The PQ was formed in 1968 by the merger of the Mouvement Souveraineté-Association and the Ralliement national (Columbia Encyclopedia). The goal of the PQ was to obtain political, economic and social autonomy for the province of Quebec. From René Lévesque to the party's current leader, Pauline Marois, the Parti Québécois has been in power five times, once as a minority and four times as a majority government (Columbia Encyclopedia). The PQ has done a lot for Quebec in the short time it has been in power. They helped Quebec rely less on the Canadian government, becoming more independent. The PQ and future members helped Quebec's economy by urbanizing Quebec and ushering in an era of megaprojects. The PQ introduced policies such as Bill 22 and Bill 101 to help Quebec's francophone population feel less alienated in their own province. It is for these three reasons that this essay will argue that PQ has helped Quebec become a better place for francophones. “Vive le Quebec libre!” -Charles de Gaulle. The French president shouts in his speech at Expo 67. De Gaulle's speech gave further public credibility to the Quebec Independence Movement and gave Quebec citizens the impression that independence is not so ridiculous after all (Canadian Encyclopedia) . In 1969, the FLQ intensified its violent efforts and claimed responsibility for the Montreal stock exchange bombing, the kidnapping of the British trade commissioner, and the killing of Quebec's labor minister (Harold Waller). Jacques Parizeau or René Levesque never resorted to violence in an attempt to gain Quebec independence; they strove to become independent using only diplomatic channels (Fraser, Graham). The Parti Québécois has led Quebecers through unsuccessful referendums t...... half of the document ......f Quebec is forced to take a new slice]." CBC Radio (2009): Canadian Reference Center. Web . 1 January 2014."De Gaulle and "Vive le Québec Libre"." Canadian Cyclopedia, nd Web 14 January 2014. .Fraser, Graham and Ivon Owen and the Parti québécois in power. Print.Lévesque, René Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1986. Print.Godin, Pierre Lévesque: Boréal, 1994-2005. Print.Duclos, Louis Pierre Elliott Trudeau." globoandmail.com - Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Np, 4 February 2006. Web. 15 January 2014.Bain, Colin M.. Making History: The Story of Canada in the Twentieth Century. Toronto: Prentice Hall, 2000. Print.
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