A People's History of Quebec by Lacoursiere Jacques & Philpot Robin

Author:Lacoursiere, Jacques & Philpot, Robin [Lacoursiere, Jacques]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781926824147
Publisher: Independent Publishers Group
Published: 2009-06-30T21:00:00+00:00

On April 25, 1849, English-speaking rioters opposed to the Rebellion Losses Bill set fire to the Parliament of United Canada located in the Marché Sainte-Anne at Place d’Youville in Old Montreal. Ironically, the man who started the fire, Alfred Perry, was a volunteer fireman and captain of the fire squad known as the Hook and Ladder and Hose.

CHAPTER 8

A Province Unlike the Others

Even though Confederation had become a fact the Liberal Party in Quebec continued to denounce it. Liberal leader Antoine-Aimé Dorion described the apprehended catastrophe in six short points: “1) Confederation is a loathsome act because the French language will be banned and our religion threatened; 2) It will necessitate additional expenditures and direct taxing; 3) It will bring on conscription and military enrolment; 4) It will lead to enormous spending on fortifications and on the inter-colonial railroad; 5) It will ruin industry and the workers; 6) It will put the Americans against us.”

The Catholic episcopate was totally opposed to the Liberal leader’s position believing that once Confederation had been officially established Catholics had no right opposing it. Some bishops issued writs reminding their churchgoers of their duty to obey. Thomas Cook, Bishop of Trois-Rivières, did not mince his words in his writ issued in French: “Nothing allows us to believe that ‘Confederation’ is an act of treason. It was discussed long enough, studied scrupulously by the most devoted and enlightened men of all provinces in order to eliminate any doubts about it. […] Now that the bill has been sanctioned by the Imperial government and has become the fundamental law of the country, we must remember that our duty as Catholics is to put an end to all discussion about it. […] In all consciousness, my very dear brothers, and as Catholics and sincere friends of order, union, and peace, inasmuch as you have the strength and through your good will, you shall favour the smooth enforcement of the Constitution that will soon be inaugurated.”

Some priests used their privileged position to preach to parishioners against voting for the Liberal Party calling it a mortal sin to do so. Since voting was not secret, it was easy for them to know who would go to hell if ever they died without confessing their sins! Despite all the finger-wagging sermons, Liberal candidates won the elections in 13 ridings, which meant that out of the 65 members elected to the House of Commons in Quebec, 52 were Conservatives. The provincial results were much the same. Since people were allowed to hold seats in both the House of Commons and the Quebec Legislative Assembly, some candidates were elected to both. This obviously complicated the task of convening the members of parliament.

The first session of the first Parliament in Quebec began on December 28, 1867 when the Lieutenant Governor gave the Throne Speech, first in French and then in English. This was an innovation since under the preceding Constitution English had precedence. Even though 75 percent of the population spoke French, the language issue worried many in Quebec.

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