Canadian Attitudes Towards Quebec Independence

Abstract

The coming to power of the Parti Quebecois in Quebec has focused much attention on the climate of opinion in Quebec and the rest of Canada, particularly with the prospect of a future referendum on independence. Using data from a national election study and from recent public opinion polls in Quebec, this article examines the strength and stability of support for independence in Quebec and of electoral support for the Parti Quebecois which led to its victory. The data suggest that support for the Parti Quebecois is neither a transient phenomenon nor unrelated to support for independence, which has remained relatively constant over a number of years. Finding that support for both independence and the Parti Quebecois is highest among younger, better educated respondents, and that it relates to fundamental attitudes toward the country, the article hypothesizes that the struggle for independence in Quebec is likely to be a protracted one whose outcome is as yet uncertain. Lawrence LeDuc is Professor of Political Science, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario. POQ 41(1977) 347-355 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.123 on Mon, 18 Jul 2016 05:09:46 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms