Download Review: A Brief History of Canada in the 20th

Review: A Brief History of Canada in the 20th Century
1914


1915






1916










1918


1919

Britain declared war on Germany on August 4. Canada was automatically drawn into the
conflict and the first Canadian troops left for England on October 3.
Parliament, under PM Robert Borden passed the War Measures Act which, when imposed,
temporarily suspends civil rights during emergencies, allowing the military to take over. Borden
imposed it immediately.
Canada enters the war in their first battle at Ypres, Belgium on April 22 and face the first
recorded chlorine gas attack.
The Cunard liner Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat on May 7. Built by Canadian
entrepreneur Sir Samuel Cunard, the Lusitania remains the only Cunard ship to be lost at sea.
PM Robert Borden travelled to Europe to speak with Canadian soldiers in hospitals and on the
front lines.
Colonel John McCrae wrote "In Flanders' Fields".
The eastern division of the Grand Trunk Railroad, the National Transcontinental, connected
Moncton, New Brunswick, to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The conscription issue began to divide Canada and Borden's Cabinet. PM Borden convinced
members of the Liberal and Conservative Parties to unite in a coalition Union Party for the
duration of the war.
The centre block of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, Ontario, were completely destroyed
by fire on February 3. Only the domed Library remained relatively unscathed. PM Robert
Borden escaped with only minor burns, but his office and all its contents were completely
destroyed.
The 1'st Canadian Division discovered the unreliability of the Ross rifle. The rifles were
withdrawn from service and replaced by British-made Lee-Enfields.
Manitoba became the first province in Canada to grant women suffrage.
1917 PM Borden introduced Income Tax as a temporary war-time measure. Also enacted was
the Wartime Elections Act
PM Borden became a member of the Imperial War Cabinet on February 23, giving Canada a
voice in international war policy.
Meanwhile, the Military Service Bill was introduced into parliament which lead to a division of
French and English Canada in what became known as the Conscription Crisis.
The Union Government under Robert Borden, a special coalition of Liberal and Tory
governments during wartime, won the election in which all women of British origin were
allowed to vote for the first time. However, the War Measures Act prevented anyone of German
or other foreign background a vote.
During two of the worst battles of World War I, Canadian soldiers captured Vimy Ridge in
France on April 9-12 and Passchendaele, Belgium, on November 6.
On December 6, a munitions ship in Halifax Harbour exploded, leveling 3.2 square kilometres
(2 square miles) of Halifax and killing almost 2,000 people and injuring another 9,000 others.
Louise McKinney, in Alberta, became the first female elected to a legislature in the British
Commonwealth.
Canadian soldiers broke through German lines at Amiens, France, on August 8, beginning
"Canada's Hundred Days"
World War I ended with the signing of the Armistice on November 11. (Currently celebrated as
Remembrance Day.)
The Grand Trunk Pacific, the western division of the Grand Trunk Railway, completed a line to
connect Winnipeg and Prince Rupert. Meanwhile, the Canadian National Railway was created


1920



1921




1922



1923



1925



1926






as a crown corporation which would buy out and consolidate all of the smaller railway lines into
a single transcontinental railway.
In order to force the government to recognize unions, the metal and building trades in Winnipeg
called a general strike on May 19. The strike expanded with other trades joining the strike,
virtually paralyzing Winnipeg, until and armed charged by the RCMP on Bloody Saturday (June
21) killed one worker and injured 30 others. The strike ended on June 26. James Shaver
Woodsworth and several others were charged with 'seditious conspiracy'.
PM Robert Borden lead the Canadian delegation in the Paris Peace Conference and lead the
delegation in the creation of the League of Nations.
The first exhibit of the Group of Seven appeared in the Art Gallery of Toronto on May 7
The League of Nations was created and Canada was one of the first countries to join.
T. A. Crerar created the Progressive Party in order to obtain low tariffs for western farmers.
Red and white were approved by proclamation to be Canada's official colours.
Liberal William Lyon Mackenzie King, won the federal election as prime minister. King
immediately lowered tariffs for western farmers, but apparently not enough. Western support went
to the new Progressive Party.
Agnes Macphail became the first female elected to Parliament under the Progressive Party.
PM Arthur Meighen signed trade agreements with France and the West Indies and created the
Armistice Day Act.
The Canadian Northern Railway and the Canadian Transcontinental Railway merged to form the
Canadian National Railway.
Frederick Banting, Best, MacLeod and Collip shared the Nobel Prize for their discovery of
insulin.
Foster Hewitt made the first hockey broadcast.
The Halibut Treaty was signed between Canada and the United States without the traditional
British signature (first time we’d signed a treadty without Britain), showing continued
independence.
Mackenzie King lead the opposition to a common imperial policy at the Imperial Conference in
London.
The federal government forbade Chinese immigration on Dominion Day. The day would come
to be called 'Humiliation Day' by Chinese-Canadians.
Liberal Mackenzie King was re-elected as prime minister after forming an alliance with the
Progressive Party.
Newfoundland finally gave women the right to vote.
Early Canadian environmentalist Grey Owl met and married an Iroquois woman named Gertrude
'Anahareo' Bernard and began a life-long environmental crusade to save the beaver. Little did
anyone know that Grey Owl was actually none other than Englishman Archie Stansfield Belaney
King-Byng Scandal: The Liberal Party under Mackenzie King was in serious trouble and the
Liberals lost a vote of non-confidence. King asked Governor General Viscount Byng to dissolve
parliament and to call a new election.
Governor General Viscount Byng refused King's request to call a new election. Instead, he
asked Opposition Leader Arthur Meighen to form a government.
Conservative Arthur Meighen became prime minister by decree of the Governor General.
However, 4 days later, King called a vote claiming Meighen's right to govern was
unconstitutional. The Conservatives lost the vote and Byng had no choice but to dissolve
parliament and call a new election.
Mackenzie King was re-elected prime minister.
Old Age Pension was created.
The Balfour Report defined British dominions as autonomous and equal in status on November
18.
1928

1929


1930


1931

1932




1934


1935



1936

1937


1938

Persons Case: The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the British North America Act did not
define women as 'persons'. This ruling made women ineligible to hold public office.
The British Privy Council reversed the Supreme Court decision of 1928 and legally declared
women as 'persons under the law' on October 18.
The Great Depression began
PM Richard Bennett allocated $20 million to aid the unemployed during the depression and
initiated preferential tariffs in order to strengthen Canada's trade, but the export market continued
to slump.
Cairine Wilson became Canada's first female senator.
The Statute of Westminster, passed in England on December 11, finally authorized the Balfour
Report of 1926. The Statute gave Canada full legislative authority in both internal and external
affairs. The Governor General became the official representative of the Crown, relinquishing
his/her power only at times when the reigning monarch would be on Canadian soil.
The Ottawa Agreements set the stage for preferential trade between Canada and other
Commonwealth nations.
Meanwhile, James Woodworth was instrumental in forming a democratic socialist party called
the Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in Calgary.
The Conservative government established Relief Camps, run like military camps, to cope with
number of unemployed single men during the depression.
The Canadian Radio Broadcast Corporation (later to become the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation, or the CBC) was created.
The Bank of Canada was formed.
The Dionne quintuplets (world’s first surviving quintuplets) were born, attracting international
media attention and becoming over-night celebrities.
The On-to-Ottawa trek occurred from June 3 to July 1. Inspired by the Workers' Unity League,
over 1,000 unemployed men from all across the western provinces began a mass protest march to
Ottawa in order to confront PM Bennett over the atrocities of the Relief Camps.
In order to remove a corrupt Liberal administration, Québec Conservative Maurice Duplessis
allied with a splinter group of Liberals under Paul Gouin in order to form the Union
Nationale.
Liberal Mackenzie King re-elected (again) as prime minister. He would be prime minister
throughout World War II (1939-1945)
Maurice Duplessis managed to oust Gouin from the Union and became Premier of Québec.
The Rowell-Sirois Commission was appointed in order to investigate the financial relationships
between the federal and provincial governments.
Meanwhile, the Trans Canada Air Lines began regular flight services on September 1.
Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first President of the United States to make an official visit
to Canada. He met with Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King in Kingston, Ontario.
1939-1945
 Canadian ingenuity flourished throughout the war, having a profound effect on the future of the
world:
 The National Research Council was instrumental in developing radar. The Halifax Naval Base
in Nova Scotia was the first military establishment in North America to be protected by radar.
 The first practical election microscope was built at the University of Toronto.


1939

1940




1941

1942





1943

1944

W. R. Franks invented an anti-G suit which prevented pilots from blacking out on sharp turns or
steep dives. The anti-G suits were used exclusively by American fighter pilots in the Pacific after
1942.
Peter Webb invented a cold-weather suit which protected downed pilots from the cold oceanic
waters.
Canada entered World War II on September 10, one week after Britain's declaration of war
against Germany. Until then, Canada had remained neutral. Premier Duplessis opposed Québec's
participation in the war, but was eventually defeated by the Liberals on October 26.
The federal government introduced the Unemployment Insurance Commission.
Canada and the United States co-operate to form a Permanent Joint Defence Board. Meanwhile,
Canadian parliament passed the highly-controversial National Resources Mobilization Act in
June, which would allow conscription (draft) for military service only within Canadian territory in
case the war moved to North America.
While most provinces were in disagreement, Ottawa adopted several of the financial
recommendations of the Rowell-Sirois Commission, especially those recommendations relating
to a minimum national standard of service.
Québec women won the right to vote.
Hong Kong fell to the Japanese and Canadian troops were taken as POW's. Meanwhile, the
United States entered the war due to growing Japanese aggressions. Combined, the incidents lead
to racial intolerance in Canada.
In February, over 22,000 Japanese-Canadians, multi-generational or otherwise, were stripped of
all non-portable possessions, listed as security risks and removed to security camps where they
remained throughout the war. Many had few (if any) connections to Japan.
An amendment of the National Resources Mobilization Act which would allow conscripts to be
sent overseas for active duty was passed by a national plebiscite (vote) on April 27. This only
lead to the divisions between French and English Canada.
Canada's first participation in the European theatre, the Dieppe raid on August 19, was a total
disaster.
PM Mackenzie King oversaw the construction of the Alaska Highway. Originally known as the
'Alcan Military Highway' and built in response to the threat of a Japanese invasion on the west
coast, the highway ran from Dawson Creek, British Columbia and Fairbanks, Alaska, a distance of
2,450 km (1,500 miles). Ten thousand soldiers and 6,000 civilians completed the highway within
8 months, a job that would normally have taken 5 years.
Future prime minister John Diefenbaker blocked a Conservative attempt to outlaw the
Communist Party.
Canadians joined the Allies in the invasion of Sicily on July 10. Later, from December 20 to 28,
Canada won the Battle of Ortona, which had been a major German stronghold on the Adriatic
Sea.
D-Day, June 6. Canadians advanced further than any other allied unit. Later, on July 23, Canada
fought as a separate army.
 The Family Allowance Act was passed in August.
 The first socialist government in North America was formed when the Co-Operative
Commonwealth Federation (CCF) under Tommy Douglas won the provincial election in
Saskatchewan.
 Over one million Canadian women were working full-time.
 At the age of 10, the Dionne Quintuplets retired from the public spotlight.
1945-1946
 Future prime minister Lester B. Pearson was the Canadian Ambassador to the United States,
during which time he attended the conference which founded the United Nations. He was also
influential in gaining Canada's admittance to NATO (North America Treaty Organization).
1945




1947

1948

1949



1950's

1950

1951


1952


1953


1954


1955


1956


European hostilities drew to a close on May 5. Pacific basin hostilities ended on Sept. 2.
The first family allowance cheques ('Baby Bonus') were issued on June 20, guaranteeing a
universal monthly stipend to every child in Canada under the age of 16.
Canada joined the United Nations on June 26.
Canada's first nuclear reactor went on line in Chalk River, Ontario.
deHaviland's DHC-2 Beaver, the world's first short takeoff and landing (STOL) plane, began
flying. The Beaver, built for the Canadian wilderness, could land and take off on land, water or ice
and became Canada's all-time best-selling aircraft and became popular in remote countries
around the world. Of the original 1,692 Beavers built, over 1,200 are still in service.
Canadian John P. Humphrey was the architect behind the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, the United Nations document which proclaimed "equal and inalienable rights of all
members of the human family".
Joey Smallwood became the last Father of Confederation when Newfoundland became the
10'th and last province of Canada on March 31.
Canada joined NATO (North American Treaty Organization).
Canada's Supreme Court finally replaced Britain's privy council as the final court of appeal.
Research indicated increased levels of acid found in Canadian and Scandinavian lakes due to
'acid rain.
Volunteers in the Canadian Army Special Force joined the United Nations forces in the Korean
conflict.
Canadian census set Canada's population at just over 14 million.
The Massey Royal Commission reported that American influences were dominating Canadian
cultural life. The commission recommended improving government grants to universities and the
establishment of the Canada Council.
Canada's first television stations began part-time broadcasting in September in Montreal and
Toronto.
Future prime minister Lester B. Pearson was President of the United Nations General
Assembly, during which time he attempted to resolve the Korean conflict.
The National Library was created in Ottawa on January 1.
Meanwhile, the Stratford Festival opened on July 13 and the Korean War ended on July 27.
Construction began on the St. Laurence Seaway.
A brief economic slump interrupted the post-war boom.
The Canadian Labour Congress was formed.
Hockey fans rioted in Montreal following the suspension of favourite Rocket Richard, March
17.
The Pipeline Debate (May 8 to June 6) began with concern over the funding of the natural gas
industry. Liberals used 'closure' to limit the debate which ended in controversy over proper
parliamentary procedure. This action by the Liberals lead directly to their defeat in the next federal
election after 22 years in power.
The Suez Crisis rose to a boil as British and French troops entered Egypt in an attempt to gain
control over the Suez Canal. When hostilities worsened, future prime minister Lester B. Pearson
approached the United Nations and suggested the creation of a multinational peace keeping
force which would be installed into the war zone to make certain that cease-fires were maintained
and to oversee the withdrawal of any troops as necessary. The United Nations readily agreed to the


1957

1958



1959



1960



1961



1962




1963


1964

1965


proposal and the First United Nations Peace-Keeping Force, lead by Canadian troops, entered
the Suez and brought it to a successful and peaceful end, effectively preventing what could easily
have become yet another world war.
Progressive Conservative John Diefenbaker won a minority government on June 10 and
appointed Ellen Fairclough as Canada's first female cabinet minister.
The Canada Council was formed to encourage uniqueness and to overcome American influences
on Canadian culture. (see 1951)
Future prime minister Lester B. Pearson won the Nobel Prize for Peace on October 12 after
having helped to create the United Nations Peace-Keeping Corps and for successfully resolving
the Suez Crisis.
PM John Diefenbaker's minority government went on to become the largest majority
government ever obtained in a federal election on March 31.
The Canadian Bill of Rights was established.
James Gladstone became Canada's first Aboriginal senator under appointment by Diefenbaker
in an attempt to draw other minorities into the national identity.
Despite public outcry and protest, Diefenbaker cancelled the Avro Arrow project (CF-105
aircraft) on February 20. Almost 14,000 Canadians suddenly became unemployed.
The St. Lawrence Seaway opened to traffic on June 26, allowing ocean-going ships and tankers
to travel inland to both Canadian and American ports on the upper and lower Great Lakes.
Joseph-Armand Bombardier placed the world's first personal snow vehicle, the Ski-Doo on
the market. (see also 1926 & 1937)
Jean Lesage, representing the Liberal party, won the provincial election in Québec on June 22.
This effectively began the Quiet Revolution (Revolution Tranquille) in which French-Canadians
press the federal government for special status within Confederation.
The Canadian Bill of Rights was approved.
People of the First Nation (Natives) were finally given the right to vote in federal elections.
The New Democratic Party was formed to replace the CCF (Co-Operative Commonwealth
Federation).
The federal government established the Royal Commission on Health Services and the
Agricultural Rehabilitation and Development Act.
PM John Diefenbaker fought for human rights outside of Canada by supporting non-white
Commonwealth countries in gaining independence. His anti-apartheid speech was instrumental
in causing South Africa's withdrawal from the Commonwealth.
Socialized medicine was introduced in Saskatchewan on July 1, which would ultimately lead to
a strike by doctors.
The Trans-Canada Highway opened on September 3.
Canada became the third country in space following the successful launch of the Alouette I
satellite on September 29.
The last execution in Canada took place in Toronto on December 11.
The separatist Front de Libéation du Québec (FLQ) set off bombs in Montreal during April
and May. (see also 1970)
A Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism lead to a bilingual civil service
throughout Canada.
Canadians were issued social insurance cards in April. Meanwhile, Northern Dancer became
the first Canadian horse to win the Kentucky Derby.
The federal government established the Canada Pension Plan.
Canada and the United States signed the Auto Pact in January.
 Canada inaugurated its new flag (red maple leaf on white with red side bars) on February 15.
1966
 The CBC introduced colour broadcasting to Canadian television on October 1.
1967-1968
 As Minister of Justice, future prime minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau liberalized the laws
concerning abortion and homosexuality. (Paraphrase: 'The government has no business in the
bedrooms of the nation.')
1967 - Canada's Centennial
 The Canadian airforce, army and navy were unified as the Canadian Armed Forces on April 25.
 Canada became the centre of world attention with the opening of Expo '67 in Montreal on April
27. (Expo '67 remains the most financially successful world exposition to date.)
 Canadian centennial celebrations officially began on July 1.
 French president Charles de Gaulle, on a visit to Canada, made a speech in Montreal and
proclaimed "Vive le Québec libre" ('Long Live Free Quebec') on July 24.
1968
 Pierre Elliot Trudeau succeeded Lester Pearson as Liberal Party Leader and won a majority
government in the federal election on June 25. The election itself had an atmosphere of a media
circus and Trudeau's popularity was dubbed 'Trudeaumania'.
 The federal government appointed a Royal Commission on the Status of Women. Meanwhile,
Canadian divorce laws were completely reformed.
1969
 Both English and French were recognized as official languages by the federal government on
July 9 through the Official Languages Act, which guaranteed a bilingual civil service.
 The breathalizer was first used as a test for drunk drivers on December 1.
1970
 The FLQ (Front de Libération de Québec, or the Quebec Liberation Front) kidnapped British
trade commissioner James Cross on October 5, leading to the October Crisis. Québec's
Minister of Labour and Immigration, Pierre Laporte was kidnapped on October 10. Québec
Premier Robert Bourassa petitioned the federal government to invoke the War Measures Act,
which PM Pierre Trudeau did on October 16. The FLQ was banned and almost 500 terrorists were
arrested. James Cross was rescued, but Pierre Laporte was found murdered in the trunk of a car
under what is now named the Pierre Laporte Bridge.
 As Minister of Justice, future prime minister John Turner ammended the Criminal Code to
outlaw hate propoganda. He also appointed Bora Laskin as Canada's first Jewish Justice of the
Supreme Court.
 Acid Rain: Thousands of Canadian lakes were found to be devoid of life. The United States
Environmental Protection Agency increased smokestack height regulations which only allowed
emissions to travel farther.
1971
 A policy of multiculturalism was officially adopted by the federal government. Meanwhile,
Gerhard Herzberg of the National Research Council won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his
research into smog.
1972
 Paul Henderson scored the famous goal which won Canada's first hockey challenge against the
Soviets.
 Murial Fergusson was appointed as the first female Speaker of the Senate.
1973
 The United States' bombing of North Vietnam was criticized by the House of Commons on
January 5.
 The separatist Parti Québecois became the official opposition in a Québec provincial election.
1974
 The Liberals under Pierre Trudeau won another majority government on July 8.
1975
 The beaver (castor canadensis) became a symbol of Canadian sovereignty by Royal assent on
March 24.





1976



1977



1978


1979

1980






1981




The CN Tower in Toronto was completed on April 2 to become the world's tallest freestanding structure.
The Foreign Investment Review Agency was created on July 18 to screen foreign investment in
Canada.
Television cameras were allowed in the House of Commons for the first time, giving most
Canadians their first view of the government in action.
PM Pierre Trudeau initiated wage and price controls on October 14 in order to fight inflation.
Acid Rain: All power plants built in Canada after 1975 must have emission control systems.
Future prime minister Joseph 'Joe' Clark became Progressive Conservative Party Leader and
set about reuniting the Conservative party which had become badly split over the Diefenbaker
years. Clark managed to completely restructure the Party and overhauled the fundraising
campaigns.
A 200-mile (320-kilometre) coastal fishing zone was announced by the federal government on
June 4.
Canada abolished the death penalty on July 14.
Québec passed Bill 101 on August 26, restricting English schooling to children of parents who
had been taught in English schools.
18-year-old Terry Fox, from Port Coquitlam. British Columbia, was diagnosed with cancer. His
right leg was amputated just above the knee.
Canada entered the metric age when all the highway signs (speed and distance) were changed to
the metric system beginning on September 6.
The Sun Life Insurance company publicly acknowledged that it had moved its head office from
Montreal to Toronto due to Québec's language laws and political instability.
Acid Rain: Acid rain was formally recognized as a transborder problem.
At only 39 years of age, Progressive Conservative Joseph 'Joe' Clark, won a minority
government in the federal election on May 22 and became Canada's youngest Prime Minister.
Jeanne Sauvé became Canada's first female Speaker of the House.
Canadian ambassador to Iran, Ken Taylor, helped 6 Americans escape from Tehran on January
28, making him an overnight international celebrity.
On April 12, Terry Fox dipped his right (prosthetic) foot into the Atlantic Ocean at St. John's,
Newfoundland, to begin his Marathon of Hope: a cross-Canada run to raise money for cancer
research. On September 1 (Labour Day), after running the equivalent of a marathon a day, Terry
made the heart-wrenching announcement from the back of an ambulance in Thunder Bay, Ontario,
that the cancer had spread to his lungs. Terry would have to put off the remainder of his Marathon
of Hope until later.
A referendum in Québec rejected sovereignty association on May 22.
O Canada was officially adopted as Canada's national anthem on June 27.
Acid Rain: An International Joint Committee between Canada and the United States concluded
that acid rain was one of the most serious problems plaguing North America. Ontario began
liming its lakes in an attempt to neutralize the acid.
Terry Fox died of cancer at the midpoint of his cross-Canada Marathon of Hope on June 28.
Terry's efforts raised almost $25 million (Canadian) for cancer research. His 'Marathon of Hope'
continues to be an annual event in nations around the world. Terry was only 22 years old.
Québec banned all public signs in English on September 23.
Except for Québec, the federal government and all provincial governments agreed on a method to
repatriate Canada's constitution on November 5.
Acid Rain: The Canadian Coalition on Acid Rain became the first Canadian lobby group
registered in Washington DC.
1982





1983




1984



1985



1986



1987




1988




The government of Québec's demand for a veto over constitutional change was rejected on
April 7.
Canada gained a new Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Despite opposition by Québec Premier René Lévèques, PM Trudeau managed to patriate
Canada's Constitution. The Constitution Act was signed by Queen Elizabeth II during a
special ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, on April 17.
The worst recession since the Great Depression began.
Acid Rain: Canada committed to reducing sulphur emissions by 50% by 1990. The U.S.
government announced that more time was needed to do the same thing and began to deregulate
prior pollution programs.
Pay TV began operation in Canada on February 1.
Canadians protested the government's approval of U.S. cruise missile testing in western Canada.
Jeanne Sauvé was appointed the first female Governor General of Canada on Dec. 23.
Acid Rain: 19,000 Ontario lakes were found to be biologically damaged due to acid rain.
Liberal John Turner succeeded prime minister Pierre Trudeau on Trudeau's retirement, June 30.
Turner gambled and called a new election but lost the election on September 4. Turner had been
prime minister for only 2 months.
Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space when he rode along on the U.S. space shuttle
Challenger on October 5.
Acid Rain: Canada re-affirmed its pledge to reduce sulphur emissions by 50% and formally
requests that the United States do the same. Again, the U.S. requested more time.
Inspired by Terry Fox, Rick Hansen began his Man in Motion Tour around-the-world tour,
departing from Vancouver, British Columbia on March 21 in a wheelchair
The United States challenged Canada's sovereignty over the Arctic by sending the ice-breaker
Polar Sea through the Northwest Passage.
Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and U.S. President Ronald Reagan declared
mutual support of the orbital Strategic Defense Initiatives (Star Wars) and Free Trade at the
Shamrock Summit in Québec City on December 2. The Summit was so named because of both
Mulroney's and Reagan's ethnic backgrounds.
Expo '86 opened in Vancouver on May 2. (Closed on October 13.)
The United States imposed tariffs on some imported Canadian wood products on May 22.
Canada adopted sanctions against South Africa for its apartheid policies on August 5.
Two years and one day after starting his Man in Motion Tour, paraplegic Rick Hansen arrived
in Vancouver, British Columbia on March 22. During his tour, Hansen had wheeled across (or
within) every continent except South America and Antarctica.
PM Brian Mulroney and the provincial Premiers agreed in principle to the Meech Lake
Accord which would bring the province of Québec into Canada's new Constitution on April 20.
Canada and the United States reach a Free Trade agreement on October 3, but the agreement still
required ratification.
Meanwhile, stock prices plummeted throughout the world on October 19.
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that existing legislation against abortion was
unconstitutional on January 28.
The Winter Olympics in Calgary opened on February 13.
During the summer, marathon swimmer Vicki Keith swam across all 5 Great Lakes to raise
money for charity, covering a total of 253 kilometres (157 miles) in 160 hours and 22 minutes.
Sprinter Ben Johnson set another world record and won the gold medal at the Soeul Olympics
in Korea on September 24. However, Johnson tested positive for steroids on September 26 and
was stripped of his medal.



1989



Québec's 'French only' sign law was reversed by the Supreme Court of Canada on December
15. However, Qué found a 'loophole' in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the 'notwithstanding'
clause) and reinstated the law on December 21. As a result, the ratification of the Meech Lake
Accord was slowed by Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon.
The Free Trade legislation between Canada and the United States was passed by both the
House of Commons and the Senate in late December.
Acid Rain: Canada and the United States finally met for serious discussions and the United States
finally agreed to a significant reduction in sulphur emissions.
Free Trade became effective on January 1.
Heather Erxleben became Canada's first acknowledged female combat soldier.
Canadian one-dollar bills were replaced with the new one-dollar coin, popularly named the
'Loonie' because of the engraving of a loon on the 'tail' side.
 The University of Montreal Massacre occurred on December 6 when 14 female engineering
students were separated from their male colleagues and slaughtered by gunman Marc Lepine who
had a vendetta against women.
1990-1993
 Following the student nurses massacre in Montreal in 1989, the Criminal Code was amended to
call for tighter gun control measures in 1991.
1990
 The Meech Lake Accord is slowed further by Newfoundland Premier Clyde Wells. However, the
Accord was dealt a final and fatal blow by Elijah Harper, a Native member of the Manitoba
legislature, who absolutely refused to recognize Québec as Canada's principal (if not only
'distinct society') on June 22. As a result, the Bloc Québecois was created by a handful of
disenchanted French-Canadian politicians on July 25.
 Despite protests and Liberal stalling, the Senate passed the Conservative's highly-unpopular
Goods and Service Tax (GST) in December.
1991
 The Goods and Service Tax (GST) became effective on January 1, wreaking havoc with retailers
and consumers across the nation. (The GST effectively added a second 'tax' to sales receipts,
applying even to the purchase of postage stamps.)
 Canadian forces joined the Gulf War, a multinational effort to drive Saddam Hussein's Iraqi
troops from Kuwait on January 15.
 A Six Nations man became the first Native to be allowed to make a traditional native oath
instead of swearing on the Bible in a Brantford, Ontario courtroom in November.
 The Tungavik signed an agreement with Ottawa which would allow the creation of a new,
quasi-independent Inuit territory in the eastern Arctic regions. (Nunavut)
 Acid Rain: Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and U.S. President George Bush signed the
Canada/U.S. Air Quality Agreement, requiring the United States to reduce emissions by 40% of
the 1980 levels by 2010. The U.S. Clean Air Act was amended and the Canadian Coalition on
Acid Rain was disbanded.
1992
 Phase One of the James Bay Project, one of the world's biggest hydro-electric projects, was
completed, causing one of the worst man-made environmental disasters in Canadian history.
Phase Two (Great Whale) was halted when environmentalists and Indian chiefs convinced New
York State and Vermont to cancel their contracts to buy hydro from the project and to purchase it
from Hydro-Quebec instead.
 Roberta Bondar became Canada's first female astronaut in space.
 A national referendum held on October 26 saw Canadians voting 'No' to the Charlottetown
Agreement, a second attempt to correct the Canadian Constitution after the failure of the Meech
Lake Accord.
 NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) went into effect.
1993
 The Nunavut Settlement Agreement with the Inuit set into motion the plans to divide the
Northwest Territories to form a third territory, Nunavut.





1994


1995



1996





1997




1998


1999



Kim Campbell replaced Brian Mulroney as the Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and
became Canada's first female Prime Minister in June. Unfortunately for Kim, the Conservative
mandate to govern had expired and Kim was obliged to call an election.
Conversationalists protesting 'clear-cut logging' blocked loggers' access to ancient forest areas
near Clayoquot Sound during July and August.
The Progressive Conservative Party was dealt a devastating blow after 9 years in power in the
election of October 25. After NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and the GST
(Goods and Service Tax), Canadians were fed up with the Conservatives and they were reduced to
only 2 seats in the House of Commons. They now had less than is required to be recognized as an
official party.
Liberal Jean Chrétien won a landslide victory.
The Bloc Québecois under Lucien Bouchard and the Reform Party under Preston Manning
only one seat apart in distant second and third.
The Inuit of Northern Québec arranged for self-government.
The Parti Québecois won a narrow majority in Québec.
The government of Newfoundland finally took control of schools from the church.
Québec Premier Jacques Parizeau explained the narrow failure of the Québec sovereignty
referendum with some very damaging, demeaning and ill-advised remarks against nonfrancophone voters. Parizeau resigned in disgrace and was replaced by Lucien Bouchard.
The Québec Cree and Inuit peoples held their own referendum and rejected separation from
Canada.
The maple leaf was officially proclaimed the national arboreal emblem of Canada on April 25.
The government of British Columbia settled a major land-claim agreement with the Nisga'a
Nation.
The federal government replaced the 2-dollar bill with the new 2-dollar coin in February. The
coin was quickly nicknamed 'Toonie' to rhyme with the previous dollar coin, the 'Loonie'. (see
1989)
The federal government passed legislation banning discrimination against homosexuals.
Acid Rain: The United States had cut sulphur emissions by 26% of 1980 levels.
The 13-kilometre (8-mile) Confederation Bridge connecting Prince Edward Island to mainland
Canada was opened to traffic. Having to deal with heavy winter ice, the bridge is a marvel of
engineering.
Tensions rose between Canada and the United States over salmon fishing disputes in the
Pacific Northwest.
Teachers in Ontario staged a huge walkout to protest the highly-unpopular policies of Premier
Mike Harris' government.
Acid Rain: Canada had cut sulphur emissions by 54% of 1980 levels.
In January, the federal government issued a formal apology to native peoples for past injustices
(such as the residential school system in which thousands of young natives were taken from their
homes and forced to attend far-away 'English' schools).
The Nisga'a treaty fell under controversy when the Nisga'a began to demand some measure of
self-government.
The new territory of Nunavut was created on April 1, changing the map of Canada for the first
time in 20 years
Native peoples continued logging in the British Columbia interior in defiance of government
authorities. Meanwhile, Natives in the Maritimes continued to fish in despite government
warnings.
Canadian chief prosecutor for the United Nations Louise Arbour issued an arrest warrant for
Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic for crimes against humanity in May.