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Monsieur Levesque goes to Wall Street

Broadcast Date: Jan. 30, 1977

On Jan. 25th, 1977, Premier René Lévesque delivers a speech that shocks the influential group of financiers gathered at New York's prestigious Economic Club. Dressed in a rented tuxedo, Lévesque tells the world's most influential financiers that independence for Quebec is inevitable. As heard in this clip, his bold message receives a cool reception from the club's members and creates shockwaves back home in Canada.

Although Lévesque is lauded for being articulate and passionate, his speech falls short. Lévesque should have said more to demonstrate Quebec's viability as an independent nation, says one businessman in this clip. "He didn't tell us enough." In response, Lévesque lashes out at the "fifth column" of English Canadian businessmen who he says created a hostile climate at the American club.

Monsieur Levesque goes to Wall Street

• On Nov. 15, 1976, René Lévesque led his separatist Parti Québécois to a historic first victory. The win stunned the world and signalled a new era towards an independent Quebec. For more on Quebec's first separatist premier visit the archival topic, René Lévesque's Separatist Fight.

• The Economic Club of New York denied any knowledge of a "fifth column of English Canadian businessmen." The club's president pointed out that in order to please Quebec's premier, they did not display the Canadian flag and ensured that no federal government officials were sitting at the head table.

• Fifth column refers to any clandestine group that supports the enemy and engages in espionage or sabotage.

• Among the 1,700 businessmen who attended Lévesque's speech were:
– Alfred Hayes of Morgan Stanley International,
– David Rockefeller of Chase Manhattan Bank,
– and New York Governor Hugh Carey.

• Back home in Canada, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau tried to downplay Lévesque's Wall Street visit. Trudeau said that Canada was not going down the hill because of Lévesque's speech and that there was no crisis.

• In his speech, Lévesque referred to the legend of King Canute (994 to 1035). The great and wise Danish king of England unsuccessfully commanded the waves to halt in order to prove that even a king has his limits.

• The word premier is translated as premier minister (prime ministre) in French which is why Lévesque is sometimes referred to as the prime minister of Quebec rather than the premier of Quebec.

Also on January 25:
1791: The British Parliament approves a bill splitting the old province of Quebec into Upper Canada (now Ontario) and Lower Canada (now Quebec).
1915: Alexander Graham Bell inaugurates transcontinental phone service in North America – more than 40 years after developing the telephone in Brantford, Ontario. The call is from New York to San Francisco.
1999: Quebec Superior Court Justice Robert Flahiff, 51, is convicted of laundering $1.7 million in drug money when he was a lawyer. Flahiff is sentenced to three years in prison for the most serious conviction ever delivered against a higher court judge in Canada.

Monsieur Levesque goes to Wall Street

Medium: Radio

Program: Sunday Morning

Broadcast Date: Jan. 30, 1977

Guest(s): René Lévesque, Claude Morin, Pierre Rinfret, Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Host: Bruce Rogers

Duration: 6:43

Last updated:
Jan. 25, 2010