Editing Federalism in Quebec (section)

== Ideological branches ==
While the usual denomination for all followers is simply ''federalist'', two main branches can be sketched out.

=== Quebec nationalist federalism and autonomism ===
{{Main|Autonomism in Quebec}}
Federalist Quebec nationalists defend the concept of Quebec remaining within [[Canada]], while pursuing greater [[Autonomous entity|autonomy]] and [[distinct society|national recognition]] for Quebec within the Canadian federation. This approach to national unity has a long tradition within Canadian federalism that in some respects can be traced back to the compromises of the 19th century that were essential to the unification of Upper and Lower Canada and eventually Confederation.

The ''[[Union Nationale (Quebec)|Union Nationale]]'' under [[Maurice Duplessis]] (1930s to 1950s) was nationalist without explicitly calling for independence, prior to the arrival of [[Daniel Johnson, Sr.]] as leader. The ''[[Parti libéral du Québec]]'' represented a progressive, left-leaning variety of federalist nationalism throughout the [[Jean Lesage|Lesage]] and [[Robert Bourassa|Bourassa]] eras (1960s to 1990s). However, since the failures of the [[Meech Lake Accord|Meech Lake]] and [[Charlottetown Accord|Charlottetown]] accords, and the [[1995 Quebec referendum]] on independence, the party has had no defining plan for official national recognition, albeit in general the Party has taken many stances in favour of autonomy and [[self-determination]].

Recently, the Université de Montréal political philosopher [[Charles Blattberg]] has put forward a series of arguments aimed at integrating [[Quebec|Québécois]] nationalism within a renewed [[Canadian federalism]], one that recognizes Canada's multi-national character.<ref>{{cite book | author =Charles Blattberg | author-link =Charles Blattberg | title =Shall We Dance? A Patriotic Politics for Canada | year =2003 | publisher =McGill-Queen's University Press | location =Montreal | isbn =0-7735-2547-5}}<br />
{{cite book | author =Charles Blattberg | author-link =Charles Blattberg | title =Et si nous dansions? Pour une politique du bien commun au Canada | year =2004 | publisher =Les Presses de l'Université de Montréal | location =Montréal | isbn =2-7606-1948-6|language=fr}}</ref>

The centre-right, autonomist and Quebec nationalist [[Coalition Avenir Québec]] or CAQ, led by former PQ cabinet minister [[Francois Legault]], is now opposed to sovereignty but takes a moderate nationalist approach to identity and favours strongly a primary role for Quebec in its internal affairs. Its predecessor, the more radical right of centre, economic liberal, [[Action démocratique du Québec]], or ADQ, of Mario Dumont took a similar stance after abandoning Quebec sovereignty to favouring of making Quebec of granting [[Autonomism (political doctrine)|political autonomy]] status within Canada while remaining [[Quebec nationalists]].

More recently at the federal level, the [[New Democratic Party of Canada]] moved in the direction of asymmetrical federalism under former leaders [[Jack Layton]] and [[Tom Mulcair]], both Quebec natives. This included opposition to the [[Clarity Act]] (the [[Sherbrooke Declaration]], which brought the NDP in line with position of the [[Quebec Liberal Party]]), and support for enhancing French language rights. Within the [[Liberal Party of Canada]] former Prime Minister [[Paul Martin]] also supported asymmetrical federalism, albeit he was in favour of the Clarity Act. For the most part though, the federal Liberals are associated with symmetrical federalism.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On the Right, former the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative Party]] leader and prime minister [[Joe Clark]] (who also opposed the Clarity Act), and some Quebec figures within the modern [[Conservative Party of Canada]] have also taken a stance in favour of greater autonomy for Quebec within Canada.

Notable asymmetrical federalists have included [[Tom Mulcair]], [[Jack Layton]], [[Jean Charest]], [[Philippe Couillard]], [[Francois Legault]], [[Paul Martin]], [[Joe Clark]], [[Robert Bourassa]], [[Brian Mulroney]], [[Claude Ryan]], and [[Jean Lesage]].

=== "Status-quo" federalism ===
Currently, governmental oversight is shared amongst a federal legislature and a number of legislatures whose power is distributed as per the Constitution.<ref name=ce>[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/federalism Federalism] at [[The Canadian Encyclopedia]], accessed September 1, 2019</ref>

Federalists in favour of the status quo, or symmetrical federalists, also defend Quebec remaining within Canada; however, they support the status quo division of powers between Ottawa and Quebec City and the current Constitution. Former Liberal Party leader and Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau at one point suggested that gaining Quebec's signature to the Constitution was not a priority, putting him at odds with many past federalists from his home province.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

This strain of Canadian federalism is strictly against reopening the Constitution and supports policies of shared and exclusive provincial jurisdiction in areas such as taxation, healthcare and immigration. They defend the federal government occasionally encroaching on areas that Quebec governments (both federalist and sovereigntist) consider their rightful jurisdiction. In general, federalists of this school of thought are opposed to officially recognising Quebec as a "nation" or "distinct society" within Canada, and support the [[Clarity Act]] (legislation introduced by the Chrétien government, essentially giving the federal government the right to establish a "clear majority" threshold for any sovereignty referendum at its own discretion and after the fact - this is opposed by the Quebec Liberal Party).{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Notable symmetrical federalists have included [[Pierre Trudeau]], [[Jean Chrétien]], [[Stéphane Dion]] and [[Justin Trudeau]].

Although this strain of uncompromising, centralising Canadian federalism is most often associated with the Liberal Party of Canada and the political tradition of Pierre Trudeau, it also has adherents from other parties and across the political spectrum.

===Related Terms===
In French, fédération can be defined as: 
(1) a methodical approach of defining a set of types in regards to complex realities, applied to state organization.

a grouping of various associations, unions, parties, and clubs. It can also be used as synonym for federal state.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/f%C3%A9d%C3%A9ration/33152 |title=Définitions : fédération - Dictionnaire de français Larousse |publisher=Larousse.fr |date= |accessdate=2022-08-31}}</ref>

In English, federalism has been defined as a "mode of political organization that unites separate states or other polities within an overarching political system in such a way as to allow each to maintain its own fundamental political integrity".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/federalism|title = Federalism &#124; Definition, History, Characteristics, & Facts}}</ref>

This compromise as political system has been called a “quasi-federal concept”,<ref name=ce/> as well as described as a "post-nation" state.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/04/the-canada-experiment-is-this-the-worlds-first-postnational-country|title = The Canada experiment: Is this the world's first 'postnational' country? &#124; Charles Foran|website = [[TheGuardian.com]]|date = 4 January 2017}}</ref>