Economy timeline

  • Oct 28, 1497

    John Cabot

    John Cabot
    After the discovery of Newfoundland by explorer John Cabot in 1497, European fishermen, mainly Bretons Basques, participated in cod fishing close to Labrador and Newfoundland Island, and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
  • Jan 1, 1500

    Barter System

    Barter System
    Since climate conditions and types of vegetation differ from one region to another, each First Nations Group adapted to its own surroundings by using the resources available in the environment. Therefore, the different Aboriginal groups relied on each other supply resources they could not find in their own territory.
  • Oct 28, 1500

    The birth of the fur trade

    The birth of the fur trade
    The Ameridians offerted furs to the European fishermans in exchange for metal objects such as pots and knives.
  • Oct 29, 1500

    The European fisheries

    The European fisheries
    After John Cabot discovered Newfoundland in 1497, European fishermen participated in cod fishing close to Labrador and Newfoundland Island, and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. During this period, fish was the main source of meat because of religious reasons: The Catholic Church banned meat consumption for almost 150 days during the year, it was called abstinence days
  • A trading post Colony

    A trading post Colony
    Mercantilism and the need for resources led France to colonize North America. In the late 16th century, various groups explored the territory and developed trading relationships with the FNPs
    After a few years of competition between merchants, the king decided to bring order to their activities. He granted commercial monopolies to individuals, who in turn had to protect France’s rights to the territories.
  • The Charter company System

    The Charter company System
    From 1601 to 1627, monopolies followed one after the other, but only a small handful of French people settled on the colony. In fact, monopoly holders did not consider it profitable to invest in settlement because only a few employees were needed to manage and send furs.
  • The economy of fur

    The economy of fur
    In the late 16th century, the French realized that the beaver pelts that fishers exchanged with Aboriginal peoples had far higher value in Europe. The fur trade was now seen by French merchants as a new way to get rich. The French state's therefore allowed merchants and shipowners to invest large sums of money in building a network of fur trading posts in the colony. Lively competition arose, and merchants demanded that the state granted them a monopoly.
  • The Hudson's Bay Company

    The Hudson's Bay Company
    In the 17th century, two French adventurers, Pierre-Esprit Radisson and Medard Chouart Des Groseilliers, explored Hudson Bay, where they tried to establish the fur trade. Since they don't have support from France, they went to Great Britain for support and they founded the Hudson's Bay company in 1670. Fur trade in that region had a bitter rivalry between France and Great Britain and resulted in a series of land and sea battles
  • The Creation of the United States

    The Creation of the United States
    In 1783, with the creation of the United States, the entire region south of the Great Lakes was lost to this new country
  • Northwest Company

    Northwest Company
    Several Montreal merchants joined forces to form the Northwest Company. This company redirected the fur trade to the northwest and completed against the Hudson's Bay Company. IT was also funded expeditions aimed at expanding the trade company. It reached the Arctic Ocean, the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
  • The beginning of indstrialization

    The beginning of indstrialization
    Industrialization came to Quebec in the last third of the nineteenth century. During this period there was a change from the old style cottage industry, where skilled craftsmen used slow costly methods to produce goods, to factory production. Facetoried employed cheap, unskilled labour to operate machinery that mass-produced goods quickly at a low cost.
  • Urbanization

    Urbanization
    Working class neighborhoods were created close to factories and living conditions were often hard there. Most working-class dwelling were made of wood and did not have running water, electricity, or toilets. Moreover, these poor working conditions, which were endured by unskilled workers, would drive them to unite in order to demand improvements to their situation.
  • Expansion of the timber economy

    Expansion of the timber economy
    In the 18th century, Great Britain obtained its wood supply from northern Europe. Competing against these countries was a great challenge for Canada because of high transportation costs related to crossing the Atlantic . At the beginning of the 19th century to 1806, French Emperor Napoleon 1, aimed to conquer the whole Europe and imposed a continental blockade against Britain. Great Britain then turned to Canada for its timber supply in order to maintain its naval power
  • Free Trade

    Free Trade
    In the first half of the 19th century, supporters of free trade doctrine pressured British parliament to end protectionist trading policy. In 1846 the Corn Laws were gone, which had guaranteed preferential tariffs to cereal merchants on the British market, In 1849, the Navigation Acts were also abolished, so now merchant ships, regardless of their country of origin, would have access to British ports.The abandonment of these protectionist policies related to mercantilism had many consequences
  • A protectionist Tariff Policy

    A protectionist Tariff Policy
    Many Canadian manufacturers were unable to compete with the American Market. They put pressure on the government to impose customs duties on foreign goods. The introduction of these duties encouraged Canadians to buy local products.The New regulation also aimed to speed up the development of Canadian industriesUnfortunately, the effects of the policy were not felt until the mid-1890s, when new industries were introduced and new jobs were created.
  • Urban expansion

    Urban expansion
    Development of cities -> concentration of services (transportation) and infrastructure. (aqueducts, sewers), Suburbs, Exodus. In 1867, the British colonies in North America joined together to form a confederation. Four economic factors would lead the colonies to unite to form the DOminion of Canada.Great Britain abandoned its protectionist policies and adopted free trade.
  • The Railroads

    The Railroads
    When MacDonald came to power in 1878, he made it a priority to complete the Canadian Pacific Railways (CPR) line. The Canadian government paid many subsidies to the companies in charge of developing the railway. In spite of obstacles that slowed down its construction (labor shortage, uneven terrain, disputes with First Nations People), the CPR was completed in 1885 and became essential for the colonization of the territory in the West.
  • the National Policy

    the National Policy
    The National Policy came into effect in 1879. It was structured around three major objectives:To protect new Canadian industries through a protectionist tariff policy. This resulted in higher duties on most manufactured goods from abroad. To encourage the expansion of the railway network in order to link the provinces and increase trade. To implement measures to stimulate immigration in order to encourage the settlement of land in the west, increasing the labor force and create a new market.
  • Second phase of Industrialization

    Second phase of Industrialization
    Canadian Industries, experienced growth as a result of the protectionist tariff policy started with the National Policy. This second phase of industrialization, which lasted from about 1900, to 1929, was primarily characterized by the quick expansion of industrial sectors which had developed due to new energy sources: Hydroelectricity and oil.
  • First World War

    First World War
    From 1914 to 1918, the European powers fought each other in a world war. Canada’s participation in the war effort stimulated the economy, as the country became one of the major suppliers for all the allied troops. The subsidies granted by the federal government to business during the war developed sectors such as mining, iron and steel, clothing, etc. The agriculture sector also benefited from the war as the demand for wheat and pork, intended primarily for the soldiers, grew rapidly.
  • Electricity

    Electricity
    In the cities, electricity powered, among things, the streetcar networks. Urban transportation became more accessible, while it’s cost decreased. People thus no longer needed to live near their place of work. Cities slowly encroached on the surrounding agricultural land. Electricity also offered greater comfort to wealthy residents, who could buy lamps, ovens, vacuums, refrigerators, and other products from the 1920s.
  • The impact of the second world war

    The impact of the second world war
    The economic crisis that followed the stock market crash quickly faded after Canada entered WW11 on September 10th, 1939. The allies relied on Canadian industries, located far from the European conflict, to supply them with foodstuffs and military equipment. Demand for manufactured goods from Canada intensified and stimulated War production. War production In the second world war, the government goes back into a state of developing weapons, sending soldiers. National Resources Act raises taxes,
  • Public Investment in the 1960s and 1970s

    Public Investment in the 1960s and 1970s
    Since the Great Depression, government have increasingly intervened in the economy. They introduced social programs and tried to stabilize economic fluctuation. During the 1960s, Quebec experienced major political, social, cultural and economic changes: this was known as the Quiet Revolution. To address the increased demand for services caused by the baby boom, the state too charge of the management of certain social programs, including education and health,
  • Economic Nationalism

    During the 1960s and 1970s, QUebecers gradually became aware of the domination of their province’s economy by foreign companies. To counter what many at the time described as “American imperialism.” Francophone Quebecers sought to take control of their economy, in regards to the management of natural resources and large industries. The natural resources sector was the first to be targeted by this new economic nationalism.
  • economic nationalism

    In 1962, the Government of Quebec bought out most of the private electricity companies and integrated them Hydro Quebec in order to nationalize the production and distribution of electricity. Since the need for electricity constantly increased, Hydro-Quebec quickly played an important role in the Province’s economic development.
  • Development of the Dairy Industry

    Development of the Dairy Industry
    Dairy production was the agricultural sector that experienced the greatest progress after 1889. In addition to milk, farmers produced butter, cheese, and cream. In 1890, more than 80%of cheese production was intended for export, whereas butter was mainly sold in the local market. To support the growth in the dairy industry, the government encouraged the establishment of specialized schools in areas like Saint-Denis.