Equality Party (Quebec)
Encyclopedia
The Equality Party was a political party in Quebec
, Canada
, that promoted the use of English
in Quebec on an equal basis with French
. Four Equality Party members were elected to Quebec's National Assembly in 1989
, as part of an anglophone reaction to changes made by the governing Liberals to Quebec's language law . The party has not run candidates for office since the 2003 Quebec election
.
invoking the "Notwithstanding clause"
of the Canadian constitution
to override a Supreme Court
ruling overturning parts of the Charter of the French Language
(commonly known as "Bill 101"). The court ruling would have allowed languages other than French to appear on store signs and outdoor advertising; the government instead allowed other languages only on small signs inside shops. Another issue that fed Equality Party support was the Quebec Liberal Party's forcing anglophone Members of the Quebec National Assembly (MNAs) to condemn a report from the Official Languages Commissioner suggesting Quebec anglophones felt "humiliated" by laws such as Bill 101.
The Equality Party's platform called for equality of both languages (French and English) in Quebec, opposing Bill 101 which made French the sole official language of Quebec, imposed restrictions on the use of English on public signs, and required children to attend school in French unless one of their parents went to school in English in Canada. The Equality Party drew virtually all of its support from elements of Quebec's anglophone minority, and only ran candidates in electoral districts with very high anglophone populations.
The party first came to prominence in the 1989 general election
, when it won four seats on Montreal Island in the National Assembly with 3.7% of the popular vote. Along with its then-sister party, the Unity Party
(which ran candidates outside the Montreal Island), it won 4.7% of the provincial popular vote. The winning candidates were Gordon Atkinson
, Neil Cameron, Richard Holden
and party leader Robert Libman
, who won popular votes ranging from 41 per cent to 58 percent in their respective ridings.
in Quebec's National Assembly, being eight members short of the required twelve necessary for recognition. The four members nonetheless participated in National Assembly debates, notably:
The Unity Party
merged with the Equality Party on May 7, 1990, increasing the party's membership to what the party reported as 16,000.. The party's published financial statements, however, reported that only $7795 in membership dues were collected in 1990, down 75% from 1989 and enough to account for only 1,559 dues-paying members.
From 1990 onward, the party suffered from frequent and public infighting, clashing over personalities and over issues such as whether to support the Meech Lake Accord
and Charlottetown Accord
. Three of its four elected members, including the party's leader, quit the party before the next election. In a bizarre turn of events, one of the party's sitting members, Richard Holden
, member for the Westmount electoral district, defected to the ideologically diametrically opposed Parti Québécois
.
Along with the infighting, defections and change in leadership, other events occurred which may have contributed to a loss of voter support for the Equality Party:
, and the party was reduced to marginal status. Two subsequent general elections in 1998
and 2003
did nothing to improve the party's fortunes.
The party's remaining members held meetings, maintained a website and ran candidates for office until 2003. During these years, the party promoted political positions such as:
Additionally, after 1994 most of its remaining members became active in Alliance Quebec
.
Following the party's poor showing in the 2003 election, its leader, Keith Henderson, announced he would resign once a new leader was chosen. No leadership candidates came forward, so Henderson technically remains the leader of the party. After Henderson's announcement, the party stopped holding meetings and no longer updated its website. It did not run any candidates in the 2007 general election
or the 2008 general election. However, Henderson still continues to keep the party's registration as an official party up to date. The party's annual declarations show it to have the fewest members of any political party in Quebec, with 11 members paying the $5 membership fee in 2007, three members in 2008 and five members in 2009. The party collected no money in membership fees in 2010.
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....
, Canada
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...
, that promoted the use of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in Quebec on an equal basis with French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. Four Equality Party members were elected to Quebec's National Assembly in 1989
Quebec general election, 1989
The Quebec general election of 1989 was held on September 25, 1989, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada...
, as part of an anglophone reaction to changes made by the governing Liberals to Quebec's language law . The party has not run candidates for office since the 2003 Quebec election
Quebec general election, 2003
The Quebec general election of 2003 was held on April 14, 2003, to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec . The Parti libéral du Québec , led by Jean Charest, defeated the incumbent Parti Québécois, led by Bernard Landry.-Unfolding:...
.
Foundation to 1989 election
The party was formed in 1989 as a reaction to then-Premier Robert BourassaRobert Bourassa
Jean-Robert Bourassa, was a politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 22nd Premier of Quebec in two different mandates, first from May 12, 1970, to November 25, 1976, and then from December 12, 1985, to January 11, 1994, serving a total of just under 15 years as Provincial Premier.-Early...
invoking the "Notwithstanding clause"
Section Thirty-three of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Section Thirty-three of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is part of the Constitution of Canada. It is commonly known as the notwithstanding clause , or as the override power, and it allows Parliament or provincial legislatures to override certain portions of the Charter...
of the Canadian constitution
Constitution of Canada
The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law in Canada; the country's constitution is an amalgamation of codified acts and uncodified traditions and conventions. It outlines Canada's system of government, as well as the civil rights of all Canadian citizens and those in Canada...
to override a Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
ruling overturning parts of the Charter of the French Language
Charter of the French Language
The Charter of the French Language , also known as Bill 101 and Loi 101, is a law in the province of Quebec in Canada defining French, the language of the majority of the population, as the only official language of Quebec, and framing fundamental language rights for everyone in the province...
(commonly known as "Bill 101"). The court ruling would have allowed languages other than French to appear on store signs and outdoor advertising; the government instead allowed other languages only on small signs inside shops. Another issue that fed Equality Party support was the Quebec Liberal Party's forcing anglophone Members of the Quebec National Assembly (MNAs) to condemn a report from the Official Languages Commissioner suggesting Quebec anglophones felt "humiliated" by laws such as Bill 101.
The Equality Party's platform called for equality of both languages (French and English) in Quebec, opposing Bill 101 which made French the sole official language of Quebec, imposed restrictions on the use of English on public signs, and required children to attend school in French unless one of their parents went to school in English in Canada. The Equality Party drew virtually all of its support from elements of Quebec's anglophone minority, and only ran candidates in electoral districts with very high anglophone populations.
The party first came to prominence in the 1989 general election
Quebec general election, 1989
The Quebec general election of 1989 was held on September 25, 1989, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada...
, when it won four seats on Montreal Island in the National Assembly with 3.7% of the popular vote. Along with its then-sister party, the Unity Party
Unity Party (Quebec)
The Unity Party was a political party in Quebec, Canada.The party was formed as a reaction to then-Premier Robert Bourassa invoking the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian constitution to override a Supreme Court ruling overturning parts of the Charter of the French Language .The party platform...
(which ran candidates outside the Montreal Island), it won 4.7% of the provincial popular vote. The winning candidates were Gordon Atkinson
Gordon Atkinson
Gordon Atkinson was a broadcaster and politician in Quebec, Canada.-Background:Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Atkinson became a radio announcer in Calgary, Alberta in 1937...
, Neil Cameron, Richard Holden
Richard Holden (politician)
Richard B. Holden was a lawyer and member of the provincial legislature of Quebec, Canada. An obituary describes him as cynical and self-deprecating, a boulevardier and a maverick.-Personal life:...
and party leader Robert Libman
Robert Libman
-Background:Born in Montreal, Quebec, he is the son of David Libman and Goldie Aronovitch. He attended Herzliah High School, Vanier College, and received a Bachelor of architecture from McGill University in 1985...
, who won popular votes ranging from 41 per cent to 58 percent in their respective ridings.
In the National Assembly 1989-1994
The party did not receive official party statusOfficial party status
Official party status refers to the Canadian practice of recognizing political parties in the Parliament of Canada and the provincial legislatures. The type of recognition and threshold needed to obtain it varies...
in Quebec's National Assembly, being eight members short of the required twelve necessary for recognition. The four members nonetheless participated in National Assembly debates, notably:
- Party leader Robert Libman made headlines by using his Parliamentary privilegeParliamentary privilegeParliamentary privilege is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made related to one's duties as a legislator. It is common in countries whose constitutions are...
to reveal the details of confidential, money-losing contracts signed between Hydro-QuébecHydro-QuébecHydro-Québec is a government-owned public utility established in 1944 by the Government of Quebec. Based in Montreal, the company is in charge of the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity across Quebec....
and some of Quebec's aluminum producers. - The party voted against Bill 150, a law providing for a referendumReferendumA referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
on sovereignty for Quebec, (which was later cancelled in favour of a referendum on the Charlottetown AccordCharlottetown AccordThe Charlottetown Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada, proposed by the Canadian federal and provincial governments in 1992. It was submitted to a public referendum on October 26 of that year, and was defeated.-Background:...
).
The Unity Party
Unity Party (Quebec)
The Unity Party was a political party in Quebec, Canada.The party was formed as a reaction to then-Premier Robert Bourassa invoking the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian constitution to override a Supreme Court ruling overturning parts of the Charter of the French Language .The party platform...
merged with the Equality Party on May 7, 1990, increasing the party's membership to what the party reported as 16,000.. The party's published financial statements, however, reported that only $7795 in membership dues were collected in 1990, down 75% from 1989 and enough to account for only 1,559 dues-paying members.
From 1990 onward, the party suffered from frequent and public infighting, clashing over personalities and over issues such as whether to support the Meech Lake Accord
Meech Lake Accord
The Meech Lake Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada negotiated in 1987 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and ten provincial premiers. It was intended to persuade the government of the Province of Quebec to endorse the 1982 Canadian Constitution and increase...
and Charlottetown Accord
Charlottetown Accord
The Charlottetown Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada, proposed by the Canadian federal and provincial governments in 1992. It was submitted to a public referendum on October 26 of that year, and was defeated.-Background:...
. Three of its four elected members, including the party's leader, quit the party before the next election. In a bizarre turn of events, one of the party's sitting members, Richard Holden
Richard Holden (politician)
Richard B. Holden was a lawyer and member of the provincial legislature of Quebec, Canada. An obituary describes him as cynical and self-deprecating, a boulevardier and a maverick.-Personal life:...
, member for the Westmount electoral district, defected to the ideologically diametrically opposed 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...
.
Along with the infighting, defections and change in leadership, other events occurred which may have contributed to a loss of voter support for the Equality Party:
- The government amended the Charter of the French Language in 1993 to allow for more English on commercial signs, which had been the main issue on which the Equality Party campaigned in 1989.
- Opinion polls prior to the 1994 election showed a close race between the two largest parties (the Liberals and the Parti QuébécoisParti QuébécoisThe 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...
), giving voters less of a reason to vote for a third party.
1994 election loss to present
The Equality Party never repeated its electoral success of 1989. All of the party's candidates and incumbents were defeated in the 1994 general electionQuebec general election, 1994
The Quebec general election of 1994 was held on September 12, 1994, to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The Parti Québécois, led by Jacques Parizeau, defeated the incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Daniel Johnson, Jr.....
, and the party was reduced to marginal status. Two subsequent general elections in 1998
Quebec general election, 1998
The Quebec general election of 1998 was held on November 30, 1998, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Parti Québécois, led by Lucien Bouchard, won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Charest.After the narrow defeat of...
and 2003
Quebec general election, 2003
The Quebec general election of 2003 was held on April 14, 2003, to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec . The Parti libéral du Québec , led by Jean Charest, defeated the incumbent Parti Québécois, led by Bernard Landry.-Unfolding:...
did nothing to improve the party's fortunes.
The party's remaining members held meetings, maintained a website and ran candidates for office until 2003. During these years, the party promoted political positions such as:
- that a unilateral declaration of independence by Quebec would be unconstitutional (a debate ultimately leading to the federal Clarity ActClarity ActThe Clarity Act is legislation passed by the Parliament of Canada that established the conditions under which the Government of Canada would enter into negotiations that might lead to secession following such a vote by one of the provinces. The Clarity Bill was tabled for first reading in the...
) - the partition of QuebecPartition of QuebecPartition in Quebec politics refers to the secession of regions of the province of Quebec, rather than to partitions in a strict political sense. It is usually discussed as a possibility in the event of Quebec secession from Canada...
if it ever became independent - the reversal of the 2002 municipal mergersMontreal MergerAs with other large cities like New York City and Toronto, the legal geographic boundaries of Montreal have been reorganized to incorporate adjacent communities which are integral to its social and economic life.-Merger and demerger:...
on the island of MontrealIsland of MontrealThe Island of Montreal , in extreme southwestern Quebec, Canada, is located at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. It is separated from Île Jésus by the Rivière des Prairies....
Additionally, after 1994 most of its remaining members became active in Alliance Quebec
Alliance Quebec
Alliance Quebec was a group formed in 1982 to lobby on behalf of English-speaking Quebecers in the province of Quebec, Canada. It began as an umbrella group of many English-speaking organizations and institutions in the province, with approximately 15,000 members. At its height in the mid-1980s,...
.
Following the party's poor showing in the 2003 election, its leader, Keith Henderson, announced he would resign once a new leader was chosen. No leadership candidates came forward, so Henderson technically remains the leader of the party. After Henderson's announcement, the party stopped holding meetings and no longer updated its website. It did not run any candidates in the 2007 general election
Quebec general election, 2007
The Quebec general election of 2007 was held in the Canadian province of Quebec on March 26, 2007 to elect members of the 38th National Assembly of Quebec. The Quebec Liberal Party led by Jean Charest managed to win a plurality of seats, but were reduced to a minority government, Quebec's first in...
or the 2008 general election. However, Henderson still continues to keep the party's registration as an official party up to date. The party's annual declarations show it to have the fewest members of any political party in Quebec, with 11 members paying the $5 membership fee in 2007, three members in 2008 and five members in 2009. The party collected no money in membership fees in 2010.
Members of the Quebec National Assembly
- Gordon AtkinsonGordon AtkinsonGordon Atkinson was a broadcaster and politician in Quebec, Canada.-Background:Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Atkinson became a radio announcer in Calgary, Alberta in 1937...
(1989–1994) - Neil Cameron (1989–1994)
- Robert LibmanRobert Libman-Background:Born in Montreal, Quebec, he is the son of David Libman and Goldie Aronovitch. He attended Herzliah High School, Vanier College, and received a Bachelor of architecture from McGill University in 1985...
(1989–1994) - Richard HoldenRichard Holden (politician)Richard B. Holden was a lawyer and member of the provincial legislature of Quebec, Canada. An obituary describes him as cynical and self-deprecating, a boulevardier and a maverick.-Personal life:...
(1989–1992)
Election results
| General election | # of candidates | # of elected candidates | % of popular vote |
| 1989 Quebec general election, 1989 The Quebec general election of 1989 was held on September 25, 1989, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada... | 19 | 4 | 3.69% |
| 1994 Quebec general election, 1994 The Quebec general election of 1994 was held on September 12, 1994, to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The Parti Québécois, led by Jacques Parizeau, defeated the incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Daniel Johnson, Jr..... | 17 | 0 | 0.29% |
| 1998 Quebec general election, 1998 The Quebec general election of 1998 was held on November 30, 1998, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Parti Québécois, led by Lucien Bouchard, won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Charest.After the narrow defeat of... | 24 | 0 | 0.31% |
| 2003 Quebec general election, 2003 The Quebec general election of 2003 was held on April 14, 2003, to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec . The Parti libéral du Québec , led by Jean Charest, defeated the incumbent Parti Québécois, led by Bernard Landry.-Unfolding:... | 21 | 0 | 0.11% |
| 2007 Quebec general election, 2007 The Quebec general election of 2007 was held in the Canadian province of Quebec on March 26, 2007 to elect members of the 38th National Assembly of Quebec. The Quebec Liberal Party led by Jean Charest managed to win a plurality of seats, but were reduced to a minority government, Quebec's first in... | 0 | - | ---- |
| 2008 | 0 | - | ---- |
See also
- Politics of QuebecPolitics of QuebecThe politics of Quebec are centred on a provincial government resembling that of the other Canadian provinces, namely a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The capital of the province is Quebec City, where the Lieutenant Governor, Premier, the legislature, and cabinet reside.The...
- List of Quebec general elections
- List of Quebec premiers
- List of Quebec leaders of the Opposition
- National Assembly of QuebecNational Assembly of QuebecThe National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
- Timeline of Quebec historyTimeline of Quebec historyThis article presents a detailed timeline of Quebec history. Events taking place outside Quebec, for example in English Canada, the United States, Britain or France, may be included when they are considered to have had a significant impact on Quebec's history....
- Political parties in Quebec
- Partition of QuebecPartition of QuebecPartition in Quebec politics refers to the secession of regions of the province of Quebec, rather than to partitions in a strict political sense. It is usually discussed as a possibility in the event of Quebec secession from Canada...
External links
- Equality Party website (No longer working as of 23 June 2006)
- Equality Party website (from archive.org)
- National Assembly historical information
- History of the Equality Party quebecpolitique.com
- Bill 199 Charter of the French and English Languages