Quebec Society in the 1960s

Social CHANGES (Demographic) Falling Birth Rate: less people were having babies because: More women joined workforce, so they could not stay home and take care of many kids Easier access to birth control: women could control when and if they wanted kids New modern values did not see big families as important

Social CHANGES (Demographic) More Immigrants from Diverse Cultures: In 1967, the federal government ended the discriminatory immigrations policies (only Western-Europeans allowed). Immigrants were now accepted based on their education/training and the needs of the labour markets Many immigrants from the West Indes, India, Pakistan, and other countries settled in Montreal. Montreal became increasingly diverse.

Social ChangeS Expansion of a consumer society: The consumer society that started in the 1950s became even more widespread because, People bought more goods because their wages increased Many goods became more affordable People had more leisure (free) time Advertising and fashion encouraged people to buy what they wanted, not just what they needed Montreal 1960s-Pictures

Territorial Chances Development of Suburbs: during the 1960s more and more people began to move from the big city (Montreal) towards suburbs (Laval, Longueuil, West Island). CAUSES CONSEQUENCES Influence of American culture made the suburbs seems like a measure of success (big house, big backyard, car, etc). Development of highway systems made it easier for people to have fast and easy access to the suburbs New factories established in the suburbs encouraged people to move there Growing Middle Class found suburbs to be appealing Urban Sprawl: the urban territory expands (gets bigger) More traffic jams (as people travel into the city for word) Loss of farmland: surrounding agricultural territories were converted into suburbs

Economic Changes The Economy continued to GROW during the 1960s because of: Public investment: the government paid for the construction of schools, hospitals, roads, highways, bridges, dams, and the METRO SYSTEM! All of these projects helped to create MANY jobs. Modernizing the manufacturing industry: companies had to make MORE products, to meet the consumers’ demands. So, they modernized their equipment to be able to produce and sell more! Housing Construction: because of population growth, and an increase in purchasing power, Quebecers were able to buy homes. Many new houses had to be built, creating many jobs.

Economic Changes Jobs in the manufacturing industry replaced by jobs in the technology sectors: more machines are used for making products, so less jobs are available for humans. Relocation of businesses: Companies decide to leave Quebec and move to Ontario. Toronto started to become the economic capital of Canada (instead of Montreal)

Review Questions Starting in 1960, what happened to the birth rate in Quebec? What explains the arrival of increasingly diverse immigrants to Quebec after 1967? Why did Quebecers’ purchasing power increase during the 1960s? What are the three main factors that explain the economic growth in the 1960s? What are two problems related to urban sprawl?

CULTURAL CHANGES The rise of counterculture: rising opposition to the dominant culture (challenging traditional values) During the 1960s, the Baby-Boomers became teenagers and young adults. They participated in many social justice movements (peace, equality, and protect the environment) Fewer Quebecers attended Church (in 1971, only 30% of people attended Church regularly) Number of priests and religious communities decreased More divorces (1968- law made it easier to get a divorce) Counterculture

How have these historical events shaped our realities?

Legal/POLITICAL CHANGES for minorities Women’s Rights: In 1964, Marie-Claire Kirkland-Casgrain passed a law that allowed married women to carry out financial transactions, sign legal documents, etc, without their husband’s consent. (Act Respecting the Legal Capacity of Married Women). In 1966 the FFQ (Fédération des femmes du Québec) was created, advocating for women’s rights In 1969: abortion became legal under certain conditions: a panel of three doctors had to agree that a woman’s life or health was in danger.

Legal/POLITICAL CHANGES for minorities Decriminalization of homosexuality: In 1969, Trudeau decriminalized homosexuality: it was no longer illegal to be gay (Omnibus Bill) But, there was still a lot of discrimination against sexual minorities: police raids, seen as being “mentally-ill”, refused housing and employment Advocacy groups formed to continue to demand legal protection against discrimination.

Legal/POLITICAL CHANGES for minorities Indigenous nations mobilizing: 1969: White Paper: Trudeau proposed to abolish the Indian Act and Indian Status as well as all legal documents and treaties between First Nations and Canada. Indigenous populations mobilized to oppose this proposal because they saw it as an attack on their ancestral rights and their land claims. They also saw these proposals as an attempt to assimilate them. Instead, Indigenous nations demanded more political, economic and social autonomy for their communities. (Cardinal’s Red Paper)

Trudeau’s Response: Do you Agree? “We’ll keep them in the ghetto as long as they want.”

Review Questions What rights were women advocating for in the 1960s? Describe the counterculture that emerged during the 1960s and 1970s. Indicate how the Omnibus Bill demonstrates social change in Quebec and Canada. Why did Indigenous peoples reject the white paper entitled Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian Policy in 1969?