5 ways Jacques Parizeau shaped the future of Quebec

The man who nearly led Quebec tosovereignty holds a controversialplace in the annals of Canadian politics.

Remembered by manyas a visionary who fought for a nation he dreamed offor decades, for others Jacques Parizeauwill always be the man who voiced his heated frustration the evening of the "Oui"campaign's narrow loss, clearly distinguishing "us" and them.

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However he is remembered, his mark has been left on many of the touchstones of this province in the last half century. Here's a look through the major moments of Parizeau's legacy.

1.The Quiet Revolution

Archives| Quebec's fiscal challenges

9 years ago

Duration 0:47

Jacques Parizeau describes Quebec's economic demands and fiscal challenges in April 1964.

Jacques Parizeau was one of the key civil servants in the province's socio-political shift.

"Parizeau used to joke that the Quiet Revolution was the result of a few politicians, a few civil servants, and 50 chansonniers," said CBC's Senior Quebec Political Analyst, Bernard St-Laurent.

Parizeauwas one of the architects of the Caisse de dpt et placement du Qubec, Socit Gnrale de Financement and Hydro-Qubec, institutions that have shaped modern Quebec society.

"It's hard to imagine what this province would be like today without the contribution of those institutions."

2. A legitimate finance minister

Archives| A legitimate finance minister

9 years ago

Duration 1:45

Quebec Finance Minister Jacques Parizeau says a good economy is good for sovereignty. (Item originally aired March 24, 1984)

With a PhD from the London School of Economics, Parizeau was a bona fide financier who could talk to Wall Street, but also could reach out further afield when push came to shove.

He was appointed finance minister by Ren Lvesque following 1976 election win of the Parti Qubcois.

"He gave the sovereignty movement credibility in an area where it had very little," St-Laurent said.

3. The big walk out

Archives| Parizeau quits the PQ

9 years ago

Duration 2:03

Six PQ cabinet ministers and two backbenchers quit over the dropping of separation from the election platform of the party. (Originally aired Nov. 27, 1984)

Parizeau said he didn't enter politics to be the finance minister of a province. He entered politics to be the finance minister of a country.

When PremierRenLvesquesaid it was worth the risk of giving Canadian federalism another chance, Parizeau saw his government taking a further step away from sovereignty.Parizeauwas the most prominent of several cabinet ministers who walked away.

"RenLvesque's Beau Risque was just unacceptable to him. That's why he quit," St-Laurent said.

The internal crisis revealed the fault lines in the sovereignty movement.

4. Rebuilding the PQ

Archives | PQ victory

9 years ago

Duration 1:53

Premier-elect Jacques Parizeau says the third period (a referendum) starts tomorrow. (Originally aired Sept 13, 1994)

After briefly retiring from politics, Parizeau returned to re-chart the course of the sovereigntistmovement.

"He came back because he couldn't accept that his party had moved away from its essence and it was time to start focusing on making Quebec a country," St-Laurent said.

Parizeau was elected leader of the PQ and gradually rebuilt the party, leading it to a majority in 1994 and a promised and divisive referendum in 1995.

5. Bitter referendum remarks

Jacques Parizeau: 'Reality as I saw it'

9 years ago

Duration 3:28

Journalist Francine Pelletier on her reaction to Jacques Parizeau's referendum night remarks and Parizeau's own reflection on that night from her documentary, Public Enemy #1.

For many outside the province of Quebec, Parizeau's lasting image is of his frustrated post-referendum remarks blaming the referendum loss on "money and ethnic votes."

"Their internal polling told them they had won. That the dream of his lifetime was coming true and it was just torn away from him," St-Laurent said.

He was reviled by many after that night, a stain that lingereddecades later.

"I think it's only his death and more than 20 years of distance that people are able to look at the full picture."