Origin
Quebec is not explicitly declared distinct in the Constitution of Canada, however constitutional scholar Peter Hogg argues that several parts of the Constitution already indicate Quebec has distinctiveness that should be reflected in law. Canadian federalism itself, bilingualism in the federal and Quebec legislatures, educational rights, and the acknowledgment of the importance of Roman Catholicism in Quebec were cited as examples.
The term "distinct society" was invented as a description for Quebec by Jean Lesage, the Provincial Premier from 1960 to 1966. In addition to using this terminology, Lesage also advocated that Quebec's special status to be recognized in the Constitution, which presaged the constitutional amendments later proposed in the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords. Lesage did not achieve his desired constitutional amendment as premier.
Quebec was also referred to as a distinct society by the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism.
Read more about this topic: Distinct Society
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