Mr. Speaker, this coming weekend, the University of Quebec in Montreal will be organizing a major forum on the quiet revolution, forty years on.
Many researchers and political players will be analyzing the various aspects of what are now being called the achievements of the quiet revolution. A revolution described by Frère Untel as “an enormous collective and largely positive adventure”.
The achievements include, according to economist Pierre Fortin, of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, faster improvement in the standard of living in Quebec than in Ontario over the past 40 years. It pays to be “maîtres chez nous”.
A more striking and important element is that “young Quebecers are”, according to Professor Fortin, “among the world's most educated. International investigations—confirm that the quality of Quebec's system of education puts it among the world leaders as well”.
It seems obvious to me that it pays to be “maîtres chez nous”. I believe that sovereignty will provide even greater rewards.