Two Solitudes: Quebecers' Attitudes Regarding Canadian Security and Defence Policy

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the “conventional wisdom” of an anti-military sentiment
present in the province of Québec which allegedly shapes Canadian defence policy. The results
support the conventional wisdom and three dimensions emerge. First, a review of the historical
and sociological literature shows that the historical differences of French Canadians on defence
issues have their roots in the Loyalist-Nationalist divide in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries;
French-Canadians perceived that English Canadians were too quick to support foreign British
interests then; and American interests now. The second dimension emerges regarding media
coverage: while generally inconclusive, an exploratory analysis tends to support the notion that
defence issues are not covered as frequently in francophone newspapers. Finally, an
examination of several polls since WWII shows that Quebecers are consistently more likely to
support pacific conflict resolution and the United Nations, and to oppose defence spending.