Cartier and Confederation: Cartier and Confederation: Knowledge and Knowledge and

Commemoration Commemoration

Jack JedwabJack JedwabAssociation for Canadian Studies Association for Canadian Studies

September 2014September 2014

Methodology Methodology The Association for Canadian Studies The Association for Canadian Studies commissioned Leger Marketing to commissioned Leger Marketing to conduct an online survey of 1007 conduct an online survey of 1007 Quebecers between June 17Quebecers between June 17thth and 19 and 19thth, , 2014 and a second follow up 2014 and a second follow up oCanadians between July 8oCanadians between July 8thth and July and July 1010thth, 2014 , 2014

Cartier’s BirthdayCartier’s BirthdayIs there a party planned?Is there a party planned?

Next year there will be much attention and fanfare directed Next year there will be much attention and fanfare directed at the 200at the 200thth birthday of Sir John A. Macdonald. September birthday of Sir John A. Macdonald. September 66thth marks the 200 marks the 200thth birthday of George-Etienne Cartier birthday of George-Etienne Cartier (generally seem as the Quebec counterpart/founder to (generally seem as the Quebec counterpart/founder to Macdonald in the enactment of Confederation. Yet there is Macdonald in the enactment of Confederation. Yet there is little buzz about the event. The Government of Canada has little buzz about the event. The Government of Canada has identified it as a milestone on the road to Canada’s 150identified it as a milestone on the road to Canada’s 150thth anniversary. But that along with the 1864 Quebec anniversary. But that along with the 1864 Quebec Conference do not appear to be major points of historic Conference do not appear to be major points of historic reference in Quebec. On either event there is no need to reference in Quebec. On either event there is no need to break out the party hats and noisemakersbreak out the party hats and noisemakers

Canada’s 150Canada’s 150thth Look Look Ahead or Look Back? Ahead or Look Back?

As we shall observe below As we shall observe below Quebercers know little about the Quebercers know little about the Confederation arrangements or Confederation arrangements or Cartier. The road to the 150Cartier. The road to the 150thth provides an opportunity to fill some provides an opportunity to fill some of the void. But in the case of of the void. But in the case of Quebec there may be a tendency to Quebec there may be a tendency to mark the 150mark the 150thth by looking ahead by looking ahead rather than looking back. rather than looking back.

Largest plurality of Quebecers unaware of Largest plurality of Quebecers unaware of whether Confederation was a good deal whether Confederation was a good deal

The 1867 constitution was a good agreement for Quebec

Total Male Female 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 +Francoph

one

Non-francoph

one NET AGREE

31% 37% 25% 19% 25% 32% 24% 37% 45% 27% 47%

Strongly agree

10% 14% 6% 5% 7% 12% 8% 11% 13% 6% 23%

Somewhat agree

21% 23% 20% 14% 17% 20% 17% 26% 31% 21% 25%

NET DISAGREE

29% 34% 24% 29% 23% 27% 33% 32% 31% 34% 13%

Somewhat disagree

17% 17% 17% 19% 14% 18% 18% 17% 19% 20% 11%

Strongly disagree

12% 17% 7% 10% 9% 9% 15% 15% 12% 14% 2%

I don't know / I prefer not to answer

40% 28% 50% 52% 53% 42% 42% 31% 25% 39% 40%

Plurality of Quebecers think Quebec was an equal partner in Plurality of Quebecers think Quebec was an equal partner in Confederation but most under 35 simply don’t know Confederation but most under 35 simply don’t know

Quebec was a respected and equal partner in the 1867 Canadian Confederation

Total Male Female 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 +Francop

hone

Non-Francop

hone NET AGREE

37% 43% 31% 29% 22% 36% 33% 41% 53% 33% 52%

Strongly agree

15% 18% 11% 11% 11% 13% 10% 20% 21% 11% 28%

Somewhat agree

22% 25% 20% 19% 12% 22% 24% 22% 32% 22% 24%

NET DISAGREE

29% 33% 24% 28% 25% 29% 32% 33% 24% 31% 17%

Somewhat disagree

19% 21% 16% 21% 15% 22% 18% 23% 14% 19% 15%

Strongly disagree

10% 12% 8% 7% 11% 7% 14% 10% 10% 12% 1%

I don't know / I prefer not to answer

35% 24% 45% 42% 52% 35% 35% 25% 23% 35% 31%

More young Quebecers pick Trudeau than More young Quebecers pick Trudeau than Cartier when asked about the key figure in Cartier when asked about the key figure in Quebec’s entry into ConfederationQuebec’s entry into Confederation

Who is the key figure in Quebec's entry into Canadian Confederation?Quebec Total 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 + Franco Non-Franco

Louis Hippolyte Lafontaine

1% 3% 3% 1% 0% 0% 0% 1% 1%

George Etienne Cartier

11% 6% 14% 10% 6% 14% 17% 12% 11%

Louis Joseph Papineau

7% 2% 4% 6% 6% 6% 13% 8% 2%

John A. Macdonald

14% 15% 14% 10% 15% 15% 12% 12% 19%

Wilfrid Laurier

16% 10% 12% 8% 21% 25% 16% 17% 12%

Louis Saint Laurent

2% 0% 1% 2% 2% 1% 2% 1% 2%

Pierre Elliot Trudeau

9% 12% 12% 15% 9% 3% 4% 8% 10%

I don't know / I prefer not to answer

41% 51% 40% 48% 40% 36% 35% 41% 41%

Most Quebecers think the Constitution Most Quebecers think the Constitution recognizes the British and French as founding recognizes the British and French as founding peoplespeoples

Quebec

The 1867 Constitution recognized that Canada was founded by the British and French

Total 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 + FrancoNon-

FrancoNET AGREE

47% 42% 41% 49% 49% 45% 52% 44% 59%

Strongly agree

17% 13% 15% 20% 17% 16% 21% 14% 29%

Somewhat agree

30% 29% 26% 29% 32% 30% 31% 30% 30%

NET DISAGREE

20% 16% 26% 18% 18% 24% 20% 23% 11%

Somewhat disagree

15% 12% 18% 15% 13% 18% 14% 17% 9%

Strongly disagree

5% 4% 7% 2% 5% 6% 6% 6% 1%

I don't know / I prefer not to answer

32% 42% 33% 33% 32% 30% 28% 33% 30%

Those most attached to Canada are most likely to Those most attached to Canada are most likely to believe that the 1867 Constitution recognized that believe that the 1867 Constitution recognized that Canada was founded by British and FrenchCanada was founded by British and French

  Attachment to Canada

The 1867 Constitution recognized that Canada was founded by the British and French

Very attached

Somewhat attached

Not very attached

Not at all attached

Total

Strongly agree 29.5% 12.1% 6.2% 15.4% 17.3%Somewhat agree 28.0% 34.3% 28.3% 29.0% 29.8%Somewhat disagree 11.1% 13.6% 23.0% 18.1% 15.1%Strongly disagree 2.5% 2.8% 6.0% 17.3% 5.3%I don't know/ I prefer not to answer

28.9% 37.2% 36.4% 20.1% 32.4%

Those with the most knowledge of Quebec history are the Those with the most knowledge of Quebec history are the most likely to believe that the 1867 Constitution recognized most likely to believe that the 1867 Constitution recognized that Canada was founded by British and Frenchthat Canada was founded by British and French

I have a good knowledge of Quebec historyThe 1867 Constitution recognized that Canada was founded by the British and French

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

I don't know / I

prefer not to answer

Total

Strongly agree 35.3% 14.6% 10.3% 21.4% 0.00% 17.3%Somewhat agree 22.2% 35.6% 31.7% 15.5% 4.7% 29.8%Somewhat disagree 17.4% 16.6% 11.2% 5.9% 14.2% 15.1%strongly disagree 11.7% 4.8% 2.5% 0 2.1% 5.3%I don't know / I prefer not to answer

13.3% 28.2% 44.2% 57.1% 78.9% 32.4%

Those most knowledgeable about Quebec Those most knowledgeable about Quebec history are the most likely to choose Cartierhistory are the most likely to choose Cartier

I have a good knowledge of Quebec historyWhich is the key figure in Quebec's entry into Canadian Confederation?

Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree Total

Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine

1.3% 1.2% 0.5% 0% 1%

George-Etienne Cartier 27.7% 10.5% 3.2% 2.1% 11.4%Louis Joseph Papineau 7.2% 7.9% 3.8% 0% 6.6%John A. Macdonald 14.2% 15.6% 11.3% 8.0% 13.5%Wilfrid Laurier 16.5% 17.6% 14.3% 10.2% 16%Louis Saint Laurent 1.4% 1.7% 2.2% 0% 1.6%Pierre Elliot Trudeau 10.3% 8.3% 8.3% 16% 8.8%I don't know / I prefer not to answer

21.2% 37.0% 56.1% 63.6% 41%

Pride in Quebec doesn’t Pride in Quebec doesn’t imply knowledge of imply knowledge of QuebecQuebec

I am very proud of Quebec's historyWhich is the key figure in Quebec's entry into Canadian Confederation?

Strongly agree Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree Total

Louis Hippolyte Lafontaine

0.5% 1.2% 1.5% 2.9% 1%

George Etienne Cartier

13.2% 12.3% 9.8% 8.5% 11.5%

Louis Joseph Papineau 10.8% 5.6% 1.5% 0% 6.6%John A. Macdonald 15.5% 13.4% 13.5% 17.6% 13.5%Wilfrid Laurier 17.2% 18.3% 13.4% 8.9% 16.0%Louis Saint Laurent 3.3% 1.3% 0% 0% 1.0%Pierre Elliot Trudeau 4.6% 10.4% 9.4% 22.5% 8.8%I don't know / I prefer not to answer

35% 37.5% 50.6% 39.6% 41%

Quebecers far less likely to have Quebecers far less likely to have learned something about Confederation learned something about Confederation in high schoolin high school

I learned something about the 1867 Confederation in high schoolCanada Total Atlantic QC ON MB/SK AB BCNET AGREE

65% 73% 54% 70% 68% 66% 65%

Strongly agree

29% 35% 17% 32% 30% 41% 29%

Somewhat agree

36% 38% 37% 38% 38% 25% 36%

NET DISAGREE

23% 22% 36% 19% 20% 17% 16%

Somewhat disagree

12% 13% 20% 9% 13% 8% 9%

Strongly disagree

11% 8% 16% 10% 7% 9% 7%

I don't know/I prefer not to answer

12% 6% 10% 11% 12% 17% 18%

Quebecers agree that 150Quebecers agree that 150thth Anniversary Anniversary is an opportunity for governments is an opportunity for governments enhance public’s knowledge of historyenhance public’s knowledge of history

Quebec NET

AGREE Total 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 + Fr Non-

FrIn 2017 during the 150th anniversary of Canada the federal government should invest to help us learn more about our history

59% 53% 55% 59% 51% 57% 77% 56% 72%

In 2017 during the 150th anniversary of Canada the government of Quebec should invest to help us learn more about our history

61% 49% 53% 66% 55% 59% 75% 59% 66%