Montreal nixes sovereignist group's plan to mark Charles de Gaulle's 'Vive le Quebec libre!" speech

Fifty years after former French president Charles de Gaulle uttered "Vive le Quebec libre!" during a state visit to Canada, those politically charged words are still stirring up trouble, at least in Montreal.

On Wednesday morning, the sovereignistSocitSaint-Jean-BaptistedeMontral(SSJB) held a news conference to outline itsplans to mark the 50th anniversary of de Gaulle's speech.

Before the news conferencestarted,the city of Montreal sent an email to Radio-Canada.

It saidthat the SSJBcouldn't use the famous balcony at Montreal City Hall where de Gaullestood when he spoke those wordsas part of itscelebrations.

City hall is "neutral and apolitical," wrote Nomie Brire-Marquez, the spokespersonfor the mayor's office. "The citizens of Montreal wouldn't accept the exploitation of these places."

• From CBC's archives:Prime Minister Pearson stands up to de Gaulle

DeGaulle'sdeclarationon July 24, 1967,sentshock wavesthrough Canada.

Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson said his"statements were unacceptable to the Canadian people,"and deGaulleended up cutting his state visit short.

His words boosted the Quebecsovereignistmovement, but frayed relations between Canada and France for years.

Back to the future

The SSJB hasplanned a special commemorative event for the 50th anniversary on July 24, which is to featurea Back to the Futuretheme and will includeactor Denis Trudel portraying de Gaulle, riding in a Tesla electriccar.

Maxime Laporte, the president of the SSJB, said the grouporiginally wanted to have part of the event on the balconybutis going ahead with celebrations, regardless.

The SSJB hasasked city police for permission to hold the event outside Montreal City Hall,on Notre-Dame Street East.

"The street belongs to everyone," said Laporte during thenews conference on Wednesday at Place Charles-de-Gaulle on Sherbrooke Street East.

"We want to have de Gaulle'svoice resonate again, his original voice," said Laporte.

Former PartiQubcois premier Bernard Landrysaid Wednesday that de Gaulle'sspeech internationalized the Quebec questionand drew attention to the struggle for sovereignty.

For those who still want to see the balcony, the city isoffering guided tours to the public in both French and English,between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on July 24.