Secondary four chapter 3 -part 3 quebec society

secondary 4 chapter 3

1. Chapter 3 –Part 3
QUEBEC SOCIETY IN THE 1960’S

3. Demographic Change
In the 1960’s, many changes transformed Western Socities. Quebec Society
was no different. These changes were apparent in Quebec’s demography,
consumer habits, attitudes, and urban development.
DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE :
Falling Birth Rate because….
Women were increasingly present in the labourforce and consequently could
no longer look after large families
Birth control was becoming more widespread. Women could chose whether
or not they wanted children
With this new change in attitude and new dominant values, not as much
importance was placed on large families.

4. Falling Birth Rate

5. More Diverse Immigration and Cultural
Communities
In the 1960’s, the federal government gradually changed its immigration policies.
It withdrew measures that limited immigration from Non-western countries.
Furthermore, since the labourmarket increasingly required professional qualifications,
it introduced in 1967, immigration criteria based on candidate’s training and needs of
the labourmarket.
Most immigrants were still Westeners-from Greece, Italy, Portugal and represented
25% of immigration.
During the 60’s, 40,000 French immigrants settled in Quebec.
However with the new federal immigration policies, immigrants from the West Indies,
India, Pakistan and other developing countries also settled in Quebec
The face of Quebec was becoming increasingly diverse.

7. Expansion of Consumer Society
IN the 1960’s the characteristics of a consumer society, which first appeared after the 2nd world war,
became more widespread.
The consumption of goods played a more dominant role in the daily lives of Quebecers. WHY??:
1.Wages in Quebec increased more than prices. Quebecer’s purchasing power therefore increased during
this period, which prompted greater consumption of goods.
2.Many goods became more affordable and therefore more accessible to a large majority of consumers
3.A growing variety of goods became available , responding to the needs if daily life
4.The development of leisure society created new markets and new products that were consumed to
occupy free time.
5.Fashion, propelled by a rapid increase in advertising, had a growing impact on consumers’spurchasing
decisions. People were acquiring new goods not out of need, but rather to show off the latest products
promoted through advertising.

9. A Period of Economic Growth
In the 1960’s and 1962 to 1967 in particular, were marked by economic
growth. Three major factors explain this growth:
1.PUBLIC INVESTMENT
2.MODERNIZATION OF MANUFACTURING COMPANIES
3.HOUSING CONSTRUCTION

10. A Period of Economic Growth: PUBLIC
INVESTMENT
During the 1960’s, the Quebec Government had to invest in a significant
amount of money to build the infrastructure required to modernize the
province.
This included the construction of new elementary and high schools,
university pavilions, hospitals, and buildings for civil service.
The government also invested in public infrastructure, including the
construction of roads, highways, bridges, and dams
Public Investment in these areas helped to stimulate the economic
activity.

12. The Manufacturing
Industry
Population growth and
the increasing
purchasing power of
Quebecers led to a
greater demand for
manufactured goods.
To meet this growing
consumer demand and
ensure the profitability of
their business,
manufactures invested
in the modernization of
their equipment. This
modernization process
led to increased
economic activity.

13. Housing
Construction
Population growth created a
higher demand for housing.
Quebecers purchasing power
meant that a growing number
of people could afford to buy a
house
These 2 factors led to the HUGE
growth in housing construction.
Many workers were hired to
meet the demand!

14. Industrial and Economic Change
Major Changes in Industry and the economy came with the modernization of
manufacturing companies. Three particularly stand out:
1.Production became increasingly automated. More complex machines and robots
took over production. They produced at a faster pace and ensured better quality.
Automation of production led to job losses, but other jobs were created in
technology sectors
2.The cost of modernization was very high. In certain industrial sectors, small and
medium sized enterprises had difficulty paying these costs. Many did not survive,
and production became concentrated in large companies.
3.Many companies closed down their outdated operations in old industrial
neighborhoods and opened modern plants. Plants were adapted to new
production needs and were located in new neighborhoods close to transportation
infrastructure, such as highways to better serve the market.

16. The relocation of businesses
Some companies decided to move their production outside Quebec,
mostly to Ontario. These decisions were based on Ontario/s strong
economic growth and the need to move production close to the main
consumer markets.
Toronto was undergoing major economic and demographic growth.
Starting in the 1960’s, it surpassed Montreal, becoming the biggest city and
the economic metropolis of Canada,.

17. The Development of Urban
Agglomerations
URBAN AGGLOMERATION: A locality comprising a large city and its
suburbs.
URBAN SPRAWL: The expansion of an urban territory close to a city
Starting in the 1960’s, more and more Quebecers were leaving the big
cities like Montreal and Quebec, to settle in the suburban municipalities
such as Laval, Longueuil, and Sainte Foy. Urban agglomerations
developed as a result of a number of phenomena :
(see next slide)

18. Urban Agglomerations
1.The influence of the American way of life presented living in The Suburbs as
a model od social success.
2.The development of infrastructure such as highways allowed for fast and
easy access to the suburbs
3.New factories established in the suburbs prompted people to move there
4.The middle class, in particular, found the suburbs to be an attractive place
to live. Services were accessible, houses came with large backyards and
neighborhoods were tranquil. These characteristics were hard to find in
the city, except in very wealthy neighborhoods.

19. Urban
Agglomerations
The development of
urban agglomerations
created a phenomenon
of URBAN SPRAWL,
which came with its own
consequences.
Over the years, traffic
grew heavier. Traffic
jams, particularly at rush
hour, multiplied.
Furthermore, the
development of the
Suburbs came at the
cost of surrounding
farmland.

20. CHANGING ATTITUDES
During the 1960’s, attitudes and values were evolving and changing in the
Western World. Quebec was no exception. The generation born during
the baby boom, known as the baby boomers did not hesitate to assert
themselves and question the values of their elders.
Feminists continued their struggle for women’s rights

21. The young Generation of Baby
Boomers
Children born during the Baby boom became adolescents and young adults in
the 1960’s/ During this decade, approx. 1.2 million youths turned 14.
Consequently, youth groups formed within Quebec Society during this period.
Quebec’s decision to reduce the minimum voting age from 21 to 18 in 1963 is a
reflection of this.
Baby boomers set themselves apart by openly opposing their parents values.
Some rejected values associated with consumer society, such as material
success. The situation gave rise to counter culture movements such as the
hippies at the 1960’s.
COUNTERCULTURE: A cultural movement that opposes the dominant culture.

23. Challenging Traditional Values
In the 1960’s, traditional values were being challenged more than ever
and many Quebecers chose to abandon them.
For example, fewer and fewer Quebecers were attending church.
In 1961, 61% Catholics attended church regularly. In 1971, this went down
to 30%.
The number of priests and members of religious communities was also
dropping, as recruitment became more difficult.
The number of marriages were also in decline. More and more Quebecers
were living in common-law relationships.

24. Women’s Rights
Women’s equality continued to be a major social issue in the 1960’s. legal rights and
abortion topped the list of feminists demands.
In 1964, Marie-Claire Kirkland Casgrainwas responsible for the adoption of the ACT
RESPECTIBG THE LEGAL CAPACITY OF MARRIED WOMEN .
This act allowed married women to carry out financial transactions, sign legal documents,
etcwithout asking for the husbands consent.
In 1966, the FEDERATION DES FEMMES DU QUEBEC (FFQ), a women’s federation, was
founded to advocate for women’s rights, particularly the right to abortion.
At the same time, abortion was considered a criminal act under the Criminal Code
In 1969, abortion was allowed under certain circumstances and with certain restrictions. It
was permitted if a committee of 3 doctors deemed that the women’s life or health was in
danger.

27. Indigenous Nations
Starting at the end of the 1960’s, there was greater mobilization among the
Indigenous nations in defenceof their rights. In 1969, the federal government
tables a WHITE PAPER entitled ‘statement of the Government of Canada on
Indian Policy.1969’.
In particular, it proposed:
•the withdrawal of the Indian Act and Indian status.
•Abolition of previous legal documents and treaties between first nations &
Canada
•The transformation of land on reserves into private property.
•Transfer of responsibility of social services (including education).
In Summary, the Government wanted the Indigenous people to be on the
same basis as other Canadians, without any special rights.

28. Indigenous Nations
The Indigenous people opposed these propositions.
They believed they would harm their ANCESTRIAL RIGHTS and threated
their land claims.
They also saw this as an effort to assimilate them.
The opposition was so strong that the Government decided to drop them.
WHITE PAPER: A document that presents government proposals and policy
direction in order to promote public debate.
ANCESTRAL RIGHT: a right derived from a practice of tradition belonging to
the culture of an Indigenous nation.