Editing Legislative Council of Quebec

{{Short description|Former upper house of the Quebec Legislature}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox legislature
| background_color   = #A2070F
| name               = Legislative Council of Quebec
| native_name        = {{lang|fr|Conseil législatif du Québec}}
| native_name_lang   = fr
| legislature        = 
| coa_pic            = File:Coat of arms of Quebec.svg
| coa_res            = 
| coa_alt            = 
| coa_caption        = 
| house_type         = Upper house
| body               = Quebec Legislature
| term_limits        = Life appointments
| foundation         = {{Start date|1867|07|01}}
| disbanded          = {{end date|1968|12|31}}
| preceded_by        = [[Legislative Council of the Province of Canada]]
| succeeded_by       = ''none''
| seats              = 24
| session_room       = File:Legislative Council Chamber, Quebec Parliament 13.jpg
| meeting_place      = The Red Chamber, former chamber of the Legislative Council
}}

[[Image:Legislative Council of Quebec.jpg|thumb|The chamber of the Legislative Council of Quebec before its abolition]]

The '''Legislative Council of Quebec''' ({{langx|fr|Conseil législatif du Québec}}, {{IPA|fr|kɔ̃sɛj leʒislatif dy kebɛk|pron}}) was the unelected upper house of the [[bicameral]] legislature in the [[Canadian province]] of [[Quebec]] from 1867 to 1968. The [[Legislative Assembly of Quebec|Legislative Assembly]] was the elected lower house.

The council was composed of 24 members, appointed by the [[Lieutenant-Governors of Quebec|lieutenant governor]] upon the recommendation of the [[Premier of Quebec|premier]]. Each councillor nominally represented a portion of the Province of Quebec called a division. The boundaries of these divisions were identical to the ones used for [[Canada East]] by the [[Legislative Council of the Province of Canada]] and were also identical to the boundaries still used today by the [[Senate of Canada]] for Quebec. The division boundaries were never changed to accommodate territorial expansions of Quebec in 1898 and 1912.

The Legislative Council was abolished in 1968 and the Legislative Assembly was renamed the [[National Assembly of Quebec]].  Since the abolition, Quebec has a [[unicameral]] legislature.

{{TOC limit|2}}

== Powers of the Legislative Council ==

The council had the right to introduce bills, except of a financial nature, and to amend or reject bills passed by the Legislative Assembly. Its [[speaker (politics)|speaker]], known in French as '''''orateur''''', was by right a member of the Cabinet, and its members could serve as ministers or even premier. Two Quebec premiers, [[Charles-Eugène Boucher de Boucherville]] and [[John Jones Ross]], were members of the Legislative Council.
[[File:Legislative Council of Quebec, 1924.png|thumb|The chamber of the Legislative Council of Quebec in session, 1924]]

== Appointment of members of the Legislative Council ==

Members were originally appointed for life. In 1963, the rule was changed to force members to retire at age 75, but that did not apply to members who had already been appointed. In the event, the change remained entirely theoretical since the council was abolished before it could be applied to anyone.

== Abolition of the Legislative Council ==

Effective December 31, 1968 the [[Legislative Council]] was abolished, and the [[Legislative Assembly of Quebec]] was renamed the [[National Assembly of Quebec|National Assembly]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.revolutiontranquille.gouv.qc.ca/index.php?id=104&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=185 |title=L'Assemblée législative devient l'Assemblée nationale: 31 décembre 1968 |language=fr |work=Révolution tranquille |publisher=Government of Quebec |access-date=February 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521233623/http://www.revolutiontranquille.gouv.qc.ca/index.php?id=106&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=185&tt_news[backPid]=54&cHash=78c0a325c3e8cf252901c3d48a9961b6 |archive-date=2012-05-21 |url-status=dead}}</ref> As a consequence, Quebec now has a [[unicameral]] legislature.  The establishment of the original system dates back to the [[Constitutional Act of 1791]].

The [[Union Nationale (Quebec)|Union Nationale]] government of Premier [[Jean-Jacques Bertrand]] passed the legislation, known as "Bill 90", to implement the change.  Previous governments had made unsuccessful attempts to eliminate the upper chamber.  In fact, the first attempt dated all the way back to [[Félix-Gabriel Marchand]], in the late 19th century. Quebec was the last Canadian province to abolish its upper house.

When it was dissolved, it had 15 members of the Union Nationale and 9 Liberal Party members.

== The Red Chamber ==

The large chamber that housed the Legislative Council is also known in French as ''le salon rouge'' (the red hall) and in English as "the Red Room" because of the predominance of the colour on the walls. It is now used for committee meetings and for important state functions that require a large, impressive hall, such as inductions into the [[National Order of Quebec]].

== Speakers of the Legislative Council of Quebec (1867–1968) ==

The Speaker of the Legislative Council (in French, the ''Orateur'') was appointed by the government.  Most Speakers sat in the Cabinet. The Speaker was the presiding officer of the Legislative Council, but could vote like other members. In the event of a tie, the Speaker did not have a casting vote.  The motion simply failed.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Speakers of the Legislative Council of Quebec
!Portrait
!Name
!Appointment
!Ending
!colspan="2"|Political party
|-
| [[File:Charles-Eugène Boucher de Boucherville portrait.jpg|70px]]
| [[Charles-Eugène Boucher de Boucherville]]
| July 15, 1867
| February 27, 1873
| [[Conservative Party of Quebec (historical)|Conservative]]
| rowspan="4" {{Canadian party colour|QC|Conservative|background}}| &nbsp; &nbsp;
|-
| [[File:John Jones Ross.jpg|70px]]
| [[John Jones Ross]]
| February 27, 1873
| September 22, 1874
| Conservative
|-
|
| [[Félix-Hyacinthe Lemaire]]
| September 22, 1874
| January 27, 1876
| Conservative
|-
| [[File:John Jones Ross.jpg|70px]]
| [[John Jones Ross]]
| January 22, 1876
| March 8, 1878
| Conservative
|-
| [[File:Henry Starnes.jpg|70px]]
| [[Henry Starnes]]
| March 8, 1878
| October 31, 1879
| [[Liberal Party of Quebec|Liberal]]
| {{Canadian party colour|QC|Liberal|background}}| &nbsp; &nbsp;
|-
| [[File:John Jones Ross.jpg|70px]]
| [[John Jones Ross]]
| October 31, 1879
| March 4, 1882
| Conservative
| rowspan="2" {{Canadian party colour|QC|Conservative|background}}| &nbsp; &nbsp;
|-
| [[File:Boucher de la Bruère.png|70px]]
| [[Pierre Boucher de la Bruère]]
| March 4, 1882
| April 23, 1889
| Conservative
|-
| [[File:Henry Starnes.jpg|70px]]
| Henry Starnes
| April 23, 1889
| March 17, 1892
| Liberal
| {{Canadian party colour|QC|Liberal|background}}| &nbsp; &nbsp;
|-
| [[File:Boucher de la Bruère.png|70px]]
| [[Pierre Boucher de la Bruère]]
| March 17, 1892
| April 5, 1895
| Conservative
| rowspan="3" {{Canadian party colour|QC|Conservative|background}}| &nbsp; &nbsp;
|-
| [[File:Thomas Chapais.png|70px]]
| [[Thomas Chapais]]
| April 5, 1895
| January 12, 1897
| Conservative
|-
| [[File:Vildebon-Winceslas Larue.png|70px]]
| [[Vildebon-Winceslas Larue]]
| January 12, 1897
| June 17, 1897
| Conservative
|-
| [[File:Horace Archambeault.jpg|70px]]
| [[Horace Archambeault]]
| June 17, 1897
| September 15, 1908
| Liberal
| rowspan="4" {{Canadian party colour|QC|Liberal|background}}| &nbsp; &nbsp;
|-
| [[File:Adélard Turgeon.png|70px]]
| [[Adélard Turgeon]]
| February 2, 1909
| November 14, 1930
| Liberal
|-
| [[File:Jacob Nicol.png|70px]]
| [[Jacob Nicol]]
| November 25, 1930
| July 25, 1934
| Libéral
|-
| [[File:Hector Laferté.png|70px]]
| [[Hector Laferté]]
| July 27, 1934
| October 2, 1936
| Liberal
|-
| [[File:Alphonse Raymond.png|70px]]
| [[Alphonse Raymond]]
| October 2, 1936
| January 17, 1940
| [[Union Nationale (Quebec)|Union Nationale]]
| {{Canadian party colour|QC|UN|background}}| &nbsp; &nbsp;
|-
| [[File:Hector Laferté.png|70px]]
| [[Hector Laferté]]
| January 17, 1940
| December 31, 1944
| Libéral
| {{Canadian party colour|QC|Liberal|background}}| &nbsp; &nbsp;
|-
| [[File:Alphonse Raymond.png|70px]]
| [[Alphonse Raymond]]
| December 31, 1944
| February 1, 1950
| Union Nationale
| rowspan="2" {{Canadian party colour|QC|UN|background}}| &nbsp; &nbsp;
|-
| [[File:Jean-Louis Baribeau.png|70px]]
| [[Jean-Louis Baribeau]]
| February 1, 1950
| July 6, 1960
| Union Nationale
|-
| [[File:Hector Laferté.png|70px]]
| [[Hector Laferté]]
| July 6, 1960
| June 23, 1966
| Liberal
| {{Canadian party colour|QC|Liberal|background}}| &nbsp; &nbsp;
|-
| [[File:Jean-Louis Baribeau.png|70px]]
| [[Jean-Louis Baribeau]]
| June 23, 1966
| December 31, 1968
| Union Nationale
| {{Canadian party colour|QC|UN|background}}| &nbsp; &nbsp;
|}

== Legislative Council divisions ==

[[File:Carte des divisions du Sénat du Canada au Québec.svg|thumb|Map of the Legislative Council divisions]]

The twenty-four members of the Legislative Council were each appointed to represent a division of Quebec.  The divisions were originally defined by statute for the [[Legislative Council of the Province of Canada]] in 1856, when  elected members were included in the Legislative Council.<ref>''An Act to change the Constitution of the Legislative Council by rendering the same Elective'', SProvCan 1856 (1856-57 Vict.), c. CXL, s. I and Schedule A.</ref>  The statutory descriptions of the divisions were then incorporated into the ''Consolidated Statutes of Canada, 1859''.<ref>[http://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.9_00918/42?r=0&s=1 ''An Act respecting the Legislative Council'', CSC 1859, c. 1, s. 1 and Schedule.]</ref>  In 1867, the ''British North America Act, 1867'' simply adopted the existing twenty-four divisions for the new Legislative Council of Quebec, although the new Council was appointed, rather than elected.<ref>''British North America Act, 1867'' (now the [https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/index.html ''Constitution Act, 1867'']), [https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/section-22.html#h-5 s. 22] and [https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/section-72.html#h-12 s. 72]</ref>

Although the boundaries of Quebec were extended northwards twice, in 1898 and again in 1912, the boundaries of the Legislative Council divisions were never altered.

=== Alma ===

The Alma division was defined as:  "The Parishes of Long Point, [[Pointe-aux-Trembles]], [[Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles|Rivière des Prairies]], [[Sault-au-Récollet|Sault aux Récollets]], in the county of [[Hochelaga County, Quebec|Hochelaga]], and that part of the Parish of Montreal which lies to the East of the prolongation of [[Saint Denis Street|St. Denis]] Street; the County of [[Laval County, Quebec|Laval]], that part of the [[Montreal|City of Montreal]] which lies to the East of Bonsécours and [[Saint Denis Street|St. Denis]] Streets, and their prolongation."

=== Bedford ===

The Bedford division was defined as:  "The Counties of [[Missisquoi County, Quebec|Missisquoi]], [[Brome County, Quebec|Brome]], and [[Shefford County, Quebec|Shefford]]."

=== De la Durantaye ===

The De la Durantaye division was defined as "The remainder of the County of L'Islet, the countie[s] of Montmagny and Bellechasse and the Parishes of St. Joseph, St. Henri and Notre Dame de la Victoire, in the County of Lévi." (See the description of the Grandville division for the explanation of the "remainder of the County of L'Islet".)

=== De la Vallière ===

The De la Vallière division was defined as: "The Counties of Nicolet and Yamaska, the Townships of Wendover, Grantham, and the part of Upton which lies in the County of Drummond."

=== De Lanaudière ===

The De Lanaudière division was defined as "The remainder of the [[Maskinongé Regional County Municipality|County of Maskinongé]], the Counties of [[Berthier County|Berthier]] and Joliette, with the exception of the Parish of St. Paul, the Township of Kildare and its augmentation, and the Township of Cathcart". (See the description of the Shawinigan division for the explanation of the "remainder of the County of Maskingongé".)

=== De Lorimier ===

The De Lorimier division was defined as:  "The Counties of [[Saint-Jean County, Quebec|St. John]] and Napierville; St. Jean Chrysostôme and Russeltown in the County of Chateauguay; Hemmingford in the [[Huntingdon County, Quebec|County of Huntingdon]]."

=== De Salaberry ===

The De Salaberry division was defined as:  "The remainder of the County of Chateauguay, the remainder of the [[Huntingdon County, Quebec|County of Huntingdon]], and the County of Beauharnois." (See the description of the De Lorimier division for the  explanation of the parishes which were excluded from the De Salaberry division.)

=== Grandville ===

The Grandville division was defined as:  "The Counties of Temiscouata and Kamouraska, the Parishes of St. Roch des Aulnets and St. Jean Port Joli, and the prolongation thereof in a straight line to the Province Line in the County of L'Islet."

=== Gulf ===

The Gulf division was defined as: "The Counties of Gaspé, Bonaventure and Rimouski."

=== Inkerman ===

The Inkerman division was defined as: "The Counties of [[Argenteuil County, Quebec|Argenteuil]], Ottawa and [[Pontiac Regional County Municipality|Pontiac]]."

=== Kennebec ===

The Kennebec division was defined as:  "The Counties of Lotbinière, Mégantic and [[Arthabaska County, Quebec|Arthabaska]]."

=== La Salle ===

The La Salle division was defined as: "The remainder of the [[Quebec County, Quebec|County of Quebec]], the [[Portneuf County|County of Portneuf]], and all that part of the Banlieue of Quebec which lies within the Parish of Notre Dame de Québec." (See the description of The Laurentides division for the explanation of the "remainder of the County of Quebec".)

=== Lauzon ===

The Lauzon division was defined as:  "The remainder of the County of Lévi, the Counties of Dorchester and Beauce." (See the description of the De la Durantaye division for the explanation of the "remainder of the County of L'Islet".)

=== Mille Isles ===

The Mille Isles division was defined as:  "The Counties of [[Terrebonne County, Quebec|Terrebonne]] and Two Mountains."

=== Montarville ===

The Montarville division was defined as:  "The Counties of Verchères, [[Chambly County, Quebec|Chambly]] and Laprairie."

=== Repentigny ===

The Repentigny division was defined as:  "The Parish of St. Paul, the Township of Kildare and its augmentation, and the Township of Cathcart, in the County of Joliette, the Counties of L'Assomption and Montcalm".

=== Rigaud ===

The Rigaud division was defined as:  "The remainder of the Parish of Montreal, and the Counties of [[Jacques-Cartier County, Quebec|Jacques Cartier]], Vaudreuil and Solanges." (See the description of the Alma division for the explanation of the "remainder of the Parish of Montreal".)

=== Rougemont ===

The Rougemont division was defined as "The remainder of the County of St. Hyacinth, the Counties of Rouville and Iberville." (See the description of the Saurel division for the explanation of "the remainder of the County of St. Hyacinth".)

=== Saurel ===

The Saurel division was defined as "The Counties of Richelieu and Bagot, the Parishes of St. Denis, La Présentation, St. Barnabé, and St. Jude, in the County of St. Hyacinth."

=== Shawinigan ===

The Shawinigan division was defined as "The Counties of Champlain and St. Maurice, the Town of Three Rivers, the Parishes of River du Loup, St. Léon, St. Paulin, and the Township of Hunterstown and its augmentation, in the [[Maskinongé Regional County Municipality|County of Maskinongé]]."

=== Stadacona ===

The Stadacona division was defined as "The remainder of the [[Quebec City|City and Banlieue of Quebec]]." (See the description of the La Salle division for the explanation of "remainder of the City...of Quebec".)

=== The Laurentides ===

The Laurentides division was defined as:  "The Counties of Chicoutimi, Charlevoix, [[Saguenay County, Quebec|Saguenay]] and Montmorency, the Seigniory of Beauport, the Parish of Charlebourg, the Townships of Stoneham and Tewkesbury, in the [[Quebec County, Quebec|County of Quebec]]."

=== Victoria ===

The Victoria division was defined as:  "The remainder of the [[Montreal|City of Montreal]] exclusive of the Parish." (See the description of the Alma division for the explanation of the "remainder of the City of Montreal".)

=== Wellington ===

The Wellington division was defined as: "The remainder of the County of Drummond, the County of Richmond, the [[Sherbrooke|Town of Sherbrooke]], the Counties of Wolfe, [[Compton County, Quebec|Compton]], and Stanstead."  (See the description of the De la Vallière division for the explanation of the "remainder of the County of Drummond".)

==Members of the Legislative Council==
{{main|List of members of the Legislative Council of Quebec}}

==See also==
* [[Legislative Council of Lower Canada]]
* [[Legislative Council of the Province of Canada]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.assnat.qc.ca/fr/patrimoine/conslegdiv.html Members of the Legislative Council of Quebec (by divisions)] {{in lang|fr}}
* [http://www.assnat.qc.ca/fr/patrimoine/conlegpres.html Speakers of the Legislative Council of Quebec] {{in lang|fr}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Legislative Council of Quebec| ]]
[[Category:1867 establishments in Quebec]]
[[Category:1968 disestablishments in Quebec]]