When Ren Lvesque and the PQ swept into power in 1976

In 1976, Quebecers delivered a historic first-time win for Ren Lvesque and the Parti Qubcois.

When the final tally was done, the party had captured 71 of the 110 National Assembly seats, on Nov. 15, 1976.

As can be heard in this excerpt from CBCRadio, it took some time for the premier-elect to be able to make himself heard above the jubilant crowd in the Paul SauvArena in Montreal.

"C'est difficile" "it's difficult" Lvesque said, as the crowd erupted in cheers and chants, at one point chanting"Le Qubec auxQubcois" or "Quebec for Quebecers," when translatedin English.

In his opening remarks, Lvesque told the delirious crowd that he never thought he could be so proud to be Qubcois.

Archives7:31Ren Lvesque, Canada's first separatist premier

In 1976, Ren Lvesque sweeps to power with a promise to seek independence for Quebec. This news item aired Nov. 15, 1976 on CBC Radio.

He thanked all those who had worked so hard for nearly 10 years, referencing the founding of the Mouvement Souverainet-Association in 1967, which became the PQ the next year.

And Lvesque promised that his government would fulfill all the promises made, in particular the creation of "le pays de Quebec" a "country of Quebec."

'Stunned and amazed'

The win was a mandate to sweep the Liberal government and its alleged corruption scandals out, and the premier, Robert Bourassa, lost his own seat in the process.

But it was also a mandate to hold a referendum on the subject of sovereignty for Quebec, and it was that campaign promise which created a stir across Canada when the results were in.

The next day, CBCTV's Take 30 presented highlightsof the news from the evening before, host Paul Soles reiterating what Lvesque had been heard to remark the evening before, that he did not expect this win at this time.

"No one in thearena or in the rest of Canada was more stunned and amazed at the result ... than RenLvesque," Soles said.

Lvesque wasgreeted with loud applause and cheering, when he told the party-faithful-filled stadium,in French, that "this country, Quebec, will be achieved only when an adult society ... has proved it by a referendum."

A chastened Bourassa spoketo the media, saying thatthere were"a lot of reasons for this victory,"asking"the economic milieu" to have a "calm reaction."

'We're a long ways from separating'

Canadian politicians on the PQ landslide victory in 1976

48 years ago

Duration 2:07

When the PQ sweeps to power Nov. 15, 1976, Ren Lvesque, Robert Bourassa, Bryce Mackasey, and Pierre Trudeau have something to say to Canadians.

Bryce Mackasey, who had left the federal Liberal party to run for the provincial Liberals in theNotre-Dame-de-Grceriding, was one of 26 Liberals to win aseat.

Calm and confidentin his view that Canadians should not panic, Mackaseytold reporters"the end of the world hasn't arrived" and said"we're a long ways from separating."

Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, expressed confidence that "Quebecers will continue to reject separatism."