Conseil de la Souveraineté du Québec
Encyclopedia
The Conseil de la Souveraineté du Québec is a non-governmental organization promoting Quebec sovereignty in the Canadian
province of Quebec
. The council was started in 2003 at the initiative of the province's Parti Québécois
government.
An earlier organization of the same name existed in 1995 and played a prominent role in the 1995 Quebec referendum on sovereignty.
cabinet minister Yves Duhaime
as its first president and prominent Quebec nationalist Louise Laurin
was its first vice-president. While it had only a small membership, it was regarded a serious force in influencing public opinion. During the buildup to the referendum, it ran full-page advertisements in English-language newspapers arguing that the government of Canada
was wasting millions in taxpayer dollars by promoting Canadian federalism
in Quebec.
Quebec's Parti Québécois government authorized payments to the council amounting to four million dollars in August and October 1995; this money was not subject to campaign finance limits, as it was all spent before the referendum campaign officially started. Duhaime argued that the money was well spent in countering Canadian federalist advertising. The council also raised and spent a further one million dollars in the same period.
Jacques Parizeau
. It was designated with charitable tax status and was assured of regular financial support from both the Parti Québécois
and Bloc Québécois
; both parties also nominated one member to its eleven-member governing board. The new council's first leader was Gerald Larose
, who continues to hold this position as of 2011. The council has urged the Parti Québécois to maintain an openly sovereigntist ideology.
In 2006, the council introduced a book entitled Titled Parlons de souverainete a l'ecole ("Lets talk about sovereignty at school") intended to be taught in classrooms for children of kindergarten age upwards. Premier Jean Charest
dismissed the book as "exploit[ing] children for political ends" while Parti Québécois leader André Boisclair
agreed that the book was not appropriate.
As of 2011, the council's governing board includes representatives of the Parti Québécois, the Bloc Québécois, and Québec solidaire
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The council was started in 2003 at the initiative of the province's Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
government.
An earlier organization of the same name existed in 1995 and played a prominent role in the 1995 Quebec referendum on sovereignty.
1995 organization
The original council was established in May 1995, with former Parti QuébécoisParti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
cabinet minister Yves Duhaime
Yves Duhaime
Yves Duhaime is a former politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as Cabinet Member and Member of the National Assembly of Quebec.-Early life:Duhaime was born in Chicoutimi, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and grew up in Shawinigan, Mauricie....
as its first president and prominent Quebec nationalist Louise Laurin
Louise Laurin
Louise Laurin is an educator and activist in Quebec. She is a prominent supporter of both secular education and Quebec sovereignty.-Educator:...
was its first vice-president. While it had only a small membership, it was regarded a serious force in influencing public opinion. During the buildup to the referendum, it ran full-page advertisements in English-language newspapers arguing that the government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
was wasting millions in taxpayer dollars by promoting Canadian federalism
Canadian federalism
Canada is a federation with two distinct jurisdictions of political authority: the country-wide federal government and the ten regionally-based provincial governments. It also has three territorial governments in the far north, though these are subject to the federal government...
in Quebec.
Quebec's Parti Québécois government authorized payments to the council amounting to four million dollars in August and October 1995; this money was not subject to campaign finance limits, as it was all spent before the referendum campaign officially started. Duhaime argued that the money was well spent in countering Canadian federalist advertising. The council also raised and spent a further one million dollars in the same period.
2003 organization
The new council was launched in early 2003, at the urging of former Quebec premierPremier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
Jacques Parizeau
Jacques Parizeau
Jacques Parizeau, is an economist and noted Quebec sovereignist who was the 26th Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec from September 26, 1994 to January 29, 1996.-Early life and career:...
. It was designated with charitable tax status and was assured of regular financial support from both the Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
and Bloc Québécois
Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada devoted to the protection of Quebec's interests in the House of Commons of Canada, and the promotion of Quebec sovereignty. The Bloc was originally a party made of Quebec nationalists who defected from the federal Progressive Conservative...
; both parties also nominated one member to its eleven-member governing board. The new council's first leader was Gerald Larose
Gérald Larose
Gérald Larose is a Quebec activist, professor, and former President of the Confédération des syndicats nationaux labour union...
, who continues to hold this position as of 2011. The council has urged the Parti Québécois to maintain an openly sovereigntist ideology.
In 2006, the council introduced a book entitled Titled Parlons de souverainete a l'ecole ("Lets talk about sovereignty at school") intended to be taught in classrooms for children of kindergarten age upwards. Premier Jean Charest
Jean Charest
John James "Jean" Charest, PC, MNA is a Canadian politician who has been the 29th Premier of Quebec since 2003. He was leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1993 to 1998 and has been leader of the Quebec Liberal Party since 1998....
dismissed the book as "exploit[ing] children for political ends" while Parti Québécois leader André Boisclair
André Boisclair
André Boisclair is a politician in Quebec, Canada. He was the leader of the Parti Québécois, a social democratic and separatist party in Quebec....
agreed that the book was not appropriate.
As of 2011, the council's governing board includes representatives of the Parti Québécois, the Bloc Québécois, and Québec solidaire
Québec Solidaire
Québec solidaire is a democratic socialist and sovereigntist political party in Quebec, Canada, that was created on 4 February 2006 in Montreal. It was formed by the merger of the left-wing party Union des forces progressistes and the alter-globalization political movement Option Citoyenne, led...
.