Deconfessionalization means removing a religion’s influence. In other words, this is about getting rid of religious affiliation in social spheres.
When Maurice Duplessis was in power from 1944 to 1959, the Church and the State had strong ties. With the war over, a change of government and the development of a consumer society, Québécois began to question religion. Fewer people were practising religion or choosing to become priests or nuns. The Church’s influence was dwindling.
This led the government to take control of certain sectors traditionally run by the Church, namely education and health. The Lesage government deconfessionalized certain institutions such as hospitals and schools. This separation of Church and State deepened during the Quiet Revolution.
The Church still had some influence over education since members of the clergy sat on the Conseil supérieur de l’éducation and made decisions. Some private schools remained religious, but the public school system was deconfessionalized.