1. Research the careers and lives of other politicians who have switched political parties. For instance, how did crossing the floor affect the political career of Winston Churchill? In Canadian history, you may wish to research one of the following: Paul Hellyer, John Bracken, Hazen Argue, Maurice Duplessis, René Lévesque, Pauline Jewitt, Lucien Bouchard, John Crosbie, David Kilgore, Elijah Harper, Nancy Betkowski (Macbeth).

2. The official Web site for the Quebec Liberal Party is www.plq.org/Deue/choix.htm. You can access information on the history of the party, the leaders, and party philosophy and positions. How will Jean Charest have to adapt to fit the party? How will the party have to adapt to fit the leader?

3. Visit the Council for Canadian Unity on the Internet at www.ccu-cuc.ca/en/index.html. They provide up-to-date polling, programs, Web links, and articles for events and issues that have an impact on Canadian unity.

4. With the departure of Jean Charest to the Quebec Liberals, the federal Progressive Conservative Party finds itself in the midst of a leadership contest. The next Tory leader will be chosen using a points system, replacing the traditional conventions. This will be the first time the Progressive Conservative Party will choose a leader using a process in which every party member votes directly rather than electing delegates to attend a convention. Investigate how this system affects the democratic selection of leaders. You can find out more about this selection system on the Web pages of the federal Progressive Conservative Party at www.pcparty.ca.

5. In March of 1998 the Angus Reid Polling firm asked Canadians about a possibility of a merger between the two parties to the right of the Liberal Party—the Reform Party and the Progressive Conservative Party. This has become a possibility now that Jean Charest has resigned. Under the assumption that this was to happen, Canadians were asked how likely they would be to support the new party under the leadership of Ralph Klein and Preston Manning. What would be the impact of this merger on Canadian politics? You can investigate the attitudes of Canadians to this possibility at the Angus Reid Web site at www.angusreid.com

6. On April 2, 1998, Jean Charest made his farewell speech to the members of the House of Commons. The speech can be obtained from the Hansard reporter of the House of Commons at www.parl.gc.ca/36/1/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/086_1998-04-02/han086-e.htm#LINK204
As you read his speech, ask yourself what influenced Jean Charest in his decision to seek the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party.

7. Daniel Johnson’s resignation speech can be found on the Web at www.montrealgazette.com/PAGES/980303/1660470.html. Compare Charest and Johnson’s speeches. In what way are the speeches different? In what way are they the same?

8. Research and create a profile of the charismatic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’a (Myanmar) National League for Democracy. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in October 1997 and was also adopted by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience.