A timeline of events from 1967 to 2003, outlining the history of the Parti Quebecois in Quebec's politics.

Oct. 4, 1967
Rene Levesque leaves the Liberal Party after the Congress refuses to ratify the principle of a sovereign Quebec associated with the remainder of Canada.

Nov. 19, 1967
Rene Levesque and a small group form the Movement Sovereignty-Association, or MSA.

Dec. 28, 1967
The MSA begin negotiations with the National Rallying (RN), and the gathering for national independence (RIN) for amalgamation.

April 21, 1968
The 7,000 members of the MSA decide to create a new political party that represents the independent forces.

June25, 1968
The federal Liberals led by Pierre Elliott Trudeau win a majority government in the federal election.

Oct. 14, 1968
The Parti Quebecois is formed, consisting of the MSA and the RN. Rene Levesque is elected president and Gilles Gregoire is vice-president.

Oct. 26, 1968
The gathering for national independence, or RIN is disbanded. Its members join the Parti Quebecois and membership grows to 16,000.

Sept. 19, 1969
Jacques Parizeau officially joins the Parti Quebecois

Nov. 1969
The PQ's first fundraiser nets $19,000. They now have 30,000 members.

Nov. 11, 1969
Jerome Proulx leaves the National Union and joins the PQ.

March 1970
The party's second fundraising campaign raises over $145,000. Membership grows to 80,000.

April 29, 1970
The PQ wins seven seats in its first provincial election.

Oct. 16, 1970
Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau invokes the War Measures Act, which allowed for the search and seizure of anyone associated with separatist activity. After the FLQ crisis, PQ membership drops to 30,000.

Oct. 30, 1972
The federal Liberals, led by Pierre Trudeau, hold power, but with a minority government in the federal election.

Oct. 29, 1973
The PQ becomes the opposition in a general election. A national fundraising campaign nets almost $750,000 and membership bounces back to 60,000 members.

July 8, 1974
The federal Liberals, led by Pierre Trudeau, form a majority government.

March 1975
Council adopts a code of ethics concerning the financial assets of the party and its candidates.

Nov. 15, 1976
Parti Québécois wins the majority of seats in the Quebec provincial election. René Lévesque becomes premier, and promises to hold a referendum on sovereignty-association.

Aug. 26, 1977
Bill 101 becomes Quebec law. It restricts attendance at English-language schools and bans the use of any language other than French on commercial signs.

May 22, 1979
The Progressive Conservative party led by Joe Clark wins the federal election, forming a minority government.

Feb. 18, 1980
The Liberal Party, led by Pierre Trudeau, returns to power with a majority government in the federal election.

May 20, 1980
Quebec referendum, federalists win with 60 per cent of the vote. Internal dissension over the outcome of the referendum leads to a weakening of the PQ.

April 13, 1981
René Lévesque is re-elected premier in Quebec provincial election.

April 17, 1982
Constitution Act is proclaimed in Ottawa. Quebec was not a signator to the Constitution.

June 30, 1984
Pierre Trudeau resigns as prime minister and Liberal Party leader.

September 4, 1984
Progressive Conservative Party led by Brian Mulroney wins federal election.

January 20, 1985
At a Parti Québécois policy convention in Montreal, a majority of delegates vote not to fight the next provincial election on the issue of sovereignty. Dissident PQ hardliners walk out of the meeting in protest.

June 20, 1985
René Lévesque resigns as Quebec premier and leader of the Parti Québécois. Pierre-Marc Johnson succeeds him.

December 2, 1985
Liberal Party led by Robert Bourassa wins Quebec provincial election.

June 3, 1987
The Meech Lake Accord is signed. The Parti Quebecois opposes several of its clauses.

March 19, 1988
Jacques Parizeau becomes Parti Québécois leader.

November 21, 1988
Progressive Conservative Party led by Brian Mulroney is re-elected in federal election.

December 15, 1988
The Supreme Court rules against Bill 101.

December 18, 1988
Quebec government introduces Bill 178 after the Supreme Court of Canada rules that a section of the province's language law is unconstitutional. Quebec invokes the notwithstanding clause to override the Supreme Court.

September 25, 1989
Liberal Party led by Robert Bourassa is re-elected in Quebec provincial election.

May 21, 1990
Lucien Bouchard resigns from the federal cabinet and the Progressive Conservative party.

June 22, 1990
Meech Lake Accord on constitutional reform fails to gain the necessary approval from Manitoba and Newfoundland. The idea of recognising Quebec as a distinct society dies.

July 25, 1990
A group of Quebec MPs form the Bloc Quebecois headed by Lucian Bouchard.

July 25, 1990
Bloc Québécois is formed by a group of six Quebec MPs. Lucien Bouchard is elected as their leader.

August 13, 1990
In federal byelection, Gilles Duceppe becomes the first MP to be elected as a member of the Bloc Québécois.

January 29, 1991
Quebec Liberal Party adopts the Allaire Report recommending greater autonomy for the province.

August 22, 1992
Ottawa, the provinces and Native representatives agree to a package of constitutional reforms known as the Charlottetown Accord.

October 26, 1992
The Charlottetown Accord is rejected in a federal referendum. While New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Ontario and the Northwest Territories approve the accord, 54% of Canadians vote against it.

October 25, 1993
Liberal Party led by Jean Chretien wins federal election. The Bloc Québécois becomes the Official Opposition.

September 18, 1994
Parti Québécois led by Jacques Parizeau wins Quebec provincial election. He promises to hold a referendum on sovereignty.

October 30, 1995
Quebec referendum, federalists win with 50.6% of vote. Jacques Parizeau blames the sovereignist defeat on "money and the ethnic vote" and declares that "we will have our country and we will get our revenge."

October 31, 1996
Jacques Parizeau announces his intention to resign as PQ leader.

January 1996
Lucien Bouchard leaves the federal Bloc Quebecois, to become PQ leader and Quebec premier. He is sworn in on January 29th.

January 29, 1996
Lucien Bouchard is officially sworn in as premier of Quebec.

June 2,  1997
The Liberal Party, led by Jean Chretien, wins the federal election and forms a majority government.

December 13,  1999
The federal government passes the Clarity Act, which sets out the rules by which a province could secede from Canada.

August 29, 2000
Bouchard tells the audience at the Parti Quebecois convention that Quebec's economy is growing, which will soon encourage another vote for separation.

November 22, 2000
The Liberal Party, led by Jean Chretien, retains power with a majority government.

December 14, 2000
In a radio program, PQ member Yves Michaud claim Jews and immigrants to not understand sovereignty. B'nai Brith demands an apology.

December 20, 2000
Premier Lucien Bouchard rejects a call for reconciliation with prospective PQ candidate Yves Michaud, saying it send a message of intolerance. Members of the PQ are divided over Michaud's comments.

January 11, 2001
Lucien Bouchard resigns as Quebec premier and leader of the Parti Quebecois.

February 26, 2001
Bernard Landry is confirmed as the only Parti Quebecois leadership candidate.

March 8, 2001
Bernard Landry is officially sworn in as Quebec premier.

October 26, 2001
A Leger Marketing poll reports support in Quebec for sovereignty has hit a 20-year low. The survey says the 59.1% of Quebecers would vote against sovereignty.

November 15, 2001
The Parti Quebecois celebrate 25 years since their first victory.

February 12, 2002
Parti Quebecois director-general Raymond Breard resigns amid allegations of pocketing nearly $250,000 of funds.

April 16, 2002
The Parti Quebecois is defeated in spring byelections. Landry states he has no intentions of resigning.

September 8, 2002
Landry sets a 1,000-day plan toward sovereignty, but admits it can only happen if the Parti Quebecois wins the next election.

October 29, 2002
Cabinet member Paul Begin quits, claiming Landry does not adequately promote a plan for sovereignty.

November 5, 2002
The Parti Quebecois unveils an action plan for the next three years. There is no mention of a plan for independence.

December 4, 2002
Renewed tensions between the Parti Quebecois' hardline and moderate factions leads to the dismissal of advisor Josee Legault.

March 12, 2003
Premier Bernard Landry calls a provincial election for April 14th.