1. The Modernization of Quebec Society
CHAPTER 6:
The Modernization of Quebec Society

2. pgs
Lesson 8:
Quebec in the 1970s
The reforms of the Quiet Revolution SLOWED
down in the ‘70s and the economy struggled.
Who was ROBERT BOURASSA?
Robert BOURASSA was the LIBERAL PREMIER of Quebec from He faced many political and social challenges. His main focus was on:
job creation;
less government intervention;
the economic development of Quebec.

3. While Bourassa was in power, separatists became more radical. How?
The FLQ [Front de Liberation du Quebec] became violent. Founded in 1963, this group advocated armed struggle and attacked British symbols of colonialism and English power in Quebec. For example, the FLQ:
bombed statues of British historical figures;
placed bombs in mailboxes in English neighbourhoods;
kidnapped liberal provincial minister Pierre Laporte [later found dead].
These actions led to the OCTOBER CRISIS in To restore order, the federal government enacted the WAR MEASURES ACT which allowed them to:
conduct searches without warrants;
arrest suspected FLQ supporters;
call in the Canadian army to secure
and occupy Montreal.

4. Minister Pierre Laporte is killed after being kidnapped!
The October Crisis
Cleaning up after a bombing in Westmount - the FLQ would bomb symbols of British colonialism and English power.
Prime Minister Trudeau invokes the War Measures Act to gain control of the situation...
Minister Pierre Laporte is killed after being kidnapped!

5. The PARTI QUEBECOIS rises to power:
The PQ won the 1976 election under the leadership of Rene LEVESQUE.
Their policies?
strongly interventionist;
wanted political/constitutional/legal SOVEREIGNTY [independence] for Quebec.
They held a REFERENDUM on the issue
of sovereignty in Quebecers had
to vote on whether they wanted Quebec
to separate from Canada. The result?
59.56 % vote NO
40.44 % vote YES
[A bit too close for comfort!]

6. What explains the ECONOMIC DECLINE in the 1970s?
The economy experienced a SLOWDOWN in the 1970s due to:
in price of oil
competition [from Asia]
unemployment in price of goods = in purchasing power
Bourassa tried to make things better by creating jobs. He:
encouraged foreign investors to establish
businesses in Quebec;
initiated large construction projects;
proposed we build hydroelectric dams
in James Bay & La Grande Riviere.

7. How did ABORIGINALS react to the construction of HYDROELECTRIC DAMS?
Initially, they were not consulted on
the JAMES BAY PROJECT. They worried
about its effects on their environment
and way of life. They sued the government
and following negotiations, the James Bay
and Northern Quebec Agreement was
signed in This gave them:
financial compensation [$$$];
a promise that their traditional
way of life will be protected.
Note: The James Bay project was dubbed the PROJECT OF THE CENTURY due to the amount of jobs it would create!

8. What SOCIAL ISSUES surfaced in the 1970s?
A] WORK RELATIONS:
Three unions merged to form a COMMON FRONT [1972] to protest inequality and
social problems as well as to negotiate better working conditions. As a result:
HEALTH INSURANCE & CLSC’s were set up [1972];
FREE MEDS provided to seniors;
MATERNITY LEAVE is possible.
B] THE FRENCH LANGUAGE:
With new immigrants choosing English over French, Francophones worried and new
laws emerged:
1974: The Loi sur la langue officielle makes French the only OFFICIAL
LANGUAGE of QC
1977: BILL 101 [aka: the Charter of the French language] forced French
on public signs and forced immigrant children into French
schools.