Major Accomplishments
The Lesage government’s rule significantly contributed to social, economic and political changes in Quebec society as well as strengthened the Québécois identity during the Quiet Revolution. The modernization of Quebec was Lesage’s main objective and many of his goals were based around this objective. In addition, the numerous changes that were made reflected the French-Canadian identity specifically that of the Québécois because Lesage wanted to strengthen Quebec nationalism.
During his rule, Lesage achieved many great changes in Quebec which he and his fellow Quebecers were extremely proud of. Lesage believed that French Canadians could very well develop as a modern people within Canada without losing their identity.
One of the major and most successful changes made by the Lesage government was the secularization of Quebec from the Roman Catholic Church. Education reform was one of the most prominent examples of this secularization. Lesage rejected the role of the Church which had previously controlled the school system and revamped it. He wanted the state of Quebec to provide education for everyone and instill in them Québécois values as well as produce a better skilled labour force. The mandatory schooling age was also increased from 14 to 16. The Ministry of Education was created in 1964 with Paul Gérin-Lajoie becoming Quebec’s first Minister of education.
Another major success which Quebec is extremely proud of-even until today-is Hydro-Québec and the nationalization of the province’s hydro-electricity. “The nationalization of electricity was ‘a logical extension’ of the government’s goal of growth …based primarily, unfalteringly on the promotion of the French-Canadian people.” With great assistance from René Lévesque, the 11 remaining private power companies were bought out and Hydro-Québec began supplying, distributing and transmitting the entire province’s energy. The Lesage government’s success of Hydro-Québec represents strength, determination and initiative.
Other major economic accomplishments included: the creation of the Société générale de financement which encouraged Quebecers to invest in their future and provided capital for private and mainly Francophone enterprises; the creation of public companies like the Société de Montage Automobile (SOMA) which assembled French automobiles in Quebec, the Société Québecoise d’Exploration Minière (SOQUEM) which ensured that mining resources would be developed in the interests of Quebecers and Sidérurgie Québécoise (SIDBEC) which was established as an integrated steel plant.
Furthermore, during Lesage’s time as Premier, Quebec also took over health care from the Church, was the only province to opt out of the national pension plan in order to create its own version, the Quebec Pension Plan; it formed the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec to invest in the pension plan funds and the Régie des rentes du Québec to manage the plan; it revamped the province’s labour force by giving public-sector workers the right to strike; and it laid a foundation for the creation of post-secondary Collèges d’Enseignement Général et Professionnel (CEGEPS) in the area of education.
Read more about this topic: Jean Lesage, Biography
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