Parti de la Liberté de Choix

The Parti de la Liberté de Choix (English: Freedom of Choice Party) was a political party in the Canadian province of Quebec. Focused on anglophone rights issues, it ran candidates in provincial elections from 1979 to 1982.

The party should not be confused with the Freedom of Choice Movement, a separate group that also promoted anglophone rights issues in Quebec.[1]

History

Quebec journalist William Johnson wrote in May 1979 that the party had unclear origins and was difficult to research, but that it seemed to have been founded by Armour Forse in either 1978 or 1979. Forse, a dentist originally from Nova Scotia, was a vocal opponent of Quebec's Charter of the French Language (aka Bill 101), which he described as a racist law. Forse supported linguistic freedom in education, work, and other spheres of life; as such, he opposed the Quebec government's efforts to promote the status the French language.

Johnson wrote that the party seemed to be an extension of Forse's political ambitions and was unlikely to achieve a breakthrough; while it claimed to represent both anglophones and francophones, it was in reality an anglophone party that could not put out proper French translations of its literature.[2] It is not clear if Forse remained involved with the party after its formative period.

A 1985 article in the Ottawa Citizen described Freedom of Choice as an "ultra-right anglophone party," noting that its candidate in Pontiac during the 1981 provincial election had proposed shifting the region from Quebec to Ontario.[3]

William Shaw, a former member of the National Assembly of Quebec who was focused on anglophone rights issues, led the Freedom of Choice Party in 1985.[4]

Electoral history

David DeJong ran for the National Assembly of Quebec in a 1978 by-election, as an independent candidate on a "freedom of choice" platform. The actual party seems not to have existed at this time. Forse and DeJong apparently met during the by-election and considered joining forces, but did not do so.[5] It is not known whether DeJong had any subsequent involvement with the party.

The Freedom of Choice Party made its electoral debut in 1979, running candidates in two Quebec by-elections. The candidates appeared on the ballot as "without designation," as their party was not yet registered. Both fared poorly.[6] Freedom of Choice later fielded twelve candidates in the 1981 provincial election and one candidate in a 1982 by-election.[7] It appears to have folded shortly before the 1985 provincial election.

In the late 1980s, former party leader William Shaw became involved with the newly formed Equality Party, which was also focused on anglophone rights issues.[8]

Candidates

1981 election

Brome—Missisquoi: Blair McIntosh

Blair McIntosh received 289 votes (1.14%), finishing fourth against Liberal Party incumbent Pierre Paradis.[9] A few years after the election, McIntosh attempted to have a speeding ticket dismissed on the grounds that part of the court summons was written in French only. He argued that his home community of Lennoxville was recognized as bilingual under the French Language Charter and hence had an "obligation to provide fundamental services in both languages." The presiding judge disagreed, noting that the language law did not apply to the judicial system and that the ticket was written in both languages.[10]

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References
  1. "Our mistake," Globe and Mail, 31 October 1981, p. 2.
  2. William Johnson, "Confused party likely going nowhere," Globe and Mail, 1 May 1979, p. 8.
  3. Jack Aubry, "Anglophone Pontiac farmers ready to vote PQ," Ottawa Citizen, 12 November 1985, B3.
  4. Don Macpherson, "Anglos: here's your chance," Montreal Gazette, 5 July 1985, B3.
  5. "Liberal terms by-election win big PQ defeat," Globe and Mail, 6 July 1978, p. 1; William Johnson, "Confused party likely going nowhere," Globe and Mail, 1 May 1979, p. 8.
  6. Ian Rodgers, "Big Liberal by-election victory surprises observers in Quebec," Globe and Mail, 2 May 1979, p. 10.
  7. "526 file before election deadline," Globe and Mail, 30 March 1981, p. 10.
  8. Charlie Fidelman, "Equality party signs up 147 at meeting in Pointe Claire," Montreal Gazette, 27 April 1994, G12.
  9. Official Results, Le Directeur général des élections du Québec, accessed 24 December 2010.
  10. "French summons OK in bilingual town," Montreal Gazette, 27 January 1988, A5.
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