1534
|
France takes possession of what is now the territory of the
Province of Quebec.
|
1664
|
King Louis XIV decrees that the colony will be subject to the "Paris
Custom" (Coutume de Paris), which ends a system under which
customs from several different regions of France applied in New
France (as Quebec was then called). By the end of the sixteenth
century, the Paris Custom had become the prevailing one in France.
|
1759–1760
|
England conquers New France.
|
1763–1764
|
The authorities decide that British law will henceforth apply
in criminal as well as in civil matters. This measure is not well
received by the populace, which does not hesitate to voice its
discontent.
|
1774
|
A law of the British Parliament –The Quebec Act, 1774 –reinstates
French law regarding civil matters.
14 George III, chapter 83 (U. K.)
|
1782
|
The province's Legislative Council lowers the age of majority
from 25 to 21.
An Ordinance, For altering, fixing and establishing the Age
of Majority
Ordinances made and passed by the Governor and Council of the province
of Quebec, 1763–1791, chapter V.
|
1801
|
The parliament of the province of Lower Canada (the name of
Quebec during that period) enacts a law to clarify the right to
freely dispose of one's property by a will.
An Act to explain and amend the Law respecting Last Wills and Testaments
The Provincial Statutes of Lower Canada, 1801, chapter 4.
|
1857
|
A law entitled An Act to provide for the Codification of
the Laws of Lower Canada relative to Civil matters and Procedure is
adopted. This Act provides for the appointment of three commissioners
responsible for unifying the existing law and for drafting a
Civil Code and a Code of Civil Procedure modelled on the French
codes.
Statutes of the Province of Canada, 1857, chapter 43.
|
1865
|
On 31 January 1865, the draft Civil Code of Lower Canada and
the report of the commissioners are submitted to the Legislative
Assembly. A committee of jurists is appointed to review the two
texts.
|
1866
|
The proposed Code is adopted by the two chambers of the province's
parliament. The Civil Code of Lower Canada comes into force on
1 August 1866.
|
1888
|
Adoption of a new chapter on "trust by gratuitous title".
Amendments to the Civil Code
The Revised Statutes of the Province of Quebec, 1888,
volume II, title XII, second part.
|
1890
|
Adoption by the Parliament of Canada of An Act relating
to Bills of Exchange, Cheques, and Promissory Notes, which
repeals sections 2279 to 2354 of the Civil Code.
Statutes of Canada, 1890, volume I, chapter 33.
|
1904
|
An act to amend article 1301 of the Civil Code respecting
the capacity of married women to make certain contracts
Statutes of the Province of Quebec, 1904, chapter 42.
|
1906
|
An Act to abolish civil death
Statutes of the Province of Quebec, 1906, chapter 38.
Enactment
of provisions requiring that the register of births be kept in
two copies.
An Act to amend article 53a of the Civil Code and article 1313
of the Code of Civil Procedure, respecting registers of birth
Statutes of the Province of Quebec, 1906, chapter 39. |
1915
|
The surviving spouse, who could only inherit from his or her
spouse if there was no relative up to the twelfth degree in a position
to inherit, becomes a normal heir who is entitled to share the
estate with the close relatives of the deceased.
An Act to amend the Civil Code respecting successions
Statutes of the Province of Quebec, 1915, chapter 74.
|
1931
|
Amendments to the Code to establish the concept of reserved
property. The wife thus becomes entitled, no matter what her matrimonial
regime is, to freely manage her salary and the property acquired
with the latter.
An Act to amend the Civil Code and the Code of Civil Procedure
respecting the civil rights of women
Statutes of the Province of Quebec, 1930–1931, chapter
101.
|
1940
|
A new chapter introduces in the Civil Code the concept of pledging
agricultural and forest property.
An Act respecting the pledge of agricultural property
Statutes of the Province of Quebec, 1940, chapter 69.
|
1947
|
Adoption of measures providing that the registration of deeds
by transcription shall be replaced in part by their registration
by deposit.
An Act respecting the registration by deposit with
respect to certain rights
Statutes of the Province of Quebec, 1947, chapter 72.
A new chapter on sale by instalment is added to the Code at sections
1561a) and following.
An Act respecting instalment sales
Statutes of the Province of Quebec, 1947, chapter 73. |
1954
|
The wife seeking a separation of board because of her husband's
adultery is no longer required to prove that the husband's mistress
lives in the family's home. Henceforth, the husband and the wife
have access to separation of board under the same conditions. The
category of married woman is removed from the list of incapable
persons.
An Act to amend the Civil Code
Statutes of the Province of Quebec, 1954–1955, chapter
48.
|
1955
|
At the initiative of Prime Minister Maurice Duplessis, the Legislative
Assembly of Quebec adopts An Act respecting the revision of
the Civil Code. This Act provides that a jurist will be appointed
to prepare a proposal to amend the Code. The jurist selected is
Thibaudeau Rinfret, a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
of Canada.
An Act respecting the revision of the Civil Code
Statutes of the Province of Quebec, 1954–1955, chapter 47.
|
1960
|
An Act to amend the Act respecting the revision of the Civil
Code is adopted. It provides for the appointment of four
codifiers who will examine the reports, opinions, proposed amendments
and recommendations of the jurist appointed in 1955, and develop
a definitive draft of a new Civil Code.
An Act to amend the Act respecting the revision of the Civil
Code
Statutes of the Province of Quebec, 1959–1960, chapter
97.
|
1961
|
Thibaudeau Rinfret ceases his functions and is replaced by André Nadeau,
who gives a new impetus to the revision of the Civil Code. The
group now headed by André Nadeau is known as the "Civil
Code Revision Bureau" (Bureau de révision du Code civil).
|
1962
|
Establishment of the concept of commercial pledge without loss
of possession regarding moveable property by adding a new chapter
to the Civil Code at sections 1079 and following.
An Act respecting pledge
Statutes of the Province of Quebec, 1962, chapter 57.
|
1964
|
Major changes to the legal capacity of married women. New provisions
are introduced that, among other things, give equal rights to both
spouses regarding direction of the family, require the husband
to provide his wife with the necessities of life, allow one spouse
to give power of attorney to the other, give to the married woman
full legal capacity subject to restrictions that may result from
the matrimonial regime, and remove the obligation for the wife
to obey her husband.
An Act respecting the legal capacity of married women
Statutes of the Province of Quebec, 1964, chapter 66.
A new part called "Of equity in certain contracts" is added to the general
provisions of the Code related to obligations. Its purpose is to temper
the effects of contractual freedom.
An Act to protect borrowers against certain abuses and lenders
against certain privileges
Statutes of the Province of Quebec, 1964, chapter 67. |
1965
|
Professor Paul-André Crépeau, previously the Secretary
of the Civil Code Revision Bureau, replaces André Nadeau,
who is appointed to the judiciary.
The Civil Code Revision Office
(Office de révision du Code civil) is established. The Office
creates a number of committees responsible for examining the various
parts of the Code. Many reports are published by the Office for
consultation purposes. |
1966
|
A colloquium is organised to mark the centennial of the Civil
Code of Lower Canada. Its proceedings are subsequently published
in two volumes.
|
1968
|
The Code recognises the validity of civil marriages performed
by a lay officer.
An Act respecting civil marriage
Statutes
of the Province of Québec, 1968, chapter 82.
|
1969
|
Adoption of a new chapter establishing co-ownership by declaration
(divided co-ownership).
An Act respecting the co-ownership
of immoveables
Statutes of the Province of Québec, 1969, chapter
76.
The community of assets is replaced by the partnership of
acquests as the legal regime that applies in the absence of
other provision by the spouses. The spouses can now modify their
matrimonial
regime or their marriage contract during the marriage. Inequalities
between spouses are removed (the need to obtain authorisation
to accept a succession, a gift or the function of the testamentary
executor is eliminated).
An Act respecting matrimonial regimes
Statutes of the Province of Québec, 1969, chapter
77.
Introduction of the declaratory judgment of death.
An Act respecting declaratory judgments of death
Statutes of the Province of Québec, 1969, chapter
79. |
1970
|
The code is amended to grant certain rights to natural children.
This is a first step towards the recognition of the equality of
children, irrespective of the circumstances of their birth.
An Act to amend the Civil Code respecting natural children
Statutes of the Province of Québec, 1970, chapter
62.
|
1971
|
The consumer contract is placed outside the realm of normal
rules and becomes governed by a specific legal regime provided
for in a distinct Act.
Consumer Protection Act
Statutes of the Province of Québec, 1971, chapter
74.
Comprehensive revision of Title 1 of Chapter 1 of the Code,
which pertains to the enjoyment of civil rights. Establishment
of the notion of legal entity giving right to the exercise
of civil rights. Statement of the principle of the inviolability
of the person. Determination of the criteria for benefiting
from
civil rights (consent to medical care, disposal of the body
and funerals), elimination of the deprivation of civil rights,
and
removal of the concept of civil degradation, which precluded
the person considered as civilly dead from entering into a
contract or being a witness to a will and deprived his or her own
will
of any effect.
An Act to again amend the Civil Code and to amend the Act
to abolish civil death
Statutes of the Province of Québec, 1971, chapter
84.
The age of majority is lowered from 21 to 18.
An Act to again amend the Civil Code
Statutes of the Province of Québec, 1971, chapter 85. |
1973
|
Comprehensive revision of the provisions on the lease of things.
An Act respecting the lease of things
Statutes of Québec, 1973, chapter 74.
|
1974
|
Modernisation and reorganisation of the provisions on insurance
contracts.
An Act respecting insurance
Statutes of Québec, 1974, chapter 70.
|
1975
|
Adoption of the Charter of human rights and freedoms.
The Quebec Charter will have a major impact on all legislation
adopted after its enactment, including the Civil Code.
|
1977
|
Elimination of the right of suing for damages regarding accidents
covered by the new Automobile Insurance Act.
Statutes of Québec, 1977, chapter 68.
The notion of paternal authority
is replaced by that of parental authority.
An Act to amend the Civil Code
Statutes of Québec, 1977, chapter 72. |
1977–1978
|
The Civil Code Revision Office submits its report to the government,
which tables it in the National Assembly in the form of a draft
Civil Code, accompanied by two volumes of comments. This report
will provide the basis for the reform of the Civil Code.
|
1979
|
Reform of the rules on leases. The new provisions complete those
of 1973 and are more specifically aimed at the lease of a dwelling.
An Act to establish the Régie du logement and to amend
the Civil Code and other legislation
Statutes of Québec, 1979, chapter 48.
|
1980
|
The Quebec parliament approves the principle of the creation
of a new Civil Code of Québec but decides to spread
out over a long period the adoption of its various parts. The Act
adopted contains the second Book of the Code, which deals with
family law.
An Act to establish a new Civil Code and to reform family
law
Statutes of Québec, 1980, chapter 39.
|
1980–1989
|
In the 1980s, the Minister of Justice develops several reform
proposals and releases them for public consultation. These proposals
deal with the law of persons, the law of successions and property
law. They will lead to the adoption of an Act in 1987. Other proposals
are related to real property security and the publicity of rights,
obligations, evidence, time limitations and private international
law.
During this period, the adoption of specific provisions to
deal with pressing matters significantly transforms the Civil
Code. Such provisions include the enactment in 1986 of measures
on arbitration
and, in 1989, the creation of the concept of family patrimony
and the reform of the public administrator function and of the
rules
protecting those of the age of majority. |
1990
|
Bill 125, on the Civil Code of Québec, is tabled
at the National Assembly by the Minister of Justice and Attorney
General of Quebec, Gil Rémillard, on 18 December 1990. This
Bill integrates the provisions of previous Bills and takes into
account the comments and suggestions made during the extensive
consultations that had subsequently taken place.
|
1991
|
Bill 125 is reviewed clause by clause by a parliamentary sub-committee.
One thousand amendments are made to the Bill.
On 18 December 1991,
the Civil Code of Québec is unanimously adopted
by the National Assembly.
Civil Code of Québec
Statutes of Québec, 1991, chapter 64. |
1992
|
On 18 December 1992, the National Assembly adopts An Act
respecting the implementation of the reform of the Civil Code,
which organises the transition from the old code to the new one.
Statutes of Québec, 1992, chapter 57.
|
1994
|
The Civil Code of Québec comes into force on
1 January 1994.
|
