Pur et dur
Encyclopedia
Pur et dur is a term used in Quebec politics
to refer to hardliners of the Parti Québécois
and the Quebec independence movement
. It is most commonly used in the media, where it was popularized. It is also used to criticize some members of the Parti Québécois
. Some within the party resent the use of the term by the media, but some have embraced it. It is similar to the term "SNP fundamentalist
", used in Scotland politics for a faction of the Scottish National Party
, another pro-independence party.
Many of the first "purs et durs" came from the Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale
who, through entryism
, joined the Parti Québécois
in the early days of the 1960s. They are associated with strong opinions about independence (including the need to attain it quickly, the question of an eventual supranational union, or "sovereignty-association", and the question of the "étapisme
" approach) and language protection (see Charter of the French Language
). Some also criticize the party for not being social democratic
enough.
These militants have famously made the leadership of the Parti Québécois a test and daunting task. The media has tied the resignation of every former PQ leader except Jacques Parizeau
to the disapproval of the "pur et dur", especially in the case of Pierre-Marc Johnson
. Parizeau, a former Premier of Quebec
, has sometimes been portrayed as "pur et dur".
Two notable exceptions are Guy Bertrand and Gilles Grégoire
. Both are founding members of the Parti Québécois
, but have (or had) come to be disowned by the purs et durs.
Bertrand was called, by René Lévesque
, an "ayatollah
in bedroom slippers," mostly because of his vigorous attempts get the PQ to declare unilateral independence. He later wrote that an "intolerant, ethnocentric, egocentric" Québécois nationalism has been the bane of Quebec and Canada. A skilled lawyer, he has taken his anti-separatism cause to court several times.
Gilles Grégoire was a founding member and elected to the National Assembly
twice, but was cast out when he was convicted of having sex with minor girls and sentenced to jail. He died in 2006.
Politics of Quebec
The politics of Quebec are centred on a provincial government resembling that of the other Canadian provinces, namely a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The capital of the province is Quebec City, where the Lieutenant Governor, Premier, the legislature, and cabinet reside.The...
to refer to hardliners of the Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
and the Quebec independence movement
Quebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
. It is most commonly used in the media, where it was popularized. It is also used to criticize some members of the Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
. Some within the party resent the use of the term by the media, but some have embraced it. It is similar to the term "SNP fundamentalist
SNP fundamentalist
The fundamentalist ideology within the Scottish National Party is the belief that the SNP should emphasise its policy of Scottish independence more widely in order to achieve it...
", used in Scotland politics for a faction of the Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
, another pro-independence party.
Many of the first "purs et durs" came from the Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale
Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale
The Rassemblement pour l'Indépendance Nationale was a political organization dedicated to the promotion of Quebec national independence from Canada.-History:...
who, through entryism
Entryism
Entryism is a political tactic by which an organisation or state encourages its members or agents to infiltrate another organisation in an attempt to gain recruits, or take over entirely...
, joined the Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
in the early days of the 1960s. They are associated with strong opinions about independence (including the need to attain it quickly, the question of an eventual supranational union, or "sovereignty-association", and the question of the "étapisme
Étapisme
Étapisme is the term for a strategy for independence dominant in the Parti Québécois since 1974. It is associated with the figure of Claude Morin, who convinced Parti Québécois leader René Lévesque and eventually a majority of party delegates to adopt its principles...
" approach) and language protection (see Charter of the French Language
Charter of the French Language
The Charter of the French Language , also known as Bill 101 and Loi 101, is a law in the province of Quebec in Canada defining French, the language of the majority of the population, as the only official language of Quebec, and framing fundamental language rights for everyone in the province...
). Some also criticize the party for not being social democratic
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
enough.
These militants have famously made the leadership of the Parti Québécois a test and daunting task. The media has tied the resignation of every former PQ leader except Jacques Parizeau
Jacques Parizeau
Jacques Parizeau, is an economist and noted Quebec sovereignist who was the 26th Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec from September 26, 1994 to January 29, 1996.-Early life and career:...
to the disapproval of the "pur et dur", especially in the case of Pierre-Marc Johnson
Pierre-Marc Johnson
Pierre-Marc Johnson, , is a Quebec lawyer, physician and politician. He was the 24th Premier of Quebec from October 3 to December 12, 1985.- Early background :...
. Parizeau, a former Premier of Quebec
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
, has sometimes been portrayed as "pur et dur".
Examples
These are people having been portrayed by some as purs et durs, while this "status" is debatable.- Paul BéginPaul BéginPaul Bégin is a former Quebec politician and Cabinet Minister. Member of the Parti Québecois, he served as the province's Justice Minister from 1994 to 1997 and from 2001 to 2002....
- Patrick Bourgeois
- Pierre BourgaultPierre BourgaultPierre Bourgault was a French Canadian politician and essayist of Breton origin, as well as an actor and journalist from Quebec, Canada. He is most famous as a public speaker who advocated sovereignty for Quebec from Canada.- Profile :Bourgault was born in East Angus in the Estrie region of Quebec...
- André Joli-Coeur
- Robert Laplante
- Josée LegaultJosée LegaultJosée Legault is a Canadian journalist. She is currently a political columnist for the English-language Montreal, Quebec newspaper The Gazette...
- Yves MichaudYves MichaudYves Michaud is a prominent Quebec public figure, a sovereignist and pur et dur supporter of the Parti Québécois.-Background:...
- Jacques ParizeauJacques ParizeauJacques Parizeau, is an economist and noted Quebec sovereignist who was the 26th Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec from September 26, 1994 to January 29, 1996.-Early life and career:...
- Robin PhilpotRobin PhilpotRobin Philpot is a Quebec journalist and electoral candidate for the Parti Québécois.- Background :Originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, where his father Roderick Philpot was an alderman of the city of Fort William, Philpot is a graduate of Fort William Collegiate Institute and earned degrees in...
- Jean-Claude St-AndréJean-Claude St-AndréJean-Claude St-André is a Quebec provincial politician and the Member of the National Assembly of Quebec representing L'Assomption for the Parti Québécois....
- Pierre FalardeauPierre FalardeauPierre Falardeau was a Quebec film and documentary director, pamphleteer and noted activist for Quebec independence.-Profile:Falardeau studied anthropology at university and he taught that subject for a brief period...
Two notable exceptions are Guy Bertrand and Gilles Grégoire
Gilles Grégoire
Gilles Grégoire was a co-founder of the Parti Québécois.Born in Quebec City, the son of Joseph-Ernest Grégoire, he was elected in 1962 to the House of Commons with the Ralliement des créditistes...
. Both are founding members of the Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
, but have (or had) come to be disowned by the purs et durs.
Bertrand was called, by René Lévesque
René Lévesque
René Lévesque was a reporter, a minister of the government of Quebec, , the founder of the Parti Québécois political party and the 23rd Premier of Quebec...
, an "ayatollah
Ayatollah
Ayatollah is a high ranking title given to Usuli Twelver Shī‘ah clerics. Those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in Islamic seminaries. The next lower clerical rank is Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin...
in bedroom slippers," mostly because of his vigorous attempts get the PQ to declare unilateral independence. He later wrote that an "intolerant, ethnocentric, egocentric" Québécois nationalism has been the bane of Quebec and Canada. A skilled lawyer, he has taken his anti-separatism cause to court several times.
Gilles Grégoire was a founding member and elected to the National Assembly
National Assembly
National Assembly is either a legislature, or the lower house of a bicameral legislature in some countries. The best known National Assembly, and the first legislature to be known by this title, was that established during the French Revolution in 1789, known as the Assemblée nationale...
twice, but was cast out when he was convicted of having sex with minor girls and sentenced to jail. He died in 2006.
See also
- SNP fundamentalistSNP fundamentalistThe fundamentalist ideology within the Scottish National Party is the belief that the SNP should emphasise its policy of Scottish independence more widely in order to achieve it...
- Quebec sovereignty movementQuebec sovereignty movementThe Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
- Quebec nationalismQuebec nationalismQuebec nationalism is a nationalist movement in the Canadian province of Quebec .-1534–1774:Canada was first a french colony. Jacques Cartier claimed it for France in 1534, and permanent French settlement began in 1608. It was part of New France, which constituted all French colonies in North America...
- Quebecois (word)
- pure lainePure laineThe French term pure laine literally meaning pure wool , is a politically and culturally charged phrase referring to the people having original ancestry of the French-Canadians...