National Federation of Canadian University Students - The Influence of Quebec Syndicalism

The Influence of Quebec Syndicalism

Tensions with French Canadian students inside NFCUS became apparent by 1961. The student society at the Université de Montréal (Association général des étudiants de l’Université de Montréal, AGEUM) had adopted a manifesto entitled “Charte de l’étudiant universitaire,” which declared students as intellectual workers, which could and should be catalysts for social change. Thus, student syndicalism became a distinct attribute of Quebec students. At this time NFCUS was still careful not to engage in politics outside of student issues. Also, the “Quiet Revolution” in Quebec, which secularized Quebec society and divided Quebec politics along federalist and nationalist lines, had major influences on Quebec’s students. In 1962, at the NFCUS national Congress, an English document, which mirrored the “Charte de l’étudiant universitaire”, was introduced, however most English delegates were against it and it did not pass. Also in 1962, Quebec students began to organize themselves into the Union générale des étudiants du Québec (UGEQ), which caused considerable distress amongst members of NFCUS.

It was the influence of student syndicalism in France and Quebec that helped change NFCUS into a student movement and less of a service and single-issue lobby group. At the 1963 NFCUS Congress, NFCUS’ name was changed to Canadian Union of Students (CUS), in order to recognize Quebec’s unique status. CUS also became a French and English organization, instituted a bi-national veto in its constitution, and adopted an agreement to cease lobbying the federal government. However, by 1964, this arrangement fell apart and many of Quebec’s universities pulled out of CUS in order to join the UGEQ, which had been officially created that year. Quebec students were more interested in provincial politics and felt CUS’ bias towards lobbying of the federal government conflicted with their nationalist orientation.