[1945-1980] The Modernization of Québec & The Quiet Revolution

1944-1959: Maurice Duplessis as Premier with Union Nationale

Period: 1944 to 1959

In 1944, Maurice Duplessis was elected Premier of Québec, and William Lyon Mackenzie King was Prime Minister. During this period of 15 years, new ideas were introduced such as equalization payments, economic liberalism, and clericalism. Duplessis also advocated for provincial autonomy. This period is significant because Duplessis policies kept people in the dark and led to union strikes and the desire for secularism among intellectuals and artists.
(Personal notes: p.1-2)

1945: Act to Promote Rural Electrification

1945

• This Act was made because Duplessis was concerned about Quebec's economy and believed Quebec could rely on the agricultural sector
• Because of rural electrification, farms with electricity produced more and stimulated the economy in that region
• This shaped Quebec because farmers felt represented by Duplessi and were the majority of his voters which was the reason why he was Premier

(Reflections: p. 213)

1945-1960: Baby Boom

Period: 1945 to 1960

During this time, Maurice Duplessi was the Premier of Quebec, and Canada had many Prime Ministers. During these years, there was a significant decrease in the infant mortality rate as well as a high rate of birth leading to the baby boom. This period is significant because the baby boom showed that progress in health was made and more people were giving birth in hospitals supervised by medical professionals. (Reflections: p. 218)

1947-1991: The Cold War

Period: 1947 to 1991

During this time, Duplessi, Lesage, Johnson, Bourassa, and Levesque all spent time as Premier of Quebec, and King, St-Laurent, Diefenbaker, Pearson, Trudeau, Clark, Turner, and Mulroney all spent time as Prime Minister. During this period, Canada allied with the US through their ideological and political standoff with the USSR. The US relied on Canadian exports for arms, and after the Cold War, America invested heavily in Canada's natural resources and the Canadian economy benefitted.
(R p. 207)

1948: Adoption of the Fleurdelisé (Québec’s Flag)

1948

• This flag was adopted because the Duplessis government wanted to affirm Quebec's identity with Canada and promote provincial autonomy
• Because of this, the Quebec flag has remained close to the original design
• This shaped the future of Quebec because it showed the federal government that Quebec was independent and played a role in promoting Quebec's sovereignty (Reflections: p. 211)

1949: Asbestos Strike

1949

• The strike occurred because of the terrible conditions in asbestos mines
• Close to 5000 miners went on strike, so Duplessis supported the employers and declared strikes illegal
• This impacted Quebec because workers felt unsupported and disliked the Duplessis policies
• Workers also had to advocate even more for their rights (Reflections p. 216)

1952: Arrival of Television in Québec

1952

• The end of the Second World War was marked by economic prosperity and wages and purchasing power increased so people could afford Televisions
• During the 50s, work hours decreased leaving more time for leisure and watching TV
• Because of the access to television, advertising became very popular and customers bought more products and consumed more goods
• This greatly affected Quebec because people were more exposed to American culture promoting their ideas (Reflections: p.217-218)

1957: Contraception Becomes More Accessible

1957

• Because of advancements in health and more knowledgeable health professionals, contraception becomes more accessible
• Because of this, there were fewer pregnancies and women could choose if they wanted children or not
• This had a huge effect on Quebec because there was a large decline in births in the 1960s partially due to contraception (Reflections: p. 240)

1957-1963: Lester B. Pearson (Liberal Party of Canada)

Period: 1957 to 1963

During this time, Lester B. Pearson was Prime Minister and Lesage was the Premier of Quebec. During this period, the federal government was trying to understand the movement towards more protection of the French language. They wanted to do so because francophone minorities were less privileged than anglophone. Lester B. Pearson's term was important because it led to the Official Languages Act being created to make French and English the official languages of Canada.
(Unit 3 Slide 39)

1960-1970: Rise of Consumer Society

Period: 1960 to 1970

During this time, Diefenbaker, Pearson, and Trudeau were all at a point Prime Minister of Canada and Lesage, Johnson and Bertrand had all been Premier of Quebec. During this period, the consumer society that appeared after WWII became widespread. Wages in Quebec increased more than prices, a variety of goods became affordable, and leisure society increased. This was significant because Quebec's economy grew and modernization continued.
(Reflections: p. 242-243)

1960-1966: Jean Lesage (Liberal Party of Québec)

Period: 1960 to 1966

During this time, Lesage was the Premier of Quebec and Diefenbaker and Pearson had both been Prime Ministers. During this period, Lesage introduced new ideas such as the welfare state, secularization of social services, and free health care. These ideas were so significant because they led to progression in education and health, and modernized Quebec.
(Reflections: p. 224-227)

1962: Nationalization of Electricity (Hydro-Québec Expands)

1962

• The nationalization of electricity was caused by Lesage wanting to maximize profits and standardize electricity rates across the province
• Because of the nationalization of electricity, the Crown corporation generated substantial revenue and provided many jobs for people
• This event was very important because even now, Hydro-Quebec controls electricity

1964: Bill 16 – Married Women Gain Legal Independence

1964

• This act was made by Marie-Claire Kirkland-Casgrain because feminists still had demands for gender equality and were still seen as the property of their husbands -This act allowed married women to carry out financial transactions and sign legal documents without their husband's consent -The act impacted Quebec because it was a huge step for women's rights

1964: Creation of the Ministry of Education (Parent Report Recommendations)

1964

• The Lesage government wanted to improve education after Duplessis' term so he secularized it
• The Department of Education ensures that education is in the hands of the government and not the church
• This event was important because it improved education, especially among French Canadians (Slides: 28)

1965: Birth Rate Drops in Québec

1965

• The drop in birth rate occurred due to women being present in the labour market and not having time to care for large families, the use of contraception, and less importance placed on having a family
• Because of this decline in births, Quebec's demographic changed and the baby boom slowed
• This drop in births is important because it showed how large families were no longer as significant (Reflections: p.240)

1967: Establishment of CEGEP

1966

• The establishment of CEGEP was caused by low schooling among French Canadians
• Daniel Johnson sought to improve education to recover from the Duplessis government which harmed education
• This was very significant because even today, CEGEPs exist and are popular among Quebecers (Personal notes: p. 1, 3)

1967: Expo 67 – Showcasing Québec’s Identity to the World

1967

• The Quiet Revolution led Quebec to want to improve its relationship with the world, so it became more open to tourists and travelled more often
• Expo 67 was made to experience different parts of the world and also allowed Quebecers to assert themselves in a modern society by representing their technological, economic and artistic abilities to the rest of the world
• This event was important because Quebecers became more open-minded and experienced different cultures (Reflections: p.234)

1970: October Crisis – FLQ Kidnappings & War Measures Act

1970

• The October crisis was caused by radical French nationalists who thought that Quebec sovereignty could only happen through revolution and violence
• A group called FLQ formed and targeted symbols of colonialism
• The FLQ kidnapped James Cross and Pierre Lapointe, so Trudeau invoked the War Measures Act to bring the situation under control and eventually the FLQ fell apart
• This event was important because it showed the extent to which people will go for sovereignty (Reflections: p.258)

1970: Introduction of Québec’s Medicare System (Health Insurance Act)

1970

• Free health care services had been limited to hospitalization, and Bourassa wanted all Quebecers to have access to free medical services through Medicare
• CLSC centers were established to provide free standard health and social services such as vaccinations and home care services for seniors
• This act was extremely important because Quebecers felt supported and Medicare still exists in Quebec today (Reflections: p. 254)

1970-1976: Robert Bourassa (Liberal Party of Québec)

Period: 1970 to 1976

During this time, Bourassa was the Premier of Quebec and Trudeau was the Prime Minister. During this period, health care became free, the provinces economic growth was stimulated with hydroelectricity, and french became the provinces only official language. This period was significant because Bourassa ensured that the French did not lose its ground in favour of the English.
(Reflections: p. 254-263)

1973-1980: The Oil Crises & Economic Downturn

Period: 1973 to 1980

During this time, Trudeau and Clark had both been Prime ministers of Canada and Bourassa and Levesque were both Premiers of Quebec. During this period, the Arab-Israeli war caused OPEC to raise gas prices and western economic growth stopped due to the oil shortage. Because of this, there was inflation, unemployment and debt, signalling the economic downturn. This period was significant because spending decreased and Quebec became less economically prosperous.
(Personal notes: p. 4-5)

1974: Bill 22 – French as Québec’s Official Language

1974

• Immigrants settled and were sending their children to English schools and francophones worried that the French language was losing influence
• Because of this, Bourassa adopted Bill 22 to limit access to English schooling and to make French the official language of Quebec
• This event was important because it led to many anglophone to leave Quebec (Peronal notes: p. 5)

1976-1985: René Lévesque (Parti Québécois)

Period: 1976 to 1985

During this time, Levesque was the Premier of Quebec and Trudeau and Clark were both Prime Ministers of Canada. During this period, a referendum was held regarding Quebec Sovereignty, Bill 101 was adopted, and there was an economic downturn. This period was significant because Quebec almost became its own country.
(Reflections: p. 266-271)

1977: Bill 101 – The Charter of the French Language

1977

• Still, the Parti Quebecois government worried that the French language was losing influence so they adopted Bill 101
• This Bill went even further in the protection of the French language than Bill 22
• This Bill is important because it is the reason that many anglophones left Quebec to go to Ontario (Reflections: p.268)

1979: Economic Downturn

1979

• Due to the second oil crisis, there was a wave of inflation and a rise in unemployment
• This rise slowed economic growth and led to tax losses for the government
• This event was very impactful because Quebec went into debt and struggled economically (Reflections: p. 271)