I answered a similar question on Canada West yesterday. It must be exam or essay season or something...

Unlike Canada West who wanted Confederation as a means of solidifying its dominant economic position within a future Canada, Quebecers viewed Confederation as a means of protecting their traditional society and culture.

You have to remember that Confederation was largely a political and economic agreement, not necessarily the creation of a modern and nationalistic country. Because the United colony gave equal representation to East and West there was political deadlock and nothing was actually being accomplished. While this angered many in Ontario that Quebec should have essentially a veto power when their population was significantly smaller by the 1860s, Quebec politicians viewed it as a necessity to protect the French culture and Catholic religion.

When it became clear that Canada East could not resist the march towards Confederation they used the negotiations in Quebec City to ensure that the federation created would protect their language and culture. Since the conquest in 1760, Quebec history had be characterized by continued efforts by Britian or English-Canada to assimilate the French speaking and Catholic population. Quebecers therefore, viewed Confederation as a means through which they could finally protect their unique society. It is because of this desire that issues like education were devolved to the provincial realm when The BNA act was drafted.