This essay is about the Quiet Revolution in Quebec that occurred between 1960 and 1966 and the many changes that occurred during this time period. Throughout these six years, Quebec experienced various changes on a social, economic and political level. This crucial period consisted of Quebec emerging out of the Duplessis era, characterized by traditionalism, conservatism and, generally, a rejection of contemporary ways and values (Claude, Bélanger, 2000). With the election of the Liberal Party led by Jean Lesage in 1960, wanting to improve public services (health), develop new industries, have access to natural resources and more. Shortly after, the government took control of the municipalities and schools administered by the Church previously. …show more content…
With the creation of the Department of Education in 1964 and CEGEPs, more people had access to an education thus man and women were more educated and their values changed over time. Religion became less present and important, therefore was replaced by liberal attitudes. There were fewer marriages and lower fertility and birth rate with the invention of the contraceptive pill. Women could decide for themselves whether they wanted to go work or go study. A myriad of associations for women was created to defend women's rights and interests: The Fédération des femmes du Québec (FFQ) in 1966. Furthermore, in 1964, three major pieces of legislation were introduced: an extensive revision of the labor code; Bill 16, which abolished a married woman's judicial restriction by which her legal status was that of a minor; and a pension plan (René Durocher, 2013). In 1961, the first women in Quebec Claire Kirkland-Casgrain was a part of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec. Slowly but surely, women were obtaining more freedom and rights. Healthcare is another domain that was adjusted by Lesage: joining …show more content…
Lesage wanted to adjust this by creating public institutions such as the Société générale de financement in 1961 and the Caisse de dépôt et placement in 1965, creation of the Quebec Pension Plan in 1965 these are corporations owned by Quebec's government, it gave a better control over their own economic situation (decolonization). The slogan "Masters in our own house" perfectly encapsulated this intention. To Lesage and his ministers, the State was the best tool French Canadians had to help them achieve this objective (Mathieu, Pigeon). As a result, companies needed more qualified employees to manage and work it was then a welfare state. The right to strike in the public sector was allowed by the new Labour Code installed by the government due to its prosperity in the economic sector, the ministers could comply with a variety of union demands. This was the rise of a new French middle class. The nationalization of electricity in 1963 was a very important event in Quebec and its economy. Every private hydroelectric company was nationalized, thus all private companies were placed under the corporation of Hydro-Quebec in North America. This establishment is a source of pride to the Quebecois and a part of their success. In the meantime, Quebec was a region that faced the creation of several nationalistic groups,
Both Pennington and Baker deal with the issues surrounding Canadian trade agreements with the United States during the latter half of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. However Pennington and Baker take vastly different viewpoints on the issue. Whereas Pennington takes the view that Laurier's Liberals were hoping for some sort of moderate trade agreement with the United States and support for a commercial Union, Baker deals with reciprocity and its ties to anti-Americanism. In addition, both authors tend to imply that the greater underlying question resulted into which economic orbit Canada would tie itself. MacDonald's Conservatives favouring to maintain the traditional economic alignment to Great Britain while the Liberals
The province of Quebec had wanted to separate from Canada for a decent amount of time. The thoughts of separation came in the late 1950’s and 1960’s, but was in full effect in the late 1960’s to the 1970’s, mostly due to the creation of the Parti Quebecois, created in 1968. It had become popular due to the party’s leader being René Lévesque, who was not only popular but influential too. In Canada, their urge to separate grew larger, for there were two moments in time, where they wanted to separate. In order for the province to separate, they had to have a referendum.
The next thing to consider on Quebec referendum is whether or not the Quebecois are seeking separation or a special recognition as a ‘distinct society’. John C. Parkin’s quote, “The problem for a lot of people is that they don't really know what they want…” best describes the situation the Quebecois are in. In the past two referendums, Quebec emphasized on sovereignty-association and the acceptance of a unique society. During the second referendum, the separatists nearly seceded but was denied by a slight majority of 50.58 percent. According to an article from the Vancouver Sun, many Quebecers seek independence for reasons that are unrelated to economics and the cost of separating.
If Quebec Referendum was successful, Quebec would not be able prosper as a country. Québec is filled with breathtaking sites, waterfalls and more, beoming it’s own country would just destroy itself if it separated. Québec is a growing country with a bright future, it has much to offer to the world, this is not possible if Québec is having troubles being its own country. If Quebec became a country, it would be chaos. Quebec as a new country will have to start fresh in this growing and complicated world.
Furthermore, the Lesage administration managed to carry out a series of reforms that rejected traditional Catholic views and accelerated the modernization, bureaucratization, and influence of the state. This included building structures to cope with the demands of mass education and the welfare state. These reforms brought the state much closer to private life (Dickinson and Young, 305). As such, educational reform was a key symbol that, to this day, represents the changes made in the wake of the Quiet Revolution (Linteau). The baby boom generation, which had now reached adolescence, created a dramatic situation that pushed Quebec’s weak education system to a dire state (Durocher).
Louis Riel's execution has had a long lasting effect on Canadian history. Louis Riel’s execution made him the martyr of the Metis people. In Central Canada the political fallout from Riel’s hanging enlivened French Canadian nationalism and propelling Honoré Mercier, who came to power in Quebec in 1886 based on the feelings aroused by Riel's hanging. Riel’s death also caused a fundamental shift in Quebec's voting trends and moving the province’s traditional support of the Conservative Party to the Liberal Party led by Sir. Wilfrid Laurier.
Before Laurendeau became co-chairmen of the commission he had a goal of finding a solution that provided equality to the French Canadians; “ Fearing the political and social implications of the rise of SEPARATISM in Québec after 1960, Laurendeau called upon the DIEFENBAKER and the PEARSON governments to investigate the crisis in Québec-Ottawa relations.” Furthermore, the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism created the Official Languages Act: “The Official Languages Act (1969) is the federal statute that made English and French the official languages of Canada.” This act eased the unrest growing among French Canadians in Québec and protected the French language; “The commission's findings led to changes in French education across the country, and the creation of the federal department of multiculturalism and the Official Languages Act.” French Canadians had always feared of losing their language and culture because there were more English Canadians than French Canadians and English was the only official language of
Quebec’s secession from Canada has been driven by many factors such as the provinces’s belief in a distinct identity, lack of representation in politics and the isolation of Quebec’s culture and language from the rest of Canada. These beliefs are valid but, realistically a secession from Canada will cause economic destruction within the province. It has been reported that the province of Quebec has little economic backing in trade to finance a legitimate government in international politics. Also, issues concerning international trade and negotiations will become difficult to deal with as economic stability will not be immediately guaranteed. In addition to that, all the chaos from these problems will inevitably lead to Quebec’s citizens
For example, when the Parti Québécois leader René Lévesque proposed a sovereignty-association with Canada, which would enable Quebec to have political independence however they would have close economic ties with Canada in 1980, a separation seemed possible (Archibald, 2016). The referendum for a consensus on the sovereignty-association, held in May of 1980, resulted in a 60 percent rejection and thus the sovereignty-association between Quebec and Canada was not carried out (Hudon, 2013). Although the sovereignty-association referendum had ultimately failed, the Parti Québécois were re-elected in 1981, indicating that separatism itself had not yet died in the province and thus, the threat of Quebec’s independence was still very present (Stein, 2006). Quebec also isolated themselves from Canada when they had disagreed with the patriated and new Constitution in 1981, as their government felt that they were still not equal in comparison to the other provinces (Gall, 2006). All things considered, Quebec’s possible freedom from Canada became a real possibility in the 1980s and the threat of separatism was a key factor in the change of Quebec
The Quiet Revolution prompted Lester B. Pearson to establish the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism. It suggested making English and French the official languages of Canada in 1969, a colossal victory for Lesage and his allies, although they were no longer in power. The Lesage
Following a decade of classy and conventional living, the 1960’s was a decade filled with the Beatles, turtlenecks, Barbies, and afros. A decade where days were filled with tie dye shirts, and coloured televisions determined your social status. The 1960’s were also filled with racism and many were faced with unjust judgements and consequences for their actions. Africville, the Quiet Revolution and the official language act would prove to be remembered as legacies of these. However, through all of this emerged three events that would change Canadian history and how Canadians themselves viewed their country.
Sybil Ludington became famous for her ride to warn the Patriot militia of the British coming, similar to that of Paul Revere, but Sybil was only 16 years old. She completed her mission around daybreak of the night of April 26, 1777 at 9 pm, covering nearly 40 miles—more than twice what Paul Revere had ridden—raising 400 men, and even fighting off a highway man with her father 's musket. The militia caught up with the retreating British and beat them back, too late to stop the attack, but not too late to make them pay dearly. Sybil received personal thanks from both Gen. George Washington and Gen. Rochambeau, the French commander fighting with the Americans. Sybil’s story in America’s founding history, shows the qualities of patriotism, freedom, and youthful energy.
David Ryan 9-28-15 Period 6 Chapter 8, Sections 2-3 Section 2, Question 6 The biggest reason liberals and radicals would join together is because they both believed in nationalism. Radicals and liberals argued and discussed the problems of government. A brand new idea called nationalism movement was created. Nationalism is the belief that people 's biggest loyalty should not be to a ruler like a king or empire.
Canada enjoys the benefits of a “universal” insurance plan funded by the federal government. The idea of having a publicly administered, accessible hospital and medical services with comprehensive coverage, universality and portability has its own complex history, more so, than the many challenges in trying to accommodate the responsibility of a shared-cost agreement between federal and provincial governments. (Tiedemann, 2008) Canada’s health care system has gone through many reforms, always with the intent to deliver the most adequate health care to Canadians. The British North American Act, Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act, Saskatchewan’s Medical Care Act, and the Canada Health Act are four Acts that have played an important
There has been many times that the Quebec separatists’ movements have fought to have the province of Quebec removed from the confederation because they feel that the constitution does not properly support Quebecers needs. The separatists’ have been fighting to “recognize the francophone population in Quebec as a ‘nation’ or ‘distinct society.’” To have this level of recognition though for Quebec in the constitution there would have to be a major amendment made or a whole reworking of the constitution. When the Constitution Act, 1982 Quebec had major problems with it because the decisions “were made without Quebec’s consent.” The lack of consent has made many Quebecers mad about the Constitution because it changed a major part of Canadian law without the consent of one of the largest provinces.