An Option For Quebec

Devant les interrogations du moment au sujet du référendum, les députés péquistes Jean-Pierre Charbonneau et Gilbert Paquette ont voulu éclairer le peuple québécois en élaborant une "synthèse explicative" en deux volets. Ils exposent d'abord les fondements du problème canadien en précisant les aspirations des Québécois ainsi que leurs griefs à l'endroit du régime fédéral. Dans la dernière partie intitulée "Vers un nouveau régime politique", ils décrivent en détail les structures politiques de la nouvelle association Québec-Canada. Une section de soixante-dix pages traite spécifiquement du référendum. L'ouvrage met en oeuvre une ample documentation.

Provides a thorough review of existing literature, analysis of comparative cases of peaceful secession, assessment of constitutional options for Canada without Quebec, and a detailed set of scenarios on how the transition to sovereignty might occur and the implications of the separation for the long-term future of both Canada and Quebec. Published with the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations at Queen's University. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This psycho-social examination of the Quebecois separatist movement is based on extensive interviews with a variety of persons. Its surprising results include the discovery that a desire for economic improvement or enhanced political power rarely motivates participation in the movement.

Quebec’s most recent attempts to assert its distinctiveness within Canada have relied on unilateral constitutional means to strengthen its French and secular character, suggesting that an important change of political culture has taken place in Quebec. With its diverse team of researchers, Contemporary Federalist Thought in Quebec considers the recent history of the debate that once threatened Canada with disjunction, exploring the federalist thought that continues to shape constitutional debate in Quebec. Examining historical perspectives from 1950 to the present day, the volume draws portraits of the key actors in the federalist movement – including political leaders, intellectuals, academics, activists, and spokespersons for pressure groups – comparing their various outlooks, interventions, and values, and examining the ties that bind these actors to the sense of nationalism that emerged during Quebec’s Quiet Revolution. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, Contemporary Federalist Thought in Quebec casts new light on the continuing debate surrounding Quebec’s place in Canada and gives nuance to what is traditionally conceived as a rigid opposition between sovereigntists and federalists in the province.