Canadian Unity and Quebec in 1942: A Roundtable Discussion among John Humphrey, Hugh MacLennan and Émile Vaillancourt

Abstract

In November, 1942, the CBC broadcast a programme entitled "Canadian Unity and Quebec" across the national network. Set during the divisive background of the Conscription Crisis, this programme was a discussion between three Montrealers John Humphrey, Hugh Macknnan, and mile Vaillancourt who attempted to explain the position, problems and aspirations of Quebec within Canada. Vaillancourt subsequently published the final text of the broadcast, based on the script that the CBC regulations required for such a broadcast. John Humphrey presented McGill University Libraries with an earlier, much lengthier, version of the script which he found amongst his papers and it is published in this article for thefirst time. The script and annotations, along with other evidence, provide new insights into how the broadcast came about and how the script was developed. In fact, Hugh MacLennan wrote the entire script, based in large part on the ideas of the other protagonists, almost in the form of a one-act play complete with some stage directions. The ideas expressed are important for an understanding of the Canadian unity problem in the mid-century, and still have some relevance a f ter f ih years.