[2][3] Another daughter, Luce, had a long-standing extra-marital relationship with George-Étienne Cartier, who became a co-premier of the Province of Canada and a Father of Confederation.

Two of his sons, Maurice and Austin, had significant business interests in banking, transportation and real estate development, as well as trade with Upper Canada.

As a result of his involvement in the British-dominated business world, Cuvillier gradually adopted the anglicized first name Austin, first in English, and then in French as well.

They were rebuffed by the governors, who took the view that those principles did not apply in colonial government, and who could count on the support of the appointed Legislative Council to defeat measures proposed by the Assembly.

Cuvillier provided the detailed financial critiques; the leaders of the party, Louis-Joseph Papineau and John Neilson, made the arguments based on British political principles.

Cuvillier worked in the Assembly for many years to get a legislative charter passed for the Bank of Montreal, to replace the private contract which its shareholders operated under.

Cuvillier was also one of four commissioners appointed by the Assembly to carry out difficult negotiations with representatives from Upper Canada on how to share the customs revenues between the two provinces.

The Parti canadien named him as one of their delegates to Britain in 1828, armed with massive petitions and detailed objections against Governor Dalhousie's policies.

[1][2][6] Even though they had been successful on financial issues, Papineau and his supporters were increasingly expressing more radical views, and beginning to call themselves the Parti patriote.

[7] On one issue, however, Cuvillier was the more radical, calling for indemnities to be paid to elected members of the Legislative Assembly, which would open it up beyond the wealthy landholders, professionals and businessmen.

The Resolutions were a detailed critique of the existing constitutional structure of Lower Canada, and a direct challenge to the British government.

Somewhat disillusioned, he returned to his commercial activities, as well as Montreal municipal affairs, while the members of the Parti patriote moved steadily towards taking up arms against the government.

In 1838, he was one of the founders of the Association Loyale Canadienne du District de Montréal, which denounced the rebellion as well as proposals for union of the Canadas, and called for political reform under the 1791 Constitution.

In that capacity, he was one of the two Justices of the Peace who signed the requisition authorising the British military to march on St Denis, the rebel stronghold, which resulted in the Battle of Saint-Denis, a defeat for the government forces.

[1] He also was one of two justices who issued a warrant to arrest Wolfred Nelson, one of the leaders of the Rebellion and a former colleague in the Legislative Assembly, on a charge of high treason.

In the aftermath, the British government sent Lord Durham to the Canadas, as Governor General, and with instructions to report back on the causes of the Rebellions and possible responses.

He continued to oppose the union of the two Canadas and stood for election on general opposition to the anticipated policies of Governor-General Lord Sydenham.

Although LaFontaine bore a grudge against Cuvillier for having opposed the Ninety-Two Resolutions, he was also trying to unite the French-speaking members to obtain power in the new government for Lower Canada.

Governor General Lord Sydenham, who was initially determined to bring a conciliatory approach to the government, tacitly supported Cuvillier as well.

[1][2][14][15] During the four years of the first Parliament, Cuvillier developed very coridal relations with the succession of governors, who were engaged with the Assembly over the issue of responsible government.

Matters came to a head during the governorship of Sir Charles Metcalfe, who prorogued the Parliament for almost a year rather than accept the demand of LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin that the governor should call on the majority party in the Assembly to form the government.

[1][2] In 1969, Cuvillier was designated as a National Historic Person by the federal government, recognising his forty years of public service and his substantial contributions to the business community of Montreal.