Rounding up the usual tribalists

WILLIAM JOHNSON
G&M Thursday, April 18, 2002

Ultranationalists in Quebec ground their teeth and tore their garments yesterday, just as they did 20 years ago when the Queen signed the Constitution Act. But, despite huffing and puffing, grassroots outrage was nowhere to be seen. Just like 20 years ago.

The Quebec government ran full-page ads in daily newspapers, part of a $500,000 campaign to convince Quebeckers that they're angry and won't take it any more. "Whatever our colours, we refused to sign. On April 17, 1982, Ottawa and nine provinces changed the Canadian constitution without Québec's consent. Notwithstanding political colours, we refused to sign an agreement that weakens the powers and rights of the only French-speaking parliament in the Americas. Twenty years and seven premiers later, Québec remains steadfast in its resolve."

Resolve was unfurled by the separatist government and its cohort of fellow travellers. "This constitution is not ours," proclaimed Quebec's three main labour union federations and the Union of Quebec Writers, the Union des Artistes, the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste and other secessionist groups. In Ottawa, the Bloc Québécois boycotted anniversary celebrations of the Charter of Rights.

But there was little commotion in the public. Several polls have shown that Quebeckers, like other Canadians, appreciate the Charter's protections against arbitrary actions by government.

The Supreme Court of Canada affirmed in 1982 that the Constitution Act is legitimate and binds Quebec, as it does all of Canada. But, in a triumph of tribalist mythology over reality and law, the ultranationalists continue to maintain that the Constitution Act is illegitimate and that Quebec is "outside" the Constitution.

To give themselves a semblance of credibility, they rewrite history and turn the issue into an "us versus them" ethnic conflict. Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Charbonneau put it classically: "Constitutional changes were imposed without the consent of a quarter of the population gathered in the only French-language state, not only of this country, but of the Americas. And who did this? A majority anglophone government, with the support of all the anglophone governments of the country."

In reality, it was the Quebec Liberal Party that insisted in 1960 that control of the Constitution be returned to Canada. Quebec was thereafter profoundly divided over what the Constitution should enact. Quebec exported its constitutional civil wars to the rest of the country.

It was for Quebec reasons that Pierre Trudeau entered politics and, reluctantly, was obliged by Quebec to deal with the Constitution. It was Quebec that forced the other provinces into negotiations on the Constitution. It was Quebec that kept the Trudeau Liberals in power, each time with an increased Quebec majority. Mr. Trudeau was Quebec's most respected leader when he resolved to bring the Constitution home. He'd been elected in 1980 with 74 of Quebec's 75 seats.

Mr. Trudeau's constant objective was to guarantee French schools throughout the country. The French-speaking minorities were to be the single greatest beneficiaries of the Charter.

Ultimately, the other premiers were forced to choose between two Quebeckers. After long supporting their fellow premier, when he turned his back on them by accepting a proposal to put the question to a referendum, they finally rallied to the one of the two willing to make compromises: Pierre Trudeau.

He delivered what had been the fondest hope of Henri Bourassa and Lionel Groulx: French education from coast to coast. But tribalists prefer a scenario that demonizes English-speaking Canadians.

wjohnson@globeandmail.ca