Beau risque

In Quebec politics, le beau risque (French pronunciation: [lə bo ʁisk], the good risk) is a political catch phrase describing the "risk" the Parti Québécois took in asking Quebecers to support Progressive Conservative Brian Mulroney and accept the Constitution Act, 1982. Mulroney's Tories promised Quebec the opportunity to enter "with honour and dignity" and have its distinctiveness recognized in the document during the 1984 Canadian election.

It was coined by Parti Québécois Premier of Quebec René Lévesque. His taking the "Beau Risque" provoked a crisis in the party, as its main founding principle was the entry of Quebec into a different relationship with Canada, and a number of PQ Members of the National Assembly of Quebec left their seats as a result.

See also