What Is 21st Legislative Assembly of Quebec

Overview

The 21st Legislative Assembly of Quebec was a pivotal session in the province’s political history, serving from 1939 to 1944. It emerged after the October 25, 1939, provincial election, which returned the Quebec Liberal Party to power under Premier Adélard Godbout.

This assembly governed during a transformative period that included World War II and major social reforms. Despite a minority of seats, Godbout’s government enacted progressive legislation that reshaped Quebec society.

• Adélard Godbout became Premier after winning the 1939 election, leading a Liberal minority government with 38 out of 90 seats.
• The assembly convened during World War II, influencing debates on conscription and Quebec’s role in the war effort.
• One of its landmark achievements was granting full voting rights to women in 1940, making Quebec the last Canadian province to do so.
• The government introduced rural electrification through the creation of Hydro-Québec’s predecessor, the Montreal Light, Heat & Power Company.
• The assembly ended in 1944 when Maurice Duplessis and the Union Nationale won a decisive victory, capturing 48 seats.

How It Works

The Legislative Assembly functioned as Quebec’s unicameral legislature, responsible for passing laws, approving budgets, and overseeing the executive branch. Members were elected from single-member constituencies using a first-past-the-post system.

• Term: The 21st Legislative Assembly lasted from 1939 to 1944. Its term was constitutionally limited to five years but could be dissolved earlier by the Lieutenant Governor on advice of the Premier.
• Members of the National Assembly (then called MLAs) represented 90 electoral districts, each electing one representative through popular vote.
• Legislation required approval from both the Assembly and Lieutenant Governor, who represented the Crown and granted royal assent.
• The Speaker presided over debates, maintained order, and ensured adherence to parliamentary procedures during legislative sessions.
• Committees reviewed proposed laws in detail, with standing committees focusing on areas like finance, education, and public works.
• The Premier and Cabinet, drawn from the Assembly, formed the executive government and were accountable to the legislature.
• Opposition parties, especially the Union Nationale, scrutinized government actions through question period and committee work.

Comparison at a Glance

Key differences between the 21st Legislative Assembly and subsequent assemblies highlight shifts in governance and representation.

The table illustrates how democratic norms and societal priorities evolved. While the 21st Assembly operated under wartime constraints and limited suffrage, today’s legislature reflects broader inclusivity and complex policy challenges.

Why It Matters

The 21st Legislative Assembly played a crucial role in modernizing Quebec and setting precedents for future reforms. Its decisions had long-lasting implications for civil rights and public infrastructure.

• Granting women the right to vote in 1940 ended decades of exclusion and empowered a new electorate.
• The creation of a public electricity utility laid the foundation for Hydro-Québec, now a global energy leader.
• Its wartime policies influenced Quebec’s stance on federal conscription during national crises.
• The assembly’s defeat in 1944 ushered in the Duplessis era, a conservative period known as the Great Darkness.
• Legislative reforms during this time demonstrated that provincial governments could drive social change independently.
• Its legacy is studied as a turning point between traditionalism and the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s.

Understanding this assembly helps contextualize Quebec’s political evolution and the enduring impact of mid-20th-century governance on contemporary policies.