[https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2180112]

|| 1,324 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''52%''' || 33% || 15 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}19%

|-

|September 8, 1994

|[https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2908030]

|| || 36% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''49%''' || 15% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}13%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | December 5, 1991

|[https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2172622]

|| || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''53.9%''' || 29.4% || 16.7 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}24%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | April 21, 1991

|[https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2291810]

|| || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''54%''' || 36% || 10 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}18%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | March 22, 1990

|[https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2168802]

|| || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''68%''' || || || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}8%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | March 21, 1990

|[https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2291810]

|| || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''63%''' || || || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}8%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | September 19, 1989

|[https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2262891]

|| || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''46%''' || 38% || 16 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}8%

|-

| data-sort-value="2005-04-24" | January 18, 1982

|[https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2291810]

|| || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white"| '''44%''' || 36% || 20 || style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}8%

|-

|}

=== Among non-French speaking voters ===

There are, of course, quite a few exceptions. Notable examples include: the semi-[[conservative]] (by Quebec standards) but [[Nationalist]] [[Action Démocratique du Québec]] supporting the Yes side in [[1995 Quebec referendum|1995]] (their stance on the issue is now vague), the [[Progressive_Conservative_Party_of_Canada|Progressive-Conservative Party of Canada]] building links with the sovereigntists in the 1980s and well-known federalist artists [[Jean-Louis Roux]] (an actor, once destined to become the representative of [[Queen Elizabeth II]] as [[Lieutenant-Governor]] of Quebec, a plan foiled by [[Jean-Louis Roux|controversy]]) and [[René-Daniel Dubois]] (playwright and harsh critic of sovereignty, although self-proclaimed neutral).

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center; line-height: 14px; font-size: 95%;"

! rowspan="2" |Date(s)<br />conducted

! rowspan="2" |Polling organisation/client

! rowspan="2" |Sample size

! colspan="3" |Should Quebec be an independent country?

! rowspan="2" |Lead

|-

! class="unsortable" style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); width: 80px; color: white;" | Yes

! class="unsortable" style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); width: 80px; color: white;" |No

! class="unsortable" style="background: gray; width: 80px; color: white;" | Undecided

|-

|May 13, 2024

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/16121-133-Politique-Mai-2024-FINAL-2.0-13-mai-2024.pdf]

|| || 10% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''83%''' ||6% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}73%

|-

|April 22, 2024

|[https://qc125.com/proj/2024-04-25-pallas3.pdf]

|| || 15% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''73%''' ||12% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}68%

|-

|March 18, 2024

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Politique-Mars-2024-v2.pdf]

|| || 13% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''78%''' ||10% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}65%

|-

|December 4, 2023

|[https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rapport-politique-Decembre-2023-pour-publication.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207180141/https://leger360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rapport-politique-Decembre-2023-pour-publication.pdf |date=December 7, 2023 }}

|| || 12% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''81%''' ||8% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}69%

|-

|November 19, 2023

|[https://qc125.com/proj/2023-12-07-pallas-souv.pdf]

|| || 10% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''73%''' ||17% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}63%

|-

|September 28, 2023

|[https://qc125.com/proj/2023-10-11-pallas44.pdf]

|| || 7% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''71%''' ||22% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}64%

|-

|February 26, 2023

|[https://qc125.com/proj/2023-10-11-pallas44.pdf]

|| || 9% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''82%''' ||9% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}73%

|-

| colspan="12" align="center" style="background-color:#CECECE;" |The '''[[Coalition Avenir Québec]] (CAQ) is elected a 2nd term in the [[2022 Quebec general election]] (October 3, 2022)'''

|-

|August 16, 2022

|[https://www.dropbox.com/s/p41o6u8j1m92hy8/L%C3%A9ger%20-%20Rapport%20%28Version%20finale%29.pdf?dl=0]

|| || 9% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''85%''' ||7% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}76%

|-

| colspan="12" align="center" style="background-color:#CECECE;" |The '''[[Coalition Avenir Québec]] (CAQ) is elected in the [[2018 Quebec general election]] (October 1, 2018)'''

|-

|May 2, 2018

|[https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2018-05/la-presse-la-politique-au-quebec-dt1-5-3-2018.pdf]

|| || 8.6% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''91.4%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}82%

|-

|March 16, 2017

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20170319111522/http://www.leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/201703181fr.pdf]

|| || 9% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''91%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}82%

|-

|January 19, 2017

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20170202015946/http://www.leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/SOFR20172301.pdf]

|| || 7% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''93%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}86%

|-

|May 5, 2016

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20180524081834/http://leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/sofr20160507.pdf]

|| || 6% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''94%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}76%

|-

|February 4, 2016

|[https://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/sondage020816_qc_pol.pdf]

|| || 8% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''92%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}84%

|-

|May 17, 2015

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20151121232958/https://leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/sofr20150520.pdf]

|| || 9% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''91%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}82%

|-

|August 25, 2014

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20140903100622/http://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/intentionsvote_aout2014.pdf]

|| || 8% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''92%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}84%

|-

| colspan="12" align="center" style="background-color:#CECECE;" |The '''[[Quebec Liberal Party]] is elected in the [[2014 Quebec general election]] (April 7, 2014)'''

|-

|December 5, 2013

|[https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/4151568]

|| || 7% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''84%''' ||9% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}77%

|-

| colspan="12" align="center" style="background-color:#CECECE;" |The '''[[Parti Québécois]] is elected in the [[2012 Quebec general election]] (September 4, 2012)'''

|-

|September 2, 2009

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20091123003654/http://www.legermarketing.com:80/documents/POL/09981FR.pdf]

|| || 14% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''79%''' ||7% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}

|-

|June 27, 2009

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20090710221038/http://www.legermarketing.com:80/documents/pol/096301FR.pdf]

|| || 16% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''84%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}68%

|-

| colspan="12" align="center" style="background-color:#CECECE;" |The '''[[Quebec Liberal Party]] is elected in the [[2008 Quebec general election]] (December 8, 2008)'''

|-

|November 4, 2007

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20090327021734/http://legermarketing.com/documents/pol/071107fr.pdf]

|| || 15% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''81%''' ||4% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}66%

|-

|April 30, 2006

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20061020121157/http://www.legermarketing.com/documents/POL/060508FR.pdf]

|| || 11% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''89%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}88%

|-

|September 1, 2002

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20050213195511/http://www.legermarketing.com:80/documents/pol/020902fr.pdf]

|| || 9% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''84%''' || 7%|| style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}75%

|-

|August 20, 2000

|[]

|| || 21.5% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''78.5%''' || || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}57%

|-

|November 23, 1998

|[https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2187080]

|| || 10% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''86%''' ||4% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}76%

|-

|February 19, 1998

|[https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2185522]

|| || 8% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''76%''' ||16% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}68%

|-

|May 21, 1997

|[]

|| || 10% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''77%''' ||13% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}67%

|-

| colspan="12" align="center" style="background-color:#CECECE;" |The '''[[1995 Quebec independence referendum]] is held (October 30, 1995)'''

|-

|June 25, 1995

|[https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2180112]

|| || 11% || style="background: rgb(233, 107, 103);"|'''82%''' ||7% || style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); color: white;" | {{ntsh|3}}71%

|}

==Arguments==

The option fails at gathering substantial support support among Quebec anglophones and anglicized allophones. About 60% of francophones of all ethnic origins voted Yes in 1995, and with the exception of some support from the [[Haiti|Haitian]], [[Latino]], and [[Arabia|Arabic]] communities, most non-francophones massively voted No (see [[Demolinguistics of Quebec]]). Consequently, some critics accuse the sovereignty movement of essentially being a chauvinistic, ethnic issue, a position refuted by the PQ who considers its project all-encompassive. [[Jacques Parizeau]]'s comments after the 1995 referendum ("We lost because of money and the ethnic vote"), considered racist by most local and international commentators, gave fuel to this controversy.

===Reasons for sovereignty===

Justifications for Quebec's sovereignty are historically nationalistic in character, claiming the [[Culture of Quebec|unique culture]] and [[French language|French-speaking]] majority (78% of the provincial population) are threatened with assimilation by either the rest of Canada or, as in Metropolitan France, by Anglophone culture more generally, and that the best way to preserve language, identity and culture is via the creation of an independent political entity.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ocol-clo.gc.ca/html/quebec_e.php |title=Statistics on Official Languages in Quebec |publisher=Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages |access-date=June 21, 2010 |archive-date=August 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814232829/http://www.ocol-clo.gc.ca/html/quebec_e.php |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://pq.org/souverainete/pourquoi |title=Pourquoi faire la souveraineté? |access-date=22 September 2010 |language=fr |publisher=Parti Québécois |archive-date=June 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612082519/http://pq.org/souverainete/pourquoi |url-status=dead }}</ref> Other distinguishing factors, such as religious differences (given the Catholic majority in Quebec), are also used to justify either separation or nationalist social policies advocated by the Parti Québécois.

The historical argument for Quebec independence stems from the [[History of Quebec|region's history]], as it was [[Conquest of New France|conquered by the British]] in 1760 and ceded to Great Britain in the [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|1763 Treaty of Paris]]; French Canadians in Canada were subsumed by waves of British immigrants. This argument makes the claim that Quebecers have the right of [[self-determination]].

[[Image:Bouchard_and_Chirac_in_Paris.jpg|thumb|right|175px|[[Lucien Bouchard]] is welcomed by [[Jacques Chirac]] in [[Paris]].]]

Eight of the other Canadian provinces are overwhelmingly (greater than 95%) [[English language|English-speaking]], while [[New Brunswick]] is officially bilingual and about one-third Francophone. Another rationale is based on resentment of [[anti-Quebec sentiment]].<ref>Carens, Joseph H., ed. (1995), Is Quebec Nationalism Just?: Perspectives from Anglophone Canada, Montreal, [[McGill-Queen's University Press]]. ({{ISBN|0773513426}})</ref> With regard to the creation of the {{Not a typo|sovereignist}} movement, language issues were but a sub-stratum of larger cultural, social and political differences. Many scholars point to historical events as framing the cause for ongoing support for sovereignty in Quebec, while more contemporary politicians may point to the aftermath of more recent developments like the ''[[Canada Act 1982|Canada Act]]'' of 1982, the [[Meech Lake Accord]] or the [[Charlottetown Accord]].

===International===

[[Image:De_Gaulle,_Vive_le_Quebec_libre.jpg|right|thumb|175px|Charles De Gaulle delivering the "Vive le Québec Libre" speech upon the Montreal city hall balcony.]]

===Arguments against sovereignty===

In June [[1967]], French president [[Charles de Gaulle]] shouted ''[[Vive le Québec libre]]!'' during a speech from the balcony of [[Montreal]]'s city hall during an official state visit as a guest of the government of Canada. Interference into the affairs of another country is unacceptable in international protocol and in contravention of [[territorial integrity]]. De Gaulle's words were also seen by most in Canada as an insult to the thousands of Canadians who died in both world wars fighting for the freedom of France and the return of [[Alsace]] and [[Lorraine]] as part of France. Prime Minister [[Lester Pearson]] cancelled the rest of the state visit and De Gaulle returned to France where his action came under severe criticism from the media.

It has been argued by prominent Quebecers ({{Not a typo|sovereignists}} and ex-{{Not a typo|sovereignists}}, including former Quebec premier [[Lucien Bouchard]]) that sovereignty politics has distracted Quebecers from the real economic problems of Quebec, and that sovereignty by itself cannot solve those problems. In 2005 they published their position statement, "[[Pour un Québec lucide]]", ("For a lucid Quebec") which details the problems facing Quebec.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pourunquebeclucide.com/cgi-cs/cs.waframe.index?lang=2 |title=? |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060325055746/http://www.pourunquebeclucide.com/cgi-cs/cs.waframe.index?lang=2 |archive-date=March 25, 2006 |website=www.pourunquebeclucide.com}}</ref>

Some arguments against sovereignty claim that the movement is illegitimate because of its [[Eurocentrism]] which alienates many among Canada's [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]], as well as the [[Inuit]], and [[Métis people (Canada)|Métis]] peoples and their sympathizers.<ref>A Clash of Quiet Revolutions: Quebecers meet Native Nationalism. – http://http-server.carleton.ca/~gfrajkor/zine97/group3/quebec.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084216/http://http-server.carleton.ca/~gfrajkor/zine97/group3/quebec.html |date=March 4, 2016 }}; Quebec's “territorial integrity” against First Nations, The Red Flag, http://theredflag.ca/node/62 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621033821/http://theredflag.ca/node/62 |date=June 21, 2013 }}; {{cite journal |last=Taiaiake |first=Alfred |title=Then and Now, For the Land |journal=Socialist Studies: The Journal of the Society for Socialist Studies |volume=6 |issue=1 |year=2010 |pages=93–95 }}</ref> This sentiment is summed up by a quotation from a [[Mohawk nation|Mohawk]] from Akwsasne: "How can Quebec, with no economic base and no land base, ask to become sovereign? How can Quebec be a nation when they have no constitution? We have had a constitution since before the American revolution." Here the argument expresses the claim that the Mohawk nation has a greater case for self-determination due to already having a more legitimate claim to distinct nationhood that is based on traditional lands and a constitution predating confederation as well as the creation of Quebec and a Québécois identity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.utoronto.ca/ethnicstudies/vanderMaas.pdf |access-date=March 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629041924/http://www.utoronto.ca/ethnicstudies/vanderMaas.pdf |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |first=Mark |last=van der Maas |title=Claims to Identity in Determining Resources for Indigenous Social Movements in Canada |page=12 |publisher=University of Toronto }}</ref>

In [[France]] today, although openness and support is found in both sides of the [[political spectrum]], the French "right" has been warmer to sovereigntists (like [[President of France|President]] [[Charles De Gaulle]], who shouted his support of independence to [[Montreal]] in [[1967]]) than the French "left" (like nationalism-distrustful [[President of France|President]] [[François Mitterrand]], who notoriously snubbed Lévesque at their first meeting in the 1970s). The French in Quebec are non- indigenous residents through settlement under the [[French Colonial Empire]] who gave away any claim in the 1763 Treaty of Paris.

Similarly, the [[Cree]] have also asserted for many years that they are a separate people with the right to self-determination recognized under international law. They argue that no annexation of them or their territory to an independent Quebec should take place without their consent, and that if Quebec has the right to leave Canada then the Cree people have the right to choose to keep their territory in Canada. Cree arguments generally do not claim the right to secede from Canada; rather, the Cree see themselves as a people bound to Canada by treaty (see the [[James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement]]), and as citizens of Canada.<ref name="PRB">Parliamentary Research Branch (PRB) of the Library of Parliament, "ABORIGINAL PEOPLES AND THE 1995 QUEBEC REFERENDUM: A SURVEY OF THE ISSUES" http://www2.parl.gc.ca/content/lop/researchpublications/bp412-e.htm#A {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126032403/http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/researchpublications/bp412-e.htm#A |date=January 26, 2016 }}. Aboriginal Perspectives(txt)</ref> The Cree have stated that a unilateral declaration of independence by Quebec would be a violation of fundamental principles of human rights, democracy and consent. If secession were to proceed, the Cree argue that they would seek protection through the Canadian courts as well as asserting Cree jurisdiction over its people and lands.<ref name="PRB"/>

This is a [[paradox]]ical phenomenon, for the Parti Québécois and most sovereigntists are to the political left. French politicians are sympathetic to Quebec for cultural and historical reasons, but the secessionist movement is often negatively perceived because France was built as one indivisible republic. The idea that France is "one nation, one country" is very solidly anchored in the political culture of France (and many other countries). A lot of French political parties would be in contradiction with themselves if they officially supported Quebec nationalism, but continued to reject [[Corsica|Corsican]], [[Britanny|Breton]], and [[Basque Country|Basque]] nationalisms. [[Michel Rocard]] (who became [[Prime Minister of France|Prime Minister of the French Republic]]) has been one of the [[Parti Socialiste|French Socialists]] that broke that so-called rule the most (that of the French left being less open), maintaining a close and warm relationship with Quebec sovereigntists. These independence movements involve either detached island territories or areas that do not split the existing country into multipe pieces as proposed by Quebec sovereignty. Further, the French in Canada were occupiers and having given up the Quebec portion of the [[French Colonial Empire]] in 1763 to Britain in favour of keeping the [[Guadeloupe]] portion, France today holds onto Guadeloupe as a [[département]]. Like Quebec in Canada, Guadeloupe is treated equally to every other département in France and has full representation in the National Assembly. However, in sharp contrast to the tolerance by Canadians for the Quebec sovereigntist movement proposing to spit their country into three pieces, today, French authorities refuse to negotiate independence of any kind or allow a referendum on the question for the far away [[island]] of Guadeloupe, even though it is an occupied land of the indigenous [[Arawak]] peoples and [[slavery|slaves]] seized in [[Africa]] and brought there by France . In 1984, the Government of France outlawed Guadeloupe's [[Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance]] (ARC) who turned militant after France's absoute refusal to tolerate any suggestion of sovereignty.

Professor Peter Russell has said of [[Aboriginal peoples in Canada]]: "(they) are not nations that can be yanked out of Canada against their will by a provincial majority.... With few exceptions (they) wish to enjoy their right to self-government within Canada, not within a sovereign Quebec."<ref name="GCC">The Grand Council of the Crees, "50 Percent Plus One Vote Insufficient" http://www.gcc.ca/archive/article.php?id=116 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225082012/http://www.gcc.ca/archive/article.php?id=116 |date=February 25, 2018 }}</ref> International human rights expert Erica-Irene Daes says the change "will leave the most marginalized and excluded of all the world's peoples without a legal, peaceful weapon to press for genuine democracy...."<ref name="GCC"/> This concern is connected to the claim that if Quebec were to be considered its own autonomous nation-state then it need not honour the treaties and agreements that were signed between First Nations and the British and French Crowns and are now maintained by the Canadian federal government.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jenson |first1=Jane |first2=Martin |last2=Papillon |title=Challenging the Citizenship Regime: The James Bay Cree and transnational action |journal=Politics & Society |year=2000 |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=245–264 |doi=10.1177/0032329200028002005 |s2cid=145156740 }}</ref> Concern for this may stem from perception of neo-colonial or eurocentric attitudes in the leadership of former Quebec premiers, such as [[Robert Bourassa]], the self-proclaimed "Conqueror of the North".<ref>The Grand Council of Crees, Cree Legal Struggle Against the Great Whale Project, http://www.gcc.ca/archive/article.php?id=37 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222012548/http://www.gcc.ca/archive/article.php?id=37 |date=December 22, 2016 }}</ref>

Quebec Sovereignists also have relationships around the world with other [[Social Democrat]], [[Nationalist|Civic Nationalist]] and/or [[Separatism|Independentist]] organizations like in [[Catalonia]] or in [[Scotland]] (for example: in [[2000]], [[Alex Salmond]], then leader of the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP), wrote a speech to be read to the audience of the [[PQ]] National Council in which he spoke of the PQ as brother party of the SNP). However, there is in fact no comparison between Quebec and Scotland, either in terms of geography or its indigenous peoples.

==Opinions in Quebec==

==Sovereigntist organizations==

{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2023}}

=== Francophones ===

* [[Parti Québécois]]

The sovereignty movement draws its largest support from the francophones of Quebec, and from all sides of the political spectrum. Francophones from Quebec City and more rural regions are thought to support the idea more, while people in [[Gatineau]] may do so less, perhaps due to their proximity to or jobs in Ottawa.

* [[Bloc Québécois]]

* [[Union des Forces Progressistes]]

* [[Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society]]

* [[Conseil de la Souveraineté du Québec]]

=== Anglophones ===

==Sympathizing organizations==

Sovereignty has historically had little support among [[Anglo-Quebecer]]s. Some anglophone Quebecers see the movement as a rejection of non-Francophones, or as an attempt to suppress their English language and deny the historical Anglophone contribution to Quebec. Some opponents may also view the project as ethnically exclusive.

=== Immigrants and Allophones ===

* [[Confédération des syndicats nationaux]] ''(Confederation of national labour unions)''

Support for sovereignty varies greatly among different immigrant or allophone communities, and it has also changed throughout the decades. In the 1995 referendum, [[Haitian Canadians|Haitian]], [[Arab Canadians|Arab]] and [[Latin American Canadians|Latin American]] immigrant communities voted "Yes", though for the rest the "No" won out.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024|reason=Unsourced data}}

* [[Centrale des syndicats du Québec]] ''(Central of Quebec labour unions)''

* [[Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec]] ''(Federation of Quebec workers)''

* [[Union des artistes]] ''(Artists Labour Union)''

* [[Mouvement national des Québécois et des Québécoises]]

=== Aboriginals ===

==Sovereigntist media==

Various [[Indigenous peoples in Quebec]], such as [[Cree]] and [[Inuit]], have historically opposed the independence of Quebec, mostly due to worries about territorial rights.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Trueheart |first=Charles |date=1995-10-26 |title=QUEBEC'S NATIVES ALMOST UNANIMOUS' IN OPPOSITION TO SECESSION FROM CANADA |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1995/10/26/quebecs-natives-almost-unanimous-in-opposition-to-secession-from-canada/175a2f87-a4b1-48ba-9583-19c3c5fb3d62/ |access-date=2023-08-08 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=First Nations weigh in on Quebec sovereignty debate |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/first-nations-weigh-in-on-quebec-sovereignty-debate-1.2577550 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630044008/https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/first-nations-weigh-in-on-quebec-sovereignty-debate-1.2577550 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |access-date=2023-08-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Robert |first=Hillary |date=March 18, 2014 |title=Quebec Mohawks likely to declare own independence if PQ wins sovereignty referendum: Grand Chief |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/quebec-mohawks-likely-to-declare-own-independence-if-pq-wins-sovereignty-referendum-grand-chief |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512015008/https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/quebec-mohawks-likely-to-declare-own-independence-if-pq-wins-sovereignty-referendum-grand-chief |archive-date=May 12, 2024 |access-date=June 30, 2023 |newspaper=National Post}}</ref>

* ''[[Action Nationale (Quebec)|Action Nationale]]''

* ''[[L'Aut'journal]]''

* ''[[Le Couac]]''

* ''[[Le Devoir]]''

* ''[[Le Jour]]'' (defunct)

* ''[[Le Mouton Noir (paper)|Le Mouton Noir]]''

* ''[[Le Québécois]]''

* [[Vigile.net]]

==SeeEconomic alsoeffect==

One study found that Quebec's separatist governments did not have a large negative impact on Quebec's economy{{snd}} as sometimes seen with other independence movements in other countries{{snd}} possibly due to a lack of violence.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Geloso |first1=Vincent J. |last2=Grier |first2=Kevin B. |title=Love on the rocks: The causal effects of separatist governments in Quebec |journal=European Journal of Political Economy |date=1 January 2022 |volume=71 |article-number=102088 |doi=10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2021.102088 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0176268021000781 |language=en |issn=0176-2680 |access-date=March 9, 2023 |archive-date=March 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309124954/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0176268021000781 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==External positions==

* [[Politics of Quebec]]

* [[Politics of Canada]]

=== Rest of Canada ===

* [[Independentism]]

The other nine provinces of Canada have generally been opposed to Quebec sovereignty.

* [[Sovereignty]]

* [[Secession]]

===France===

Quebec's independence movement has benefited from support and encouragement from France.

One of the best-known is General [[Charles de Gaulle]], author of the declaration "[[Vive le Québec libre]]!".<ref name=cbc>{{cite news

|last = Depoe

|first = Norman

|title = 'Vive le Québec libre!'

|work = Newsmagazine

|department = On This Day

|publisher = CBC News

|date = July 24, 1967

|url = http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/politics/language-culture/language-culture-general/vive-le-quebec-libre.html

|access-date = July 24, 2012

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120501220930/http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/politics/language-culture/language-culture-general/vive-le-quebec-libre.html

|archive-date = May 1, 2012

|url-status = dead

|df = mdy-all

}}

</ref> This declaration is consistent with the thinking of General de Gaulle, who was attached to the idea of the independence of nations and sensitive to the historical impact of France's loss of Canada.

In September 1965, General de Gaulle told [[Alain Peyrefitte]]: "The future of French Canada is independence. There will be a French Republic of Canada". According to Alain Peyrefitte, "without prejudging the form that Quebec sovereignty was to take, de Gaulle, with that historic sense which earned France its salvation, went to Montreal in July 1967 to urge French Canadians to preserve their French identity, which, under [[Louis XV]], the indifference of the French elites had made such light work of.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Peyrefitte |first1=Alain |title=" De Gaulle : Il y aura une République française du Canada " |date=1997 |publisher=Les cahiers d'histoire du Québec au XXe siècle |pages=13–22 |edition=7}}</ref>

Similarly, when the French ambassador in Ottawa suggested associating France with Canada's centenary, De Gaulle replied with an apostille dated December 6, 1966: "There is no question of my sending a message to Canada to celebrate its 'centenary'. We can have good relations with the whole of what is now Canada. We must have excellent relations with French Canada. But we should not congratulate Canadians or ourselves on the creation of a 'state' based on our defeat in the past, and on the integration of part of the French people into a British entity. Incidentally, this whole has become quite precarious<ref>{{cite book |last1=de Gaulles |first1=Charles |title=Lettres, notes et carnets; Compléments 1908–1968 |date=1969–1970 |publisher=Plon}}</ref>...".

The French Foreign Office's current motto epitomizes the official position of the French State concerning Quebec's national question: "''non-ingérence et non-indifférence''" ("no interference and no indifference"). In other words, while Quebec stays within Canada, France will officially support the Canadian Confederation the way it is.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bastien|first=Frédéric|year=1998|title=À la demande du Québec : la diplomatie québécoise de la France de 1969 à 1980 (Note)|journal=Études internationales|volume=29| issue = 3|pages=551–575|doi=10.7202/703918ar|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Former French President [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] has stated on the record that he opposes the separation of Quebec from Canada.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Christian |last=Rioux |url=https://www.ledevoir.com/politique/quebec/231158/sarkozy-repudie-le-ni-ni-sans-ambiguite |title=Sarkozy répudie le "ni-ni" sans ambiguïté |newspaper=[[Le Devoir]] |date=3 February 2009 |access-date=2 July 2010 |language=fr |archive-date=May 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512014953/https://www.ledevoir.com/politique/quebec/231158/sarkozy-repudie-le-ni-ni-sans-ambiguite |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Sarkozy">{{cite news | url=https://nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1249285 | title=Sarkozy's sovereignty comments spark anger in Quebec | date=2 February 2009 | publisher=[[National Post]] | access-date=8 November 2010 | archive-date=September 6, 2012 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906020425/http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1249285 | url-status=live }}</ref> This changed back to the view of the French Foreign Office under Sarkozy's successor, [[François Hollande]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/france-revives-neutral-policy-on-quebec-independence-1.1139773 |title=France revives neutral policy on Quebec independence |last=Staff |date=October 15, 2012 |publisher=The Canadian Press |access-date=October 20, 2015 |archive-date=November 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112204344/http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/france-revives-neutral-policy-on-quebec-independence-1.1139773 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===United States===

The United States has officially always maintained a neutral attitude towards Quebec independence. However, since the relationship between Canada and the United States is privileged at various levels, the status quo is desired. In the event of a victory for the independence option in the 1995 referendum, Washington would have stated that "since Canadians have yet to work out their future constitutional arrangements, it is premature to consider the question of recognizing Quebec".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Panetta |first1=Alexander |title=Washington n'aurait pas reconnu immédiatement un Québec indépendant en 1995 |url=https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/politique-quebecoise/201403/14/01-4747886-washington-naurait-pas-reconnu-immediatement-un-quebec-independant-en-1995.php |website=La Presse |access-date=22 September 2024 |language=fr-CA |date=14 March 2014}}</ref> Thus, it is thought that, in the event of independence, the United States would be passive and wait for Canada itself to recognize the Quebec state.

The sovereigntists of the 1960s and 1970s, led by [[René Lévesque]], believed they could easily win American sympathy for their cause, because they equated Quebec's independence with the United States' [[American Revolution]] against Great Britain in 1776. For 20th-century Americans, however, the idea of Quebec's separation was more akin to the most painful episode in their history, the [[American Civil War]]. What's more, the founding myth of the American [[melting pot]] made them resistant to any idea of intrastate nationalism.

{{quote box| quote= "Melting pot, civil war. Two ideological walls that separate Quebec nationalists from American society, even left-wing, even intellectual."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lisée |first1=Jean-Francois |title=La tentation québécoise de John F. Kennedy |date=2020 |publisher=Carte blanche |page=28}}</ref> |author=Jean-Francois Lisée |align = right |width = 50%}}

[[John F. Kennedy]] is said to be the only American politician open to this prospect. In the 1950s, Armand Morissette, the parish priest of Lowell, Massachusetts, informed him of the existence of an independence movement in Quebec. In order to gain access to the Senate, Kennedy wanted to win the votes of the large French-Canadian community in Massachusetts, so he had contact with Curé Morissette, who was also a convinced independentist. Kennedy drew parallels not with American independence, but with Irish independence, which was still quite recent (1922), as he himself was of Irish descent. The Kennedy family were Francophiles, and that the future president militated for the self-determination of peoples in general. During his short term as President (1961–1963), however, Kennedy never publicly addressed this issue.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lisée |first1=Jean-Francois |title=La tentation québécoise de John F. Kennedy |date=2020 |publisher=Carte blanche}}</ref>

==In fiction==

===In films and TV shows===

* [[Richard Rohmer]]'s novel ''Separation'' (1976) was turned into a TV-movie for [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] Television in 1977. In the movie, the Parti Québécois has formed the government of Quebec but Premier Gaston Bélisle has repeatedly put off its promise to hold a referendum. International politics forces Bélisle's hand.

* In the mid-1980s, a sequel to Separation, ''Quebec-Canada 1995'', depicts a meeting between the president of Quebec and the prime minister of Canada to discuss a crisis involving Quebec military occupations of parts of Ontario and New Brunswick. Canada's armed forces are stretched thin with peacekeepers in such varied places as the [[Falkland Islands]] (with "Lady Goosegreen" being [[Margaret Thatcher]]).

* In the film ''[[Die Hard]]'', Hans Gruber, the terrorist leader, demands, as a ruse, the release of imprisoned members of the fictional group Liberté du Québec. (Presumably meant to be a fictional version of the [[Front de libération du Québec|FLQ]].)

* In the ''[[The Simpsons|Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Homer to the Max]]", Homer Simpson is invited to an exclusive garden party by Trent Steel, a successful businessman whom he meets as a result of changing his name to Max Power. President [[Bill Clinton]], a guest at the garden party, is called away to deal with Quebec "getting [[nuclear weapon|the bomb]]".

* In ''[[The Critic]]'' episode "L.A. Jay", in a dream sequence, Jay Sherman, at his [[Oscars|Oscar acceptance speech]] says he supports independence for Quebec, cutting to a room of Québécois saying "Viva Jay Sherman! Viva Quebec!" and unfurling a banner depicting Sherman as a beaver.

===In books and comics===

* [[William Weintraub]]'s satirical 1979 novel ''The Underdogs'' provoked controversy by imagining a future Quebec in which English-speakers were an oppressed minority, complete with a violent resistance movement. One planned stage version was cancelled before its premiere.

* [[Margaret Atwood]]'s 1979 novel ''[[Life Before Man]]'' is set in Toronto in the late 1970s and several characters watch and sometimes comment upon the elections and sovereignist movement in Quebec. The sovereignist movement and its struggles are metaphorically linked to the difficulties the characters in the novel have with separating their own personal relationships.

* [[Clive Cussler]]'s 1984 novel ''[[Night Probe!]]'' is set against a fictional attempt at secession in the late 1980s. Rights to newly discovered oil resources in [[Ungava Bay]], discovered as Quebec moves to secede, clash with the ramifications of a rediscovered secret treaty negotiated between the U.K. and U.S. governments during World War I.

* In the 1999 novel ''[[Babylon Babies]]'' by the French-born Canadian cyberpunk writer [[Maurice Dantec]], loosely adapted as the film [[Babylon A.D.]], Quebec is independent and referred to as the "Free Province of Quebec".

* In [[Peter Watts (author)|Peter Watts]]' science fiction series, starting with the 1999 ''Starfish'', Quebec has attained sovereignty and is an energetic/economic superpower within North America.

* In the alternate history 1995 novel ''[[The Two Georges]]'', co-authored by [[Richard Dreyfuss]] and Harry Turtledove, the [[American Revolution]] never occurs, resulting in the creation of the North American Union, a dominion of the British Empire. En route to the Six Nations, Thomas Bushell and Samuel Stanley of the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|Royal American Mounted Police]] discuss the nearby province of Quebec. Stanley muses that, being culturally French, the Québécois people would want to split off from the N.A.U. to become part of the Franco-Spanish Holy Alliance. However, the Francophobia of the Sons of Liberty prevents them from effectively joining forces with Québécois separatists.

* In the 2006 young adults' alternate history novel ''[[The Disunited States of America]]'', by Harry Turtledove, the United States collapsed in the 1800s due to the retention of the Articles of Confederation, with states becoming sovereign nations by the 2090s. Quebec is an independent country in the 2090s, although it is not mentioned whether it remained an independent entity or seceded from a Canadian union.

* [[David Foster Wallace]]'s 1996 novel ''[[Infinite Jest]]'' includes both real and fictional Québécois separatist movements as integral to the plot. In the story, the United States has merged with Canada and Mexico to form the Organization of North American Nations (ONAN). Wheelchair-using Quebec separatists use a video so entertaining it leads to death to accomplish their goals of both Quebec independence and the end of the ONAN.

* In the ''[[Southern Victory Series]]'' of [[alternate history]] novels by [[Harry Turtledove]], Quebec becomes a separate nation during the [[Great War (series)|First Great War]] (an alternative World War I). Since the United States organized this separation to weaken Anglophone Canada (and the UK by extension) and to aid in the post-war occupation of Canada, the Republic of Quebec operated as a [[client state]] of the United States, rather than being truly independent.

* In [[DC Comics]], the villain (and sometimes hero) [[Plastique (comics)|Plastique]] is initially a Québécois freedom fighter, who resorts to acts of terrorism.

* In ''[[Marvel Comics]]'', the superhero [[Northstar (Marvel Comics)|Northstar]] was part of the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ) in his youth.

* In ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]'', Canada's nightmare features an independent Quebec.

===In games===

* In the roleplaying game ''[[Trinity (role-playing game)|Trinity]]'' there are references made to a separatist Quebec nation who in return for independence helped the then formed "Confederated States of America" take control of Canada.

* In the roleplaying game ''[[Shadowrun]]'', Quebec exists as a sovereign nation alongside the United Canadian American States and the Confederated American States.

*[[Canadian Civil War (game)|Canadian Civil War]] is a board game from 1977. The game simulates a hypothetical political struggle between factions, some of them seeking to redefine the terms of the Canadian confederation, others seeking to maintain the status quo.

==See also==

* [[List of subjects related to the Quebec independence movement]]

* [[Autonomism in Quebec]]

* [[Quebec nationalism]]

* [[Politics of Quebec]]

* [[Sovereigntist events and strategies]]

* [[Canadian sovereignty]]

* [[List of active autonomist and secessionist movements]]

* [[Lists of active separatist movements]]

* [[Secessionist movements of Canada]]

==Sources==

===References===

{{Reflist}}

===Further reading (English)===

* McCulloch, Tony. "A quiet revolution in diplomacy: Quebec–UK relations since 1960." ''American Review of Canadian Studies'' 46.2 (2016): 176–195. [https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1514423/1/McCULLOCH,%20A%20QUIET%20REVOLUTION%20IN%20DIPLOMACY,%20ARCS%2046.2,%20JUNE%202016.pdf online]

* Mendelsohn, Matthew. "Rational choice and socio-psychological explanation for opinion on Quebec sovereignty." ''Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique'' (2003): 511–537 [https://www.jstor.org/stable/3233082 online].

* Yale, François, and Claire Durand. "What did Quebeckers want? Impact of question wording, constitutional proposal and context on support for sovereignty, 1976–2008." ''American Review of Canadian Studies'' 41.3 (2011): 242–258. [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Claire-Durand-2/publication/254239406_What_did_Quebeckers_Want_Impact_of_Question_Wording_Constitutional_Proposal_and_Context_on_Support_for_Sovereignty_1976-2008/links/60099ffd299bf14088afa1bb/What-did-Quebeckers-Want-Impact-of-Question-Wording-Constitutional-Proposal-and-Context-on-Support-for-Sovereignty-1976-2008.pdf online]

==External links==

*[https://wayback.archive-it.org/10611/20151230010954/http://portal.unesco.org/shs/en/ev.php-URL_ID=2719&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html UNESCO article on the evolution of Quebec nationalism (2002) (Archived)]

{{Quebec sovereignty movement}}

== External links==

{{Politics of Quebec}}

* [http://www.pq.org Parti Québécois website] (in French and partly in English)

{{Bloc Québécois}}

* [http://www.blocquebecois.org Bloc Québécois website] (in French and partly in English)

{{Canadian identity}}

* [http://www.ssjb.com Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society website] (in French and partly in English)

* [http://www.souverainete.info/ Council of Quebec Sovereignty] (in French)

* [http://www2.marianopolis.edu/quebechistory/chronos/national.htm Chronology of Quebec Nationalism]

* [http://www.lequebecois.org/quebecradio/index.html Québec-Radio] (in French)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Quebec Sovereignty Movement}}

[[Category:Quebec politics]]

[[Category:SovereigntyQuebec sovereignty movement| movements]]

[[Category:Quebec nationalism]]

[[Category:Separatism in Canada]]