Racism in Quebec refers to the attitudes, judgments, and discriminatory actions based on race, ethnicity, or nationality that have taken place and continue to manifest in the province of Quebec, Canada. Throughout history, the interactions between English-speaking, French-speaking communities, and Indigenous peoples, as well as the immigration of various ethnic groups, has led to the formation of racial tensions and conflicts at different times. Often, this matter in Quebec has been downplayed as isolated incidents.
The Angus Reid Institute and the University of British Columbia conducted a research series in 2021 to illuminate attitudes toward diversity and racism in Canada. They found that only 9% of Quebecers, compared to 12% of Canadians and 14% of Ontarians, believe that some races are superior to others.
History
In Quebec, as elsewhere, racism has gone beyond theories and manifested in tangible situations, such as in the workplace, housing, and in police interventions. During the 19th century and later the 20th century, racism was openly organized into theories and ideologies. Although there are still racist voices within extremist groups and scientistic circles today, most forms of racism are more subtle and often denied. Most people no longer openly admit to being racist.
In the Canadian historical context, the identity of the Métis has been interpreted in various ways in relation to Québécois identity. At certain times, there was a trend to link the history of the Métis with Québécois identity, presenting the Métis within the framework of the Québécois experience.
Louis Riel, a central figure in Métis history, has often been portrayed in contexts that highlight tensions between English-speaking Canada and the Francophone community, rather than focusing exclusively on Métis experience and culture.
The identity retreat of French-speaking Quebecers can be seen as the foundation for a certain ethnocentrism. Aiming to maintain group homogeneity means that newcomers face a binary choice: assimilate or be excluded. For a long time, immigration in Quebec was perceived as a demographic strategy by the dominant Anglo-Saxon group to emphasize the minority status of French speakers. Expressions of intolerance and rejection, though not insignificant, remain diffused amongst various elements of Québécois culture, political structure, and society. Based on the structure proposed by M. Wieviorka, racism in Quebec is classifiable as a "scattered racism." This can manifest as "infraracism," which is less structured and might arise in the form of prejudices rather than genuine racist attitudes, or it can be more defined and evident in social life or the public space.
While Quebec has had a history of racist groups, these have been less numerous and less organized than in other parts of Canada. They were especially active during the economic recession of 1980–1995, and the influence members of these groups might have within established political formations is concerning.
In 1960, there were shifts in how French-Canadian identity was perceived, and as a result, a more defined Québécois identity emerged. During this period of redefinition, some identities, including those of English speakers and Indigenous peoples, weren't always prominently addressed in public discussions.
Colonialism
Records of slavery exist in various areas that later became part of Canada, dating back to the th century. The majority of Canadian slaves were Indigenous, and owned by English Loyalists. Subsequently, English Loyalists brought slaves from the United States. Marie-Joseph Angélique was one of the most known slaves of New France (today's Quebec). While pregnant, she set her mistress's house on fire either for revenge or to distract from her escape. She fled with the father of her child, who was also a black slave owned by another master. The fire she started ended up burning part of Montreal and a large part of Hôtel-Dieu. She was later caught and sentenced to death. The Indian Act of 1876, which set up reservations for Indigenous people in the territory of Quebec on the behalf of Alexander Mackenzie's English Liberal Party of Canada, has been debated in terms of its colonial implications. This act has been interpreted by some as a way to perpetuate a colonial relationship with the First Nations in Canada. In Quebec, some politically partisan blogs argue that the Canadian state has not adequately recognized its right to self-determination. There have also been mentions that federal immigration policies may have discriminatory elements, though these claims are debated. For a significant number of racialized minorities in Quebec, there exists a real situation of socioeconomic marginalization and tension. For about two decades, community groups have routinely estimated the unemployment rate among visible minorities, doubling the official figures for the general population. Their estimates have proven to be surprisingly accurate.
In November 2001, there is a 15% unemployment rate in certain youth categories; for equivalent categories of minority youth, the rate exceeds 30%. While other factors might influence this figure, the marginalization resulting from this situation is exacerbated by its visibility, creating a significant risk of deviations and giving rise to emerging neo-racist currents. The table below presents a series of significant events and policies related to interethnic relations, racism, and immigration in Quebec and Canada, from the year 1701 to 2009. The events covered include government actions, social crises, and political decisions that have influenced the country's multicultural dynamics.
Year(s) Interethnic Policies, Racism, and Immigration in Quebec and Canada 1701 France, along with 39 native tribes, come to a peaceful agreement in Montreal to put an end to their hostilities. 1709 Ownership of slaves is legalized in New France following a directive by IntendentJacques Raudot. Even though the early 17th century saw the practice under the Code Noir (implemented by France in 1685), it persisted in Quebec under British rule until 1833. 1759 The British conquest of Quebec's sees the British ruling over a French populace that outnumbers them five to one. 1816–51 The initial significant influx of settlers to Canada witnesses around a million British, Scottish, and Irish people arriving in places like Quebec City, Montreal, and other ports on the Atlantic coast. 1839 Lord Durham suggests in his review of British North American matters that boosting British migration to Canada would speed up the process of culturally and linguistically blending the French Canadians into the majority. 1879–1914 Measures like the Dominion Land Act (providing free land in 1872), John A. Macdonald's National Policy (introduced in 1879), and the Sifton Plan (started in 1896) make up Canada's grand strategy to promote migration. The aim is to populate western Canada, establish farming communities, get cheap labor for Ontario and Quebec's industries, build the national railroad, and lay down the country's foundational infrastructure. 1880–5 Canada's migration rules begin to place limits on migration from Asia (chiefly by Chinese and Japanese) by setting quotas, imposing levies, and later banning them outright (this is seen with legislation in 1908 affecting Japanese immigrants and the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923). 1874–9 Economic downturns prompt a considerable number of French Canadians to seek better prospects in the US. From 1880 to 1890, about 150,000 (representing 11.3% of Quebec's residents) left Canada. From 1840 to 1930, the total number heading south reached a million. 1923 In the aftermath of World War I, the central Canadian government enacts the Empire Settlement Act to keep pushing for western development via immigration. 1939–45 As World War II rages on, Canada turns away numerous Jews fleeing from the horrors of Nazism. After Japan enters the conflict, Canadians with Japanese ancestry face internment in work camps or expulsion, and their belongings are seized. 1946–61 A notable influx of immigrants from Italy and Britain arrive in Quebec. 1947 The inaugural Federal Citizenship Act bestows the "Canadian Citizen" designation, though it still emphasizes ethnic-based national identity and the significance of cultural consistency. 1952 The Immigration Act is enacted, offering a blueprint for handling immigration and providing substantial authority to immigration officials. Entry and exclusion specifications remain ambiguous. 1956 A federally mandated preference system for immigrant ethnicities emerges. Priority is given to immigrants from the Commonwealth and Northern Europe, followed by a ranking of other regions, with Asia and Africa receiving the least preference. 1962 Updated policies abolish preferential treatment for applicants from Britain, France, or the US, focusing instead on educational background, job prospects, and vocational qualifications. 1967 All discriminatory immigration policies are eradicated. 1968 The "St Leonard" educational upheaval occurs when a Montreal suburb school board moves to replace bilingual classes with French-only instruction. This year also marks the establishment of the initial Quebec Immigration Ministry (MIQ). 1971 Canada gives the nod to its Multiculturalism Policy. 1975 Quebec enshrines the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, positioning fundamental citizens' rights above other laws. 1977 The Charter of the French Language (Bill 101) is enacted, linking immigrant integration to the province's prevalent public language. 1982 The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms gets incorporated into the Canadian Constitution, with multiculturalism being a key component. 1986 The Federal Employment Equity Act comes into force, coining the term "visible minority" and compelling federally regulated enterprises to ensure equity for specific groups, including women, visible minorities, and Indigenous communities. 1988 The Canadian Multiculturalism Act is enacted. 1990 The Gagnon-Tremblay–McDougall Agreement, also knowns as the Canada-Quebec Accord endows Quebec with exclusive rights over the assimilation and selection of "independent" immigrants. Additionally, Quebec adopts the Declaration on Immigration and Integration Policy, later refreshed in 2004. The year also witnesses the Oka Crisis – a three-month tug of war involving the Mohawk nation of Kanesatake and the Quebec and Canadian governments over land rights. 2005 The "Canada Action Plan Against Racism" receives federal approval. 2006–2008 The era of "Reasonable accommodation" unfolds. On 8 February 2007, the Bouchard-Taylor Commission is inaugurated and releases its conclusive report on 19 May 2008. October 2008 Quebec unveils the "Diversity: An Added Value" policy, aiming to ensure all citizens participate in Quebec's growth by countering discrimination on several fronts. September 2009 Bill 16, promoting administrative action regarding cultural diversity, is presented but meets immediate opposition. Source: University of Montreal
Residential schools in Quebec in the 19th and 20th centuries
With the aim of civilizing and Christianizing the Indigenous populations, the English Federal Liberal Party of Canada developed a system of 'industrial schools' in the 19th century that combined academic studies with "more practical matters." Schools for Indigenous peoples began to emerge in the 1840s.
From 1879, these schools followed the model of the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania, whose motto was: "Kill the Indian, save the man." English Canadians believed that the most effective weapon to "kill the Indian" in them was to remove children from their villages, hence Indigenous children were taken away from their homes, parents, families, friends, and communities.