-
Act to Promote Rural Electrification
CAUSE:
- Maurice Duplessis believes that the province should be able to depend on a prosperous agricultural sector for it's development
- The electoral districts situated in rural areas represented a large portion of his voters
EFFECT:
- Farmers were able to produce more with electricity
- Maurice Duplessis was in charge and gained more voters in his favour
IMPACT:
- Farms that had electricity produced more thus stimulating economic development in those regions
(Reflections, p. 213) -
Refus Global Manifesto Published
CAUSE:
- Intellectuals and artists wanted modernization as well as secularism
- 15 artists including Riopelle and Borduas signed a manifesto
- Manifesto named: Refus Global
EFFECT:
- Limited power of church over society
- Wanted state to take charge of education and health
IMPACT:
- Young intellectuals like Pierre-Elliot Trudeau and Gerard Pelletier published a magazine: Cité Libre about individual freedom
- Church limited only to religious sphere
(Class Slides, p. 14) -
Adoption of the Fleurdelisé (Québec’s Flag)
CAUSE:
- Committed to keep federal gov't out of Que jurisdictions
- Duplessis wanted provincial autonomy
- Duplessis refused to give up powers from BNA Act in exchange for subsidies or participation in federal programs
- Did not want to get involved with anything revolved with federal government
EFFECT:
- Created new provincial Quebec flag
IMPACT:
- Differentiated Quebec from other provinces, and made it more autonomous
(Class Slides, p. 10) -
Asbestos Strike
CAUSE:
- Miners wanted safer working conditions
- More money $
EFFECT:
- Over 5000 workers went on strike
- Duplessis supported the employers and declared that the strike is illegal
IMPACT:
- Miners had to return back to work
(Class Slides, p. 14) -
Arrival of Television in Québec
CAUSE:
- Mass consumption thanks to post-war economy (strong)
- Allowed people to buy TV's!
EFFECT:
- Quebec population exposed to american culture
- Known as "Americanism"
IMPACT:
- Quebec wanted to modernize like America
- People began to purchase American made products
(Class Slides, p. 17) -
Québec Introduces Provincial Income Tax (Fiscal Autonomy)
CAUSE:
- Committed to keep federal gov't out of Que jurisdictions
- Duplessis wanted provincial autonomy
- Duplessis refused to give up powers from BNA Act in exchange for subsidies or participation in federal programs
EFFECT:
- Introduced Quebec provincial taxes
IMPACT:
- Criticized the equalization system
- Helped Quebec not rely on federal government for money $ -
Contraception Becomes More Accessible
CAUSE:
- More women working
- Women not wanting to have large families
EFFECT:
- Falling birth rate due to birth control
- Contraception
IMPACT:
- Helped women pursue careers without the worry of having children -
Rise of Americanism (Influence from the USA in Media & Culture)
CAUSE:
- Quebec exposed to TV, radio and movies
- TV, radio and movies show American culture
EFFECT:
- Americanism
- Quebec wants culture of freedom, material comfort and success
IMPACT:
- Quebec wants to modernize like America
- More American products are purchased
(Class Slides, p. 17) -
Election of Jean Lesage’s Liberal Government – ‘Now or Never! Masters in Our Own House!’
CAUSE:
- Quebec Liberal party elected
- Jean Lesage came to power
EFFECT:
- Quebec went through a large-scale modernization process
IMPACT:
- Jean Lesage shaped the way for the Union Nationale who continued his reforms
(Reflections, p. 224) -
Rise of Consumer Society in Québec
CAUSE:
- Consumer society expands
- Wages increase
- Leisure society
EFFECT:
- More goods wanted due to advertisement
IMPACT:
- More goods produced for consumers
(Class Slides, p. 42) -
Creation of the Department of Cultural Affairs
CAUSE:
- Jean Lesage wanted to promote Quebec identity and culture
EFFECT:
- Created the Department of Cultural Affairs
IMPACT:
- Mandated, in particular to help Quebec develop in the arts
- Created Office du film du Quebec
- Created Office de la langue française
(Reflections, p. 229) -
Nationalization of Electricity (Hydro-Québec Expands)
CAUSE:
- The Lesage government triggered elections by proposing the nationalization of electricity
EFFECT:
- The Quebec state bought almost private electricity companies and merged them with Hydro-Quebec
IMPACT:
- By taking over this economic sector, the state thought to maximize the profits from the production of electricity, and standardize electricity rates across the province
(Reflections, p. 228) -
Establishment of CEGEPs and Université du Québec Network
CAUSE:
- Union Nationale led by Daniel Johnson won provincial election
EFFECT:
- The first CEGEP's opened their doors
- They offered the possibility of continuing general education leading to university
IMPACT:
- CEGEP's came into place in Quebec
- Université du Quebec network was created
- Required teachers to go to university for training
(Reflections, p. 231) -
Creation of the Ministry of Education (Parent Report Recommendations)
CAUSE:
- "Parent Report" recommended major reforms in education
- Wanted a high quality public system that could be accessible to all people across Quebec no matter their social class
- Recommended co-education to promote girls' education
EFFECT:
- Since so many measures were proposed, they had to be implemented gradually over several years
IMPACT:
- Lesage government created the Department of Education
- Comprehensive high schools were created in 1965
(Reflections, p. 225) -
Bill 16 – Married Women Gain Legal Independence (Led by Marie-Claire Kirkland-Casgrain)
CAUSE:
- Women's equality continued to be major social issues in the 1960's
- Abortion as well as legal rights topped the demands
EFFECT:
- Adoption of the Act Respecting the Legal Capacity of Married Women
IMPACT:
- Allowed women to carry out financial transactions and sign legal documents without requiring their husbands consent
- Abortion was allowed under certain circumstances
(Reflections, p. 250) -
Birth Rate Drops in Québec
CAUSE:
- Drop in birth rate
- Women were more involved in jobs therefore they could not look after large families
- Birth control pills were more popular and available
EFFECT:
- With all of this in mind, not as much importance was placed on large families
IMPACT:
- Birth rate dropped!
(Reflections, p. 240) -
Charles de Gaulle’s “Vive le Québec libre” Speech
CAUSE:
- Expo 67
- Stated "Long live a free Quebec"
EFFECT:
- Quebecers liked this
- Perceived as support for Quebec's independence movement
IMPACT:
- Supported Quebec's independence movement
- Helped shape the PQ (Parti Quebecois)
(Reflections, p. 235) -
Expo 67 – Showcasing Québec’s Identity to the World
CAUSE:
- Quiet Revolution caused Quebecers to reconsider their relationship with the world
- Quebecers became more open to the world and travelled more abroad
EFFECT:
- "World Fair" gave foreigners a chance to discover Quebec's identity as well as Quebec and Canada
IMPACT:
- Quebec was able to showcase to the world their modernization
- Tourist attractions
(Reflections, p. 234) -
Passage of Bill 63 – Language Rights Debate
CAUSE:
- Union nationale in charge
- Wanted to promote French language
EFFECT:
- Passed Act to Promote the French Language in Quebec
IMPACT:
- Allowed parents to choose the language of instruction for their children
- Introduced French as second language in schools
- Integration of immigrants into French schools
(Reflections, p. 232) -
October Crisis – FLQ Kidnappings & War Measures Act
CAUSE:
- FLQ targeted symbols of British colonialism and Anglophone power
- FLQ kidnaps British diplomat James Cross and Pierre Laporte
EFFECT:
- War Measures Act invoked by Pierre Elliot Trudeau
IMPACT:
- Military involved
- Some FLQ arrested and others offered safe conduct to Cuba without penalty in exchange for James Cross and Pierre Laporte
(Class Slides, p. 46) -
Introduction of Québec’s Medicare System (Health Insurance Act)
CAUSE:
- The Bourassa government adopted the Health Insurance Act
- Before this was adopted, health care was only free under hospitalization
EFFECT:
- Through medicare, all Quebecers could access free healthcare
- Community clinics (CLSC's) created
IMPACT:
- Quebec now has free healthcare for it's citizens
- CLSC's are main community clinics in Quebec
(Reflections, p. 254) -
James Bay Hydroelectric Project Announced
CAUSE:
- James Bay hydroelectric project announced
- Would transform the territory of the Indigenous
This project threatened certain aspects of their traditional way of life
EFFECT:
- Indigenous were upset as they were not warned or consulted about the projects
IMPACT:
- Signed James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement
(Reflections, p. 257) -
First Oil Crisis Begins
CAUSE:
- Arab countries and Israel war
- In support of Arab countries at war, OPEC raised oil prices and dropped production
EFFECT:
- Weakened countries in support of Israel (non-arab countries)
IMPACT:
- Quebecers experienced a period of economic instability in which inflation reduced their purchasing power
(Reflections, p. 259) -
Bill 22 – French as Québec’s Official Language
CAUSE:
- Most immigrants who settled in Quebec integrated into anglophone communities
- Learning English offered greater opportunity
EFFECT:
- Bourassa government passed Official Language Act
IMPACT:
- Made French the only official language in Quebec
- Only children with good knowledge of English could attend anglophone schools
(Reflections, p. 263) -
Economic Downturn
CAUSE:
- Second oil crisis led to a new wave of inflation
EFFECT:
- Industrial relocation = buy from countries with lower wages
- Led to job losses in Quebec
IMPACT:
- Higher unemployment in Quebec
- Caused government to lose income from taxes
- Since the government had to maintain the services they've had since the 1960's, they raised taxes and went into debt
(Reflections, p. 271)