Evelyn Dumas

1’.

the CADRE ........ .21

‘ uébec 7

Stanley Ryerson is a Marxist historian and resides in Montreal. His latest book, 'Unequal Union’ is about to be translated into French. He is presently writing a book on Canadian nationalism.

The following, is a transcript of-part of a talk he gave at the conference on Quebec nationalism, ’The Other Solitude', held last June at Glendon College.

I’d like to talk about the unchanging elite structures in Quebec. Although there are changes going on in Quebec, and they are terrificaslly important, it would be a massive illusion to think that the ‘reVolution tranquille’ which was not so ‘tranquille’ was a revolution.

Or that the ancient elites whose background goes back to a gentlemen’s agreement called the Quebec Act, have been overthrown by an insurgent people.

The de-mystification of ‘la revolution tranquille’ is in a sense relating to the problem of tie-mystifying a certain aura of publicity that we experience - for example, a canidate for the prime ministership mingled with shoppers in plazas. That suggestion of participa— tion was perhaps intended to imply that things were really changing - even though Dominion stores continued to be owned by Argus Corporation which in turn is.

Two anglophones l

elites and dissentin

Evelyn Dumas has been a frequent contributor to 'Canadian Dimension’. 'Le Devoir’, and the ‘Montreal Star'. She has been on the Quebec labour scene for eight years, and knows her field well.

The following is an edited version of a talk she gave the

same Quebec conference, from which the above Ryerson transcript was taken.

The word nationalism in relation to Quebec is a very confusing term. It runs all the way from the FLQ ter- rorist to the person who puts Quebec first and foremost.

This confusion over what nationalism means is a major

political problem today.

Someone who defines the problems of Quebec in terms of the majority there being French Canadian has one step into the ‘house of nationalism’.

The nationalism in the trade unions in confused by the fact that there are two legitimate unions — the Quebec Federation of Labour and the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN). The latter defines itself as a coast to coast organization. In fact they are oper- ating almost exclusively in Quebec.

These organizations have several levels'within these groups. There is the top leadership who act as official spokesmen; there’s the staff level; the federation level and finally, the-re are the workers.

If it’s one thing that I have learned from eight years of reporting on the labour scene, it’s that no one has the right to say what the workers think. They make up close to 80 per cent of the population and it is fair to

controlled by Edward Plunket Bayview Avenue.

While there is fermentation, lenge, my argument would be t block of ‘la classe mercantil elites which joined forces int period, is still in power and o

The kind of changes that ‘ha the framework of the system. direction of urbanization from Quebec now has been to for per cent urban. This is a s modernization with the strea education and business institut within the framework of a busi

What is new and what is chan structure of Quebec has basica modernization has come a que the social order, and the ancie established in 1760, modified 1 after the 1837 rebellion, 1867- This has taken place und tion in a sort of ‘examen de c nada, which was precipitated tation’ in Quebec.

Whether the problems in Q sense of ‘la nation Quebécoise qui a sa vie et son étre en fran of departure.

assume that there are as that among them as among other them all into one group.

Looking at different levels 0 I think we should look at the powerful unionising drive whic It included a great number which is something new. In C per cent of the white collar Quebec, teachers, hospital were organized for the first organizations were revitalized.

The civil service leaders more emphasis on nationalist' blue collar workers. So, when lem of nationalism Quebec asa they are covering over the act groups as Hydro Quebec and .t

On the part of the blue colla tended to be quite wary of natio nationalism had been more of - and his political capital of re Ottawa. 1 '

So, there was a natural relu to use any form of nationalis the Quebec Federation of Labo those people such as Emile B to achieve what is now taken tive autonomy from the Can were branded as separatists. taken for granted, and is an i that has occured. '