1962 – Société générale de financement du Québec
"Société générale de financement du Québec is an industrial and financial holding corporation of the Québec government. Since its inception in 1962, SGF has participated in a significant number of industrial projects that have contributed directly to the development of the Québec economy."  A history of the organization is available as a PDF here.   
 
1965 – Caisse de dépot et de placement
"The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec manages public pension plans in the Canadian province of Québec. It was founded in 1965 by an act of the National Assembly."  This quoted Wikipedia reference contains links to their official sites and other sources.  As  Claude Bélanger points out here, "It was to be a major instrument in the plans to develop more the economy of Quebec and enhance the position of the French language and of francophones in the economy of Quebec. Various amounts collected by the Government of Quebec (pension funds, agricultural insurance, car insurance) are deposited and administered by the Caisse."
 
 

# The mining Industry transforms itself

“The construction of the Hudson Bay Railway, the development of aviation, the use of gasoline on a large scale in transportation and navigation, and the organization of mining development, in which large-scale mining companies, such as Mining Corporation and Nipissing in Cobalt, Hollinger, and Consolidated Mining and Smelting, began a search for new properties to replace exhausting ore bodies and to extend control; and prospecting companies, such as Ventures, Dominion Explorers and N.A.M.E., were formed with public support, and were followed by prospecting work over the whole of the northern portion of the Precambrian formation. [....] Financial reorganizations have tended to support control of a dominant group.

Read full text at:
http://www2.marianopolis.edu/quebechistory/encyclopedia/MiningIndustryofCanada-QuebecHistory.htm


# Mining Conditions and Real Income

“You might think that the miners of 1920 lived better than their predecessors, but that was not really the case. Between October 1915 and March 1920, wages rose from $1.75 to $4.25 a day. This increase might seem enormous, but it was less than the increase in the cost of living over the same period, as the war led to unprecedented inflation. The real income of a mine worker in 1920 was actually less than it had been in 1912. Yet earning $25.50 for a 60-hour work week, it was still possible to provide comfortably for a family of five. Harder times were yet to come.

After the First World War, the asbestos industry continued its slow shift towards mechanization. Until 1930, raw asbestos was still loaded by hand, to prevent it from being damaged by being shaken up in the bins or cars. It was not until the 1950s that the industry could really be called mechanized. By then, more workers were employed for machine maintenance than for mining and processing ore.”
Text and related picture from:
http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/collection/artifacts/1999.347.1&section=196



# Thetford Mines and Asbestos Strike 1949

An example reactions to harsh conditions in the mines, the Thetford Mine strike also sparked a division between clergy (who mostly supported the miners) and the government under Duplessis, who reacted against socialist activity and who supported the mine owners who were seen as developing the regions.

Related links:

Picture for discussion purposes:

Larger version on the original site:
http://www.sahra.qc.ca/exposition/forces.html

(Picture courtesy of the  Société des archives historiques de la région de L'Amiante - Fonds Jacques Fugère.  )

# Electricity and the use of Hydropower

“Abundant water resources made hydropower a logical choice, and this choice had a decisive effect on industrialization in Québec and on the use of its timber and mineral resources.”
Source and additional information: http://www.hydroquebec.com/learning/histoire/histoire_quebec/index.html



# New technological developments
 
“Hydroelectric development was stimulated by the introduction of high voltage transmission and the electric transformer which, in Canada, was first used in 1897.”

“By the mid-1920's, significant technical advances had been made in the design of hydraulic turbines”

“During the early period, the public utilities that had been formed were proponents of both large and small hydro. However, they had initiated a process of rationalization which led to larger generating units and the development of sites with large potential to achieve economies of scale and provide the lowest cost, reliable electrical energy to the consumer.”

Source: http://www.canren.gc.ca/tech_appl/index.asp?CaID=4&PgID=31



# Electricity and Hydro development and opening new industries (Aluminum), encouraging regional development

"In Northern Quebec, on the Saguenay River, the Shipshaw hydro-electric development was built to meet the wartime demand for increased aluminum production."



Source:  Library and Archives Canada  Image copyright expired.   Credit:  Ronny Jaques / NFB / 

See also:
Aluminum Association of Canada (Click History)
http://www.aac.aluminium.qc.ca/frameset/index_en.html



# 1944 Hydro electric power and the beginnings of nationalization

A political event with complex economic consequences, especially for industry, the consumer and for the regions that were affected. This Hydro Quebec web site offers a history tour that provides more information on the development and nationalization of hydroelectric power in Quebec.  A good place to start your research or for a summary listing of key events.    See also their Milestones page for a timeline of events.

See also Hydro chez nous from the CBC Archives site for a television segment related to this event


# 1963 Hydro Quebec is nationalized by Lesage's government

"On May 1, 1963, when the government authorized it to proceed with the gradual acquisition of private electricity distributors, Hydro-Québec finally achieved Québec-wide scope. The second stage of nationalization had begun."  click on 1960-1979 Nationalization, Part 2

# Railroads using diesel power

“Canadian National Railways was among the earliest users of diesels in North America establishing a number of records. It began late in 1924 with a tour of Europe by CNR motive power officials including C.E.Brooks, Chief of Motive Power, their last stop being at the Glasgow, Scotland plant of the Wm.Beardmore Co. builders of airship (dirigible) motors. These very lightweight (other existing diesel engines weighed double to triple) and very advanced design engines were already being used in London, Midland & Scottish Ry. rail cars built in 1922. Thus began an odyssey that was to last for more than 35 years until complete dieselization took over in 1960.”
Source Old Time Trains
See also Railways in Canada: A Brief History and image tour called  Historic CN 1919-1963 at the Canada Science and Technology Museum


Image source: http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/earlydiesels.html
From Canadian National Railways negative 30665
(Permission requested for use of image.  Awaiting response)

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Alternative text on Diesel Trains, Immigration and World War 1
"The First World War marked a major turning point in Canadian history, even in terms of its railways and railway technology. As we have seen, the period prior to the war was characterised by a substantial increase in the size of the railway network and by increased traffic arising from a steady influx of immigrants into all parts of Canada, especially the West. Technically speaking, the size and capacity of passenger and freight trains had increased, resulting in a demand for newer heavier engines (Fig. 26). Steel constructed freight and passenger cars, until then built of wood, were introduced in the late 1910s and slowly replaced their older wooden counterparts (Fig. 27 and Fig. 28). In 1918, Canadian Northern introduced the first diesel-electric railway car in Canada, almost thirty years before diesel locomotives began to replace steam engines on Canadian railways (Fig. 29)."

From this section of article and those that follow it.
http://www.imagescn.technomuses.ca/photoessays/railways/railways11.cfm

# Engineering technologies in bridge construction

 “Major engineering works, such as the bridges that spanned the St. Lawrence (Fig. 3) and the trestles in western Canada (Fig. 4) were tangible symbols of modern Canada's ability to overcome natural obstacles and nature itself. Stations, railway hotels and railway shops set new standards in architecture and provided focal points for urban growth and development (Fig.ﾊ5, Fig.ﾊ6, and Fig.ﾊ7).”
http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/photoessays/railways/railways02.cfm

# Quebec Bridge

Developments in technology played up by the press.  But not every advance in this area brought about immediate increase in economic activity!
 

(Attempting to require permission to use this image.)

Ask yourself why you think this bridge was on a stamp?
Then read the following!  http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=ArchivedFeatures&Params=A2136

# Local Railway lines linked mines to urban centres and ports

 

From NRHS 'Bulletin', VOL XIII, no 3 (3rd quarter, 1948)

“The Quebec Central Railway is the 356-mile subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific railway serving the Eastern Townships area of the Province of Quebec, lying east of Montreal, and south of Quebec city. The railway serves as the principal outlet for the $15,000,000 asbestos mining industry, located in the vicinity of Thetford Mines, about 55 miles due south of the city of Quebec. The mines produce approximately 65% of the world's supply of asbestos.”
[....]   “The construction of the Quebec Bridge encouraged the building of the 20-mile section from Scotts Jct. to Walsh, near Charny on the CNR and since 1921 many of the trains have been using this direct route to the city of Quebec.”
Source:  http://pages.globetrotter.net/burridge/QCR_Hist_NRHS.html
(Permission requested but not yet required for using this image.  Click to view larger image on original site.)

# "Wheat Boom" times and transporation of goods from the regions

"Manufacturing expanded in Quebec in the first decades of the twentieth century.  Much of the expansion [of industry and industrial centres] was associated with railway expansion in the Wheat Boom Period, and not, as in Ontario, primarily with internal combustion.   Hydro electricity did play a significant role.   The consequence, as elsewhere in North America, was urbanization: the growth of Montreal and Trois Rivieres."  In other words, Neil's article points to an industrial development tied to patterns of regional expansion and exploitation of natural resources.

Read section on "A Distinct Society" from the article:  The Making of the Third National Policy 1900-1929
http://www.upei.ca/~rneill/canechist/topic_21.html

# Roads and the Automobile

Road Transport imagery from CSTM
http://www.imagescn.technomuses.ca/road/index.cfm

Historical images of the automobile in Canada:
http://www.imagescanada.ca/r1-116-e.php?trail=trail1

CNR Trucking history uses roads for freight
http://www.images.technomuses.ca/?en/stories/freight_vehicles/intro/page/1

# Trans-Canada Highway

The development of the Trans-Canada Highway made the rest of the country accessible from coast to coast, allowing not only companies but individuals as well to better understand the geography, economics, and society of all of Canada’s regions.

Related CBC archives media:
http://archives.cbc.ca/300c.asp?id=1-73-678

Various activities are also suggested here Trans-Canada Highway: Bridging the Distance
http://archives.cbc.ca/ACT-1-73-678/politics_economy/trans_canada/educational_activities/

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1966 – Montreal Metro (Subway system) officially opens.

After 50 years of debate and study, Montreal finally follows other great cities of the world by opening its own underground transportation system.
http://www.stm.info/English/en-bref/leading.htm