Vive le Québec libre

was a phrase in a speech delivered by French President Charles de Gaulle in Montreal, Quebec on July 24, 1967, during an official visit to Canada for the Expo 67 world's fair.

While giving an address to a large crowd from a balcony at Montreal City Hall, he uttered "Vive Montréal !

Earlier that year, the French government had not sent a high-level representative to the funeral service for the Governor General of Canada, Georges Vanier.

[3] This attracted notice in Canada, as Vanier and his wife, Pauline, had been personal friends of de Gaulle since 1940, when the latter was in exile in London, England.

The Montreal Gazette speculated in 2012—45 years after the speech—that de Gaulle was still annoyed over a perceived slight from World War II-era Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King's slow recognition of the new French government in late summer 1944.

[7] There, de Gaulle was cheered enthusiastically, while the new governor general, Roland Michener, was booed by the same crowd when viceregal salute was played at his arrival.

According to a number of personal interviews with high-ranking French officials, as well as documents he uncovered, scholar Dale C. Thomson wrote that de Gaulle's statement was planned, and that he used it when the opportunity presented itself.

[10] De Gaulle stepped out onto the balcony to give a short address to the assembled masses which was also broadcast live on radio.

In his speech he commented that his drive down the banks of the Saint Lawrence River, lined as it had been with cheering crowds, reminded him of his triumphant return to Paris after the liberation from Nazi Germany.

[13] The crowd's reaction to de Gaulle's phrase was emotional and it sparked controversy with many English Canadians afterwards, as they were outraged at the implied threat to Canada's territorial integrity.

[12] Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson rebuked de Gaulle with an official statement, delivered to the French Embassy on July 25, and read on national television that evening.

On July 26, instead of continuing his visit on to Ottawa, where he was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Pearson, he decided to return to France on a French military jet.

[15] From then on, de Gaulle remained unimpressed by Trudeau, saying "Nous n'avons aucune concession, ni même aucune amabilité, à faire à M. Trudeau, qui est l'adversaire de la chose française au Canada."

")[18] De Gaulle was also heavily criticized by a large part of the French media for his breach of international protocol, in particular by Le Monde.