June 22, 1960 The Quiet Revolution

The arrival in power of the Liberal Party of Jean Lesage marked the beginning of the Quiet Revolution, an intense period of rapid change brought on by a new Québec nationalism. Characterized by a desire to "catch up" and modernize Québec, this revolution triggered a profound transformation of the state, its institutions, its personnel, and its role in society. It bore witness to the creation of a welfare state and the desire of francophones to increase their control of the province's economic sphere. It reformed the education and health and social services sectors, bringing about a rapid secularization. Giving precedence to national affirmation, it led to the calling into question of the balance of power in the Canadian federation, and to Québec playing a greater role on the international scene. The Quiet Revolution is deeply rooted in the collective psyche and has become a key reference in the history of contemporary Québec.

September 6, 1960 Les insolences du frère untel

Les insolences du frère untel (the impertinences of Brother Somebody), written by a friar and teacher, Jean-Paul Desbiens, was launched. He denounced the weaknesses of the education system in Québec and also brought to light the weakness of spoken French that he described as "joual". A true best seller, this book had a considerable impact at the beginning of the Quiet Revolution.

September 29, 1960 CSN

The CTCC became the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN). More than a name change, this gesture marked the end of the secularization of Québec society begun in the postwar period. From then on, the CSN distinguished itself through its militancy and managed to substantially increase its number of members in the 60s, especially in the public and parapublic sectors.

December 15, 1960 Hospital Insurance

Through its Hospital Insurance Act, Québec adhered to the shared costs program launched by the federal government in 1957. This provided the population with universal and free access to basic hospital care. Up until then, the majority of Quebecers had to pay for care, the destitute being the only ones entitled to free care (since 1921).

February 13, 1961 Télé-Métropole

The coming on the air of Télé-Métropole, channel 10, drastically changed the television landscape, causing Radio-Canada to lose its monopoly. Subsequently, Télé-Métropole took the helm of a private network called TVA.

March 24, 1961 Cultural Affairs

Québec created a Department of Cultural Affairs to promote the development of arts and letters in and outside the province of Québec. This decision, taken in the context of the Quiet Revolution, showed the intention of the Lesage government to play a more dynamic role in society. The modest appropriations granted to the new department somewhat limited its capacity to act, but in the long term, its presence had a considerable impact on the development of cultural institutions.

March 24, 1961 Parent Commission

The Royal Commission of Inquiry on Education (Parent Commission), chaired by Monsignor Alphonse-Marie Parent, was created. It was one of the most important commissions of inquiry in all of Québec's history. It was at the heart of the vast school reform undertaken in the 60s. After a lengthy study of the problems, the Commission recommended the creation of a department of education, the changing of the school system in order to ensure a unified and integrated progression, the setting up of a pre-university level (the future cegeps), and the modernization of teaching curriculums.

October 5, 1961 Québec in Paris

Jean Lesage inaugurated the Maison du Québec in Paris, which houses the quarters of the General Delegation in charge of representing the interests of Québec in France. There was already a Québec delegation in New York, and one in London in 1962, and others would follow. These delegations abroad first played an economic role, but soon thereafter, especially in Paris, they were given a role of cultural then political representation.

December 14, 1961 First elected woman

Claire Kirkland-Casgrain, a Liberal Party candidate, won the by-elections in the Jacques-Cartier riding in the suburbs of Montréal. She was the first woman elected to the Legislative Assembly and the first cabinet minister. She would leave her mark by introducing a bill that would give married women legal rights (1964).

July 6, 1962 General Investment Corporation (GIC)

The Act to incorporate the General Investment Corporation of Québec was assented to. The GIC was one of the collective economic instruments created during the Quiet Revolution. Its mission was to contribute to the industrial development of Québec by taking a share in company ownership. First soliciting public and private capital, it was converted into a full-fledged government corporation in 1972 when the government became the sole shareholder.

September 13, 1962 Place Ville-Marie

Place Ville-Marie in Montréal was inaugurated. Dominated by its famous 45-floor cross-shaped tower, this office building complex marked a major step in the development of the new downtown of the metropolis. It was the first of a generation of big multifunctional building complexes. With its boutiques and a corridor linking it to the Central Station and a hotel, it kicked off the beginning of the underground city.

February 22, 1963 Nationalization of Electricity

Hydro-Québec sent a takeover bid to the shareholders of large private electricity companies which produced or distributed electricity in Québec. The nationalization of electricity, proposed by René Lévesque, the Minister of Natural Resources, was the dominant theme in the 1962 election campaign that Jean Lesage's Liberals led using the slogan  "Maîtres chez nous" (masters in our own house). On April 30, 1963, the operation was terminated and would be completed later for most cooperatives and small local distribution networks. From then on, Hydro-Québec was in charge of the development and sales of electricity throughout Québec. Only industrial companies such as Alcan, which produced electricity for their own needs, were not nationalized.

March 6, 1963 FLQ

The Front de libération du Québec (Quebec Liberation Front), a movement using terrorism with a view to advancing the cause of independence and socialism, was founded. Its militants made a great number of bombing attempts. Their most spectacular terrorist activity took place in 1970, triggering the October Crisis. The FLQ disappeared in 1971.

July 19, 1963 Laurendeau-Dunton Commission

The federal government created the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, co-chaired by André Laurendeau and Davidson Dunton, whose work continued until 1969. It ordered many studies, some of which showed the extent of the minority and subordinate position of francophones in the economy of Québec. The Commission recommended that the federal government and its institutions become truly bilingual and provide services in the language of the minority wherever warranted by demand. It also proposed the creation of bilingual districts where services at all levels would be available in both French and English.

November 16, 1963 Cascades

The Lemaire family, active in the field of recycling, produced its first sample of paper in an old mill in Kingsey Falls. This was the start of Cascades Inc., created in 1964, which was to become a major Québec company and a multinational paper maker.

March 19, 1964 Department of Education

Relying on a recommendation of the Parent Commission, the Lesage government created the Department of Education, which took over from the Conseil de l’Instruction publique (1875). This mesure provoked the resistance of the bishops who, after negotiating, obtained solid guarantees regarding the confessional character of the school system. Along with the department, a superior council of education was created.

June 15, 1964 Journal de Montréal

Taking advantage of a strike at La Presse, Pierre Péladeau launched the first issue of the Journal de Montréal, a popular tabloid daily newspaper with an emphasis on sports and miscellaneous events. It was the cornerstone of the newspaper and publishing empire of the future Quebecor. Starting in 1967, the publication expanded, founding the Journal de Québec in the Old Capital, followed by several other dailies and weeklies.

June 18, 1964 Rights of married women

Up until 1964, Québec's Civil Code maintained the inequality of rights between spouses. Married woman were treated like minors and could not sign a contract or carry out any legal transactions without obtaining their husbands' consent. The legislation passed in 1964, known as "Bill 16", ended this legal incapacity and won acceptance for the principle of equality between spouses.

July 22, 1964 Labour Code

A new labour code, which met the expectations of the union movement, was adopted. In addition to simplifying the collective bargaining process, it granted the right to strike to certain categories of utility workers, a right that would be extended the following year to teachers and then to civil service employees.

February 15, 1965 Canadian flag

The red and white maple leaf flag became the official flag of Canada, replacing the Red Enseign (colours of the British flag) which had been used unofficially for a long time. Its adoption was the subject of very long debates in the House of Commons in 1964, but it quickly gained popularity, especially in English Canada. In Québec, its use was less widespread given the popularity of the fleur de lis. Tensions in federal provincial relations are often expressed through "flag wars".

February 27, 1965 France-Québec Cooperation

A cooperation agreement in the field of education was signed in Paris between France and Québec. It put in place an exchange program and the mechanisms to manage it. As the first international agreement signed by Québec, it marked the point of departure of a vast movement of cooperation and exchanges with France, which subsequently intensified.

July 15, 1965 Québec Pension Plan

Since the public or private employer pension plans at that time only covered a minority of workers, the Québec government created a pension plan for the entire population. It distinguished itself by setting up its own pension plan while the other provinces adhered to the Canada Pension Plan proposed by the federal government. The new pension plan was administered by the Régie des rentes du Québec and its funds managed by the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, two organizations that were created at the same time.

July 15, 1965 Caisse de dépôt

The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec was created. Its first task was to manage the funds of the Québec Pension Plan. Following that, the Québec government entrusted it with the management of other retirement funds. In a few years, the Caisse became the largest retirement fund in Canada and a major player on the financial markets. It also contributed to the economic development of Québec by investing in several Québec firms and the real estate sector.

August 6, 1965 City of Laval

The Charter of the City of Laval, which merged the 14 municipalities of Île Jésus, was adopted. In the wake of the postwar period, the muncipalities expanded rapidly because of the development of the automobile and Montréalers moving to the suburbs. The merger was perceived as being a means of ensuring a more orderly development of the territory. It gave rise, however, to some resistance and several of the merged municipalities held referendums in which citizens were strongly opposed to the forced annexations. The new city ranked second in population in Québec (after Montréal).

August 6, 1965 Civil Service

The Civil Service Act marked an important step in the carrying out of one of the grand objectives of the Quiet Revolution: to establish a more qualified civil service with better defined tasks and recruitment exempt from political favouritism. A new Quebec Civil Service Commission was set up and civil servants obtained the right to strike.

March 11, 1966 Fédération des femmes du Québec

The letters patent creating the Fédération des femmes du Québec, whose founding congress took place the following April 23, were issued. Grouping both individual members and associations, the federation aimed at coordinating their social action work. Over the years, it intervened regularly to promote the cause of women. It distinguished itself by organizing the "Du pain et des roses" walk and then the "World March of Women" in the year 2000.

October 14, 1966 The Metro (Montréal's subway system)

The Montréal Metro opened. Serving 26 stations, it covered 25 km. Subsequent extensions brought the total length to 66 km, with 65 stations. The metro trains were of French design and had rubber tires. The Metro transported 209 million passengers in 2000.

April 27, 1967 Expo 67

The Universal and International Exhibition of 1967 that took place in Montréal opened on April 27 and closed on October 29. Composed mainly of national pavilions and theme pavilions, it also featured a vast range of shows and cultural activities. Attracting over 500 million visitors, Expo 67 saw considerable success and had a major impact on a whole generation of Quebecers. Mayor Jean Drapeau, seeking to prolong the spirit of this collection of international pavilions "Man and his World", kept an annual exposition on the site for a few years.

June 29, 1967 Cegeps

The General and Vocational Colleges Act was passed. It caused the demise of a multi-secular institution, the classical college. Cegeps offered two-year pre-university programs and three-year vocational programs not usually leading to a university degree.

July 23, 1967 De Gaulle

General Charles de Gaulle, the President of the French Republic, arrived in Québec. The next day he left Québec City and took the chemin du roi to Montréal and then gave his famous "Vive le Québec libre" speech from the balcony of Montréal's city hall. This pleased the separatists but provoked the ire of the federalists and the disapproval of the federal government. De Gaulle then shortened his visit and returned to France without going to Ottawa.

August 12, 1967 Bibliothèque nationale

The Bibliothèque nationale du Québec was created. It was housed in the building of the old Saint-Sulpice library in Montréal, inheriting its book collections and other documents. It was called on to play a central role in preserving Quebec's published documentary heritage.

August 16, 1967 Immigration

The Canadian government presented its new immigration regulations. It removed the remaining elements of racial or ethnic discrimination, which had for a long time characterized Canada's immigration policy and had been started to be dismantled in 1962. It also established a point-based system of selecting immigrants. From that point on, the ethnic composition of immigrants changed rapidly, with growing numbers from other continents than Europe.

November 23, 1967 Estates General

The first national meeting of the Estates General of French Canada was held. The Québec delegates, in the majority, proclaimed Québec the national territory of French Canadians. In so doing, they broke with the image of Québec that had prevailed for a century. Henceforth, their counterparts from the other provinces, whose needs and objectives no longer coincided with theirs, were led to choosing a distinct strategy, based on the defence of minorities and backed by the federal government.

December 20, 1967 Laviolette Bridge

The bridge crossing over the St. Lawrence connecting the city of Trois-Rivières to Bécancour was inaugurated. It was named after the founder and first military commander of Trois-Rivières, Sieur de Laviolette.

March 25, 1968 Power Corporation

The merger of Valeurs Trans-Canada, headed by Paul Desmarais, and Power Corporation, presided by Peter Thomson, was announced. This was the first step of a process that would allow Desmarais, a rising star in the financial world, to obtain control of Power Corporation. He turned it into a very large firm, with subsidiaries in Canada and abroad.

September 26, 1968 Manic 5

The ceremony celebrating the completion of the Manic 5 dam was interrupted by the death a few hours before of Prime Minister Daniel Johnson. This dam, 1.3 km long, was the most imposing of the complex of dams and hydroelectric plants built on the Manicouagan and Outardes rivers. Carried out during the euphoric atmosphere of the 60s and the Quiet Revolution, this grand project took on the value of a symbol. Built especially by francophone engineers and workers, it became a source of collective pride for Québecers. In 1969, the dam was named Daniel-Johnson, in honour of the late prime minister.

November 5, 1968 Ministère de l'immigration

Québec set up its own department of immigration. The long-time awaited creation of this department, contrasts with the apathy that had long characterized the Québec government in this area. The main objective of the new department was to facilitate better integration into francophone society and, in 1970, it took over the Centres d’orientation et de formation des immigrants (COFI) established by the Department of Education. It also sent information officers abroad to inform immigrants and attract francophone immigrants.

November 14, 1968 Civil marriage

A new law instituted civil marriage in Québec. Up until then, all marriages had to be celebrated by a Catholic priest or a minister of another religion, who kept the register of civil status. They are still able to celebrate religious marriages acknowledged civilly, but couples may now choose to get married at the courthouse before the protonotary or deputy prothonotary.

November 14, 1968 Public Protector

Inspired by the Scandinavian model of the ombudsman, the Québec government passed the Public Protector Act. Exercising wide autonomy, the role of this high-ranking civil servant is to investigate the complaints of citizens about the administration of public services and to obtain redress when so required.

December 9, 1968 Gendron Commission

In the context of the language crisis in Saint-Léonard, the government created the Commission of Inquiry on the Situation of the French Language and Linguistic Rights in Québec. Chaired by Jean-Denis Gendron, it tabled its report on December 31, 1972, recommending that French become "the common language of Québecers" and proposing its increased use in the workplace. It also affirmed the government's right to legislate on the language of schooling.

December 18, 1968 National Assembly

The Legislative Assembly was renamed the National Assembly of Québec and the Legislative Council, the Upper House of the Québec legislature, in existence since 1867 and whose historic roots date back to the creation of parliamentary institutions in Québec, was abolished.

December 18, 1968 Université du Québec

The creation of the Université du Québec meets a two-pronged need: a second French-language university in Montréal and regional university services. Set up as a network, like the public universities of several American states, it established local branches in Montréal, Trois-Rivières, Chicoutimi and Rimouski, then in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Hull. It also includes research institutes and specialized schools. Its most important component is the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) which, since 1989, has had the status of associate university, giving it more autonomy.

March 28, 1969 A McGill français

A spectacular manifestation was organized in front of McGill University in Montréal by independantist and union militants. Brandishing the slogan "A McGill français", the protestors called for both the creation of a second French-language University in the metropolis and increased francization of University McGill.

July 9, 1969 Official Languages of Canada

The Official Languages Act established the language policy of the federal government led by Pierre Elliott Trudeau. It stated that "the English and French languages are the official languages of Canada for all purposes of the Parliament and Government of Canada" and that they "possess and enjoy equality of status and equal rights and privileges". The Act is based on the recognition of the individual right of citizens to receive services in their language anywhere in Canada if the numbers so warrant. It also created the position of Official Language Commissioner, the person in charge of ensuring compliance with the Act.

September 10, 1969 Riot in Saint-Léonard

Since 1967, the issue of the language of education of allophone children has divided the community of Léonard, a city in the Montréal suburbs. Francophone parents asked for mandatory French language education but parents of Italian origin, supported by the Anglophones, defended the freedom of being able to choose either English or French. The former formed the Mouvement pour l’intégration scolaire (MIS), while the latter set up the Saint Leonard English Catholic Association of Parents. In September 1969, the MIS organized a series of manifestations in Saint-Léonard, triggering confrontations which led the mayor of the city to proclaim the Riot Act. The events in Saint-Léonard marked the beginning of what was called "the language battle". This battle affected the whole of Québec and forced several successive governments to legislate.

November 28, 1969 Bill 63

The unionist government of Jean-Jacques Bertrand adopted the Act to promote the French Language in Québec (known as Bill 63). It was the first in a series of language laws passed in the last third of the 20th century. It aimed at settling the language crisis in Saint-Léonard. The Act gave parents the freedom to choose between French and English as the language of schooling for their children. It also provided that all children enrolled in English schools had to acquire a working knowledge of the French language. Instead of calming linguistic tensions, the adoption of the Act stoked the militancy of supporters of a French Québec.

December 12, 1969 Social Assistance

The Social Aid Act profoundly transformed social assistance. First, it took over all the specialized programs set up since the putting in place of Québec's social assistance system in 1921. Then it set up an assistance plan modulated according to the resources and needs of recipients and their family situation.

March 20, 1970 Cooperation agency

The Agence de coopération culturelle et technique des pays francophones was officially created in Niamey, the principle of which had been adopted the previous year. Québec was given the status of participating government under the terms and conditions that were the object of an agreement with the Government of Canada in 1971. The ACCT eventually became the Agence de la Francophonie.

July 17, 1970 Health Insurance

A system of universal health care coverage was provided for under the Health Insurance Act. The previous year, the Québec government had created the Régie de l’assurance maladie, giving it the mandate to prepare the setting up of the system and to administrate it. The federal government contributed to the financing in part along with individuals and employers. In July 1970, recipients started receiving their health insurance cards and the plan came into effect on November 1 of the same year.

October 5, 1970 October Crisis

The diplomat James Richard Cross was kidnapped by a cell of the Front de libération du Québec that demanded the release of some political prisoners and the broadcasting of its manifesto. On October 10, Minister Pierre Laporte was in turn kidnapped by another FLQ cell and killed on the 17th, causing an unprecedented political crisis. The Bourassa government was overtaken by the events and its federal counterpart enforced the War Measures Act. The army was posted in the streets of Montréal and over 450 people were arrested. Most of them were released subsequently. The crisis ended on December 3 when Mr. Cross was let go.

November 7, 1970 Pierre-Laporte Bridge

The new bridge linking Québec City to the south shore of the St. Lawrence River was inaugurated. The name initially chosen — pont Frontenac — was replaced by Pierre-Laporte Bridge, in honour of the Minister who died during the October crisis.

April 30, 1971 James Bay

Premier Robert Bourassa announced "the project of the century": the hydroelectric harnessing of the La Grande and Eastmain rivers in the James Bay basin and the construction of several hydroelectric power stations. The carrying out of this project was hampered by the union conflicts that caused the ransacking of the James Bay construction site in 1974. The planned development also aroused the discontent of the aboriginals with whom the government was to conclude an agreement, i.e. the James Bay Agreement, entered into in 1975. The work, of an exceptional scale, was carried out over a few years and the first power station, LG-2, was inaugurated on October 25, 1979.

June 23, 1971 Charter of Victoria

Robert Bourassa announced that Québec could not accept the Charter of Victoria, a project to reform and repatriate the Canadian constitution to which the Prime Minister of Canada and the provincial premiers agreed a week before. This project caused a general outcry in Québec whose demands regarding decentralization and social policies had not been met, thus causing Robert Bourassa, the Premier of Québec, to withdraw his support.

June 29, 1971 Small Claims Court

The Act promoting access to justice established a small claims court for cases related to claims under $300 (this amount has been increased several times since then). This simplified procedures and eliminated the need for lawyers and set fees that were both standard and modest. This law was a boon for ordinary taxpayers who, up until then, had to pay substantial court fees for claims involving small sums of money.

July 14, 1971 Consumer Protection

The Consumer Protection Act aims at providing a framework for the rights and duties of consumers and merchants who sign credit and loan contracts. The administration of this Act was entrusted to a new Office de protection du consommateur whose role was to educate the consumer, especially through its magazine Protégez-vous.

December 24, 1971 CLSCs

The Health and Social Services Act reorganized Québec's entire health care system. Its main innovation was the local community service centre (CLSC). CLSCs were designed to be the gateway into the system, for both health care and social services. It would take several years to set up CLSCs throughout Québec and this initiative would sometimes meet with resistance.

April 11, 1972 Common Front Strike

The three major labour federations formed a coalition to negotiate the collective agreements in the public and parapublic sectors. The general strike was launched on April 11, 1972. Back-to-work legislation was tabled on the 21st, but the leaders of the three federations recommended defying the Act and the injunctions and they were sentenced to one year in prison. At the end of the negotiations, union members obtained their principal demand: a minimum salary of $100 a week.

May 22, 1972 CSD

The union leaders of the CSN, dissatisfied with the radicalization of their federation, decided to form a new one called the Centrale des syndicats démocratiques. This federation was mainly comprised of workers from the traditional sectors of the manufacturing (clothing, textile, metallurgy) and construction industries mainly in SMEs in outlying areas.

July 8, 1972 Legal aid

The Legal Aid Act provides the economically disadvantaged with free legal counsel. This assistance program is paid for by the Québec government, which created the Commission des services juridiques to administer the Act.

July 6, 1973 Conseil du statut de la femme

The Conseil du statut de la femme was created. An advisory body, it conducts surveys and advises the Québec government on issues regarding equality, womens' rights, and the status of women. Its creation bore witness to the strength of the womens' rights movements at the dawn of the 70s. In 1978, the Council produced a major report called Pour les Québécoises : égalité et indépendance.

July 31, 1974 Bill 22

The government of Robert Bourassa adopted the Official Languages Act (commonly called Bill 22). It affirmed French as the official language of Québec and contained measures to increase the francization of the workplace and in-house communications in companies. It restricted the access of allophones to English schools by requiring their children to write language tests. It also created the Régie de la langue française. Perceived as too soft by a great number of francophone nationalists and as discriminatory by the majority of anglophones and allophones, Bill 22 revived the language battle.

August 24, 1974 Concordia University

Concordia University was created by the merger of two Montréal institutions: Loyola College, founded by the Jesuits in 1899 to serve Catholic anglophones, and Sir George Williams University, initially established by the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) to give courses to adults and which obtained its university status in 1959. It was the second English-language university in Montréal, after McGill (1821).

January 19, 1975 Radio-Québec

A new television network, Radio-Québec, went on the air with its own stations. Since 1968, Radio-Québec had been producing shows that were broadcast by other networks or by cable. Government-owned, Radio-Québec's mission was educational and cultural. In 1996, it was renamed Télé-Québec.

June 27, 1975 Charter of rights

The Québec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms was adopted. It has precedence over all other legislation, although the National Assembly can derogate from it on certain conditions. It guarantees Quebecers a certain number of fundamental rights and prohibits discrimination. A human rights commission was set up to ensure compliance with the Charter and to investigate possible cases of discrimination.

October 4, 1975 Mirabel Airport

Mirabel Airport was inaugurated. The decision of the federal authorities to build a second international airport in Montréal fuelled a quarrel over the location of the site. The Québec government wanted it to be on the south shore, but, in 1969, the federal government chose a site north of Montréal. It expropriated a considerable quantity of farmland, causing a movement of contestation which lasted for several years. The airport handled international (except for the United States), regular and chartered flights. In 1997, regular international flights were transferred back to Dorval, leaving Mirable with charter flights only.

November 11, 1975 James Bay Agreement

The James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement was entered into between, on the one part, the Cree and the Inuit and, on the other, the Québec and Canadian governments. Negotiated following the legal contestation of the James Bay hydroelectric project, it marked an important step in the recognition of the rights of the native peoples. The Agreement defined their territorial rights and guaranteed them an indemnity of $225 million. It also provided them with a certain measure of self-government and economic development and community programs.

July 17, 1976 Olympic Games

The 21st Olympics opened in Montréal on July 17, 1976 and closed on August 1st. Their organization was carried out in controversy due to the spiralling increase in the construction costs of the facilities, and, in particular, of the Olympic stadium. The ensuing considerable debt had still not been extinguished at the end of the 20th century. The Games were a success and were marked by the performance of the Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, "the Queen of the Olympics".

August 26, 1977 Bill 101

The government of René Lévesque passed the Charter of the French Language (commonly called Bill 101). Stepping up the francization policy in Québec already initiated by three previous language laws, it limited access to English schools to children one of whose parents did his or her studies in an English primary school in Québec. It also prohibited the use of English on commercial signs and extended the application the francization requirement set down in Bill 22 and made it more coercitive. Legal decisions would later on invalidate or lessen the scope of some of these measures, but the Charter had a considerable impact on the status of the French language in Québec.

February 20, 1978 Cullen-Couture Agreement

The agreement, signed by the federal and provincial Ministers of Immigration Bud Cullen and Jacques Couture, followed the more restrictive agreements concluded in 1971 and 1975. This agreement allowed Québec to participate in the immigrant selection process. It also gave it more control over immigration to Québec, from the choice of candidates up to their adaptation to their host society.

December 22, 1978 Agricultural zoning

The Act to preserve agricultural land put an end to the worries caused by the constantly decreasing amount of farmland due to urbanization. It created a committee responsible for land-use zoning and for giving its opinion on land conversion projects for uses other than farming.

June 22, 1979 Stock Savings Plan

The Act respecting the stock savings plan was assented to. It granted a tax credit to individuals who purchased shares in Québec companies quoted on the stock market. This plan promoted a better capitalization of several young Québec companies, often modest in size. It often led to abuses, which the 1987 stock market crash put an end to.

June 29, 1979 National Bank of Canada

The merger of the Canadian National Bank and the Provincial Bank, creating the National Bank of Canada was announced. Like both of its components, the new company, was managed by francophones and its head office was in Montréal. The merger was approved by shareholders on September 4 of the same year.