Parti de la Liberté de Choix
Encyclopedia
The Parti de la Liberté de Choix (English: Freedom of Choice Party) is a former political party in the Canadian
province of Quebec
. Focused on anglophone rights issues, it ran candidates in provincial elections from 1979 to 1982.
The party should not be confused with the Freedom of Choice Movement, a separate group that also promoted anglophone rights issues in Quebec.
, was a vocal opponent of Quebec's Charter of the French Language
(aka Bill 101), which he described as a racist law. Forse supported linguistic freedom in education, work, and other spheres of life; as such, he opposed the Quebec government's efforts to promote the status the French language.
Johnson wrote that the party seemed to be an extension of Forse's political ambitions and was unlikely to achieve a breakthrough; while it claimed to represent both anglophones and francophones, it was in reality an anglophone party that could not put out proper French translations of its literature. It is not clear if Forse remained involved with the party after its formative period.
A 1985 article in the Ottawa Citizen
described Freedom of Choice as an "ultra-right anglophone party," noting that its candidate in Pontiac
during the 1981 provincial election
had proposed shifting the region from Quebec to Ontario
.
William Shaw, a former member of the National Assembly of Quebec
who was focused on anglophone rights issues, led the Freedom of Choice Party in 1985.
, as an independent candidate on a "freedom of choice" platform. The actual party seems not to have existed at this time. Forse and DeJong apparently met during the by-election and considered joining forces, but ultimately did not do so. It is not known whether DeJong had any subsequent involvement with the party.
The Freedom of Choice Party made its electoral debut in 1979, running candidates in two Quebec by-elections. The candidates appeared on the ballot as "without designation," as their party was not yet officially registered. Both fared poorly. Freedom of Choice later fielded twelve candidates in the 1981 provincial election
and one candidate in a 1982 by-election. It appears to have folded shortly before the 1985 provincial election
.
In the late 1980s, former party leader William Shaw became involved with the newly formed Equality Party
, which was also focused on anglophone rights issues.
Brome—Missisquoi
Blair McIntosh received 289 votes (1.14%), finishing fourth against Liberal Party incumbent Pierre Paradis
. A few years after the election, McIntosh attempted to have a speeding ticket dismissed on the grounds that part of the court summons was written in French only. He argued that his home community of Lennoxville
was recognized as bilingual under the French Language Charter and hence had an "obligation to provide fundamental services in both languages." The presiding judge disagreed, noting that the language law did not apply to the judicial system and that the ticket itself was written in both languages.
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....
. Focused on anglophone rights issues, it ran candidates in provincial elections from 1979 to 1982.
The party should not be confused with the Freedom of Choice Movement, a separate group that also promoted anglophone rights issues in Quebec.
History
Quebec journalist William Johnson wrote in May 1979 that the party had unclear origins and was difficult to research, but that it seemed to have been founded by Armour Forse in either 1978 or 1979. Forse, a dentist originally from Nova ScotiaNova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, was a vocal opponent of Quebec's 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...
(aka Bill 101), which he described as a racist law. Forse supported linguistic freedom in education, work, and other spheres of life; as such, he opposed the Quebec government's efforts to promote the status the French language.
Johnson wrote that the party seemed to be an extension of Forse's political ambitions and was unlikely to achieve a breakthrough; while it claimed to represent both anglophones and francophones, it was in reality an anglophone party that could not put out proper French translations of its literature. It is not clear if Forse remained involved with the party after its formative period.
A 1985 article in the Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa Citizen is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Canadian Newspaper Association, the paper had a 2008 weekly circulation of 900,197.- History :...
described Freedom of Choice as an "ultra-right anglophone party," noting that its candidate in Pontiac
Pontiac (provincial electoral district)
Pontiac is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec.The provincial electoral district existed over two distinct periods The first period began with its creation in 1854 and ended in 1973, when Pontiac was merged with Témiscamingue to...
during the 1981 provincial election
Quebec general election, 1981
The Quebec general election of 1981 was held on April 13, 1981, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Parti Québécois, led by René Lévesque, won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Claude Ryan.The PQ won re-election despite...
had proposed shifting the region from Quebec to Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
William Shaw, a former member of the National Assembly of Quebec
National Assembly of Quebec
The 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...
who was focused on anglophone rights issues, led the Freedom of Choice Party in 1985.
Electoral history
David DeJong ran for the National Assembly of Quebec in a 1978 by-electionBy-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
, as an independent candidate on a "freedom of choice" platform. The actual party seems not to have existed at this time. Forse and DeJong apparently met during the by-election and considered joining forces, but ultimately did not do so. It is not known whether DeJong had any subsequent involvement with the party.
The Freedom of Choice Party made its electoral debut in 1979, running candidates in two Quebec by-elections. The candidates appeared on the ballot as "without designation," as their party was not yet officially registered. Both fared poorly. Freedom of Choice later fielded twelve candidates in the 1981 provincial election
Quebec general election, 1981
The Quebec general election of 1981 was held on April 13, 1981, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Parti Québécois, led by René Lévesque, won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Claude Ryan.The PQ won re-election despite...
and one candidate in a 1982 by-election. It appears to have folded shortly before the 1985 provincial election
Quebec general election, 1985
The Quebec general election of 1985 was held on December 2, 1985, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The Quebec Liberal Party, led by former premier Robert Bourassa, defeated the incumbent Parti Québécois, led by premier Pierre-Marc Johnson.This election...
.
In the late 1980s, former party leader William Shaw became involved with the newly formed Equality Party
Equality Party (Quebec)
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...
, which was also focused on anglophone rights issues.
Brome—MissisquoiBrome-Missisquoi (provincial electoral district)Brome-Missisquoi is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The riding was created in 1973 from Brome and parts of Missisquoi and Shefford...
: Blair McIntosh
Blair McIntosh received 289 votes (1.14%), finishing fourth against Liberal Party incumbent Pierre ParadisPierre Paradis
Pierre Paradis is a politician in the Canadian province of Quebec. He has represented Brome—Missisquoi in the National Assembly of Quebec since 1980 as a member of the Liberal Party...
. A few years after the election, McIntosh attempted to have a speeding ticket dismissed on the grounds that part of the court summons was written in French only. He argued that his home community of Lennoxville
Lennoxville, Quebec
Lennoxville is an arrondissement, or borough, of the city of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Lennoxville is located at the confluence of the St. Francis and Massawippi Rivers approximately five kilometers south of downtown Sherbrooke....
was recognized as bilingual under the French Language Charter and hence had an "obligation to provide fundamental services in both languages." The presiding judge disagreed, noting that the language law did not apply to the judicial system and that the ticket itself was written in both languages.