Chapter 12: Québec's Metropolis 1960-1992
1)To which city did Montréal loose its title as Canada’s metropolis?
A.Ottawa B.Kingston C.Toronto D.Vancouver
Sources: Paul-André Linteau, Brève histoire de Montréal , Boréal, 1992. Commission de toponymie du Québec, www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca (page consultée le 20 janvier 2007).
2)Which project carried out under the Drapeau administration was overtly criticized for its astronomical costs?
A.The construction of the subway system B.Expo 67 C.The 1976 Olympic Games D.The revamping of the downtown core and the highways
Comment: The 1976 Olympic Games was one of many ambitious projects undertaken by the administration of Mayor Jean Drapeau (1916-1999). The relative success of the 21st Olympiad somewhat compensated for the many difficulties before, during and after the event. The astronomical overspending was, without a doubt, the project’s biggest problem. Indeed, the event generated a total deficit of a billion dollars, mostly due the construction of the stadium. Faced with this financial fiasco, the provincial government ordered an investigation into the cost of the games in 1977. Three years later, the investigation concluded irresponsibility on the part of the Drapeau administration and the Organizing Committee. It would take taxpayers 30 years to repay the Olympic debt.
Sources: Centre d’histoire de Montréal, Montréal Clic, no 30, ville.montreal.qc.ca/chm (page consultée le 27 janvier 2007). Radio-Canada archives, archives.radio-canada.ca/ (Page consultée le 30janiver 2007).
3)What authority uniting the municipalities of the Island of Montréal was created during this period?
A.Rassemblement du Grand Montréal B.Greater Montréal C.Greater Montréal Community D.Montréal Urban Community
Comment: The Montréal Urban Community (MUC) was created on December 23, 1969, and began its work the following year. It replaced the Montréal Metropolitan Corporation and was composed of all municipalities on the Island of Montréal as well as Dorval Island and Île Bizard. It took over many public services common to all Island municipalities, such as public transit, aqueducts and parks. From this point onwards, the financial burden of these services would be shared by all of the Island’s residents, instead of Montrealers alone. The MUC was abolished on January 1, 2002, with the creation of the new City of Montréal.
Sources: Ville de Montréal. Section des archives, Guide des archives de la ville de Montréal, www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/archives (site visité le 30 janvier 2007).
4)A transportation-related infrastructure, I completely changed traffic on the St. Lawrence. What am I?
A.The sea canal B.The St. Lawrence Seaway C.The new Lachine Canal D.The St. Lawrence Channel
Comment: Inaugurated in 1825, the Lachine Canal was the first link in a chain of canals connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. Despite periodic widening, these canals became obsolete as the size of ships and the quantity of maritime traffic constantly increased, leading to the creation of the the St. Lawrence Seaway, officially inaugurated on June 26, 1959. This major maritime throughway has seven locks and serves many Canadian and American industries. For Montréal, however, its arrival had the unfortunate effect of taking away the city’s traditional role as Canada’s port of entry.
Sources: du siècle, http://www.bilan.usherb.ca/ (site visité le 28 janvier 2007).
