English‐speaking Québec and the Canadian constitution: 1867–1988

Abstract

Abstract In 1867, at the foundation of Canada as a nation the English‐speaking peoples of Quebec constituted some 25% of the population of the province. They were also politically and economically powerful in Canada as a whole, and they had a strong cultural identity, being mostly from England, Scotland, and Ireland. This position of strength was reflected in the provision for the minority language community of the province in the British North America Act. But now in the 1980s they constitute only 10% of the population of the province, their political and economic power is greatly diminished, and their cultural and religious identity no longer obvious. Moreover, on account of changed social conditions some of the safeguards achieved in earlier legislation are no longer meaningful or effective.