<P> Several diverse political groups coalesced in the late 1960s in the formation of the Parti Québécois , a provincial political party . Since 1968 the party has appealed for constitutional negotiations on the matter of provincial sovereignty , in addition to holding two provincial referendums on the matter . The first , which occurred in 1980 , asked whether Quebecers wished to open constitutional negotiations with the federal government ( and other provinces ) for the intended purpose of establishing a `` sovereignty - association '' pact between the province of Quebec and the rest of Canada . Approximately 60 % of Quebec 's voting public rejected the idea put forth by Parti Québécois leader René Lévesque . The matter was dropped by the party for most of the 1980s , especially after the patriation of the Canadian constitution without the consent of the Parti Québécois government , and the creation of the federal Charter of Rights and Freedoms , which enshrined the protection of the French language and French - Canadian culture in Canada . In 1995 , after two failed attempts by the Mulroney government to secure Quebec 's ratification of amendments to the constitution , the Parti Québécois held a second referendum , though on this occasion the question was whether one wished for the independence of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada . The response was again in the negative , though this time by a far closer margin , with 50.58 % against the proposal . </P>
<P> Several diverse political groups coalesced in the late 1960s in the formation of the Parti Québécois , a provincial political party . Since 1968 the party has appealed for constitutional negotiations on the matter of provincial sovereignty , in addition to holding two provincial referendums on the matter . The first , which occurred in 1980 , asked whether Quebecers wished to open constitutional negotiations with the federal government ( and other provinces ) for the intended purpose of establishing a `` sovereignty - association '' pact between the province of Quebec and the rest of Canada . Approximately 60 % of Quebec 's voting public rejected the idea put forth by Parti Québécois leader René Lévesque . The matter was dropped by the party for most of the 1980s , especially after the patriation of the Canadian constitution without the consent of the Parti Québécois government , and the creation of the federal Charter of Rights and Freedoms , which enshrined the protection of the French language and French - Canadian culture in Canada . In 1995 , after two failed attempts by the Mulroney government to secure Quebec 's ratification of amendments to the constitution , the Parti Québécois held a second referendum , though on this occasion the question was whether one wished for the independence of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada . The response was again in the negative , though this time by a far closer margin , with 50.58 % against the proposal . </P>
when did the idea of an independent quebec began to emerge
when did the idea of an independent quebec began to emerge
1968
1968