Individuals, Organization, and Events That Changed Canada's Policy
Canadian Multiculturalism Act
Quebec's Quiet Revolution
French nationalism rose during the quiet revolution.
Prompted the govt to implement the Official Languages Act
Meant to curb French uprising.
Provides equality for both languages, both languages to be recognized in federal institutions, parliament to publish regulations in both languages, bilingual packaging, etc.
Funds were given to the provinces to promote bilingualism in ways such as schools and news programs.
Govt pledged to provide more jobs for French speaking Canadians in govt.
The act managed to settle most of the French Canadian's protest.
A period from the 1950s-60s in which the province of Quebec underwent political and social change
Constitution Act of 1982
In 1982, the British govt passed the Canada Act at the request of the Canadian govt
The act would give Canada the ability to amend its own constitution without the approval of Britain.
The Constitution Act in Canada boosted the sense of independence and national pride in the country.
World Trade Organization
Peackeeping
The purpose of the WTO is to ensure that trade between countries occurs without a hitch.
Lester B. Pearson
He had a strong role in the founding of the United Nations and the North Atlantic Trade Organization.
United Nations
The United Nations is a global organization that aims to preserve international peace and order.
In 1971, the federal government, under the leadership of Pierre Trudeau, expressed their commitment to multiculturalism,and in doing so formalized a policy to promote diversity, recognize the rights of aboriginal people, and support the use of Canada’s two official languages.
Today in Canada, multiculturalism is considered a major part of our national identity, by both Canadians and other country's citizens. The multiculturalism act is marker in history as a major change in Canadian attitude towards other cultures.
Peacekeeping describes United Nations (UN) military intervention operations.
Canadians have sometimes considered peacekeeping part of the country’s identity.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NATO promotes democratic values and enables members to consult and cooperate on defence and security-related issues to solve problems, build trust, and in the long run, prevent conflict.
NATO is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail it has the military power to undertake crisis-management operations. These are carried out under the collective defence clause of NATO’s founding treaty or under a United Nations mandate along or in cooperation with other countries and international organizations.
Commonwealth of nations
The Commonwealth has helped Canada to work toward shared goals in democracy and development because that’s what their organization is based on.
Canada helped seven other member countries (members of the Commonwealth) ratify or adopt eight different human rights agreements and conventions, including protecting the rights of children, protecting the rights of people with disabilities, and protecting political rights.
National Energy Program
Energy policy established under the govt. of Pierre Trudeau from 1980-85
Influences
Global oil prices rising from oil shortage
Protect Canadians from high prices
Attempt of the federal govt to take more control of Canada's petroleum industry
Attempt to secure Canadian oil supplies
Attempt to redistribute Alberta's oil wealth to the federal govt and consumers
Reduce Canada's dependence on foreign sources of oil
Did this by increasing taxes and royalties
Encouraged oil drilling in remote areas with grants
Issued grants to convert consumers from oil to electric or gas heating
25% federal ownership on oil and gas discoveries made by private companies in the North and offshore
Criticism
Alberta
Alberta premier attempted to cut oil production to protest the program
Alberta's energy industry was hit hard after the decline in the price of oil
Most Albertans saw the program as the federal gov taking their money
Led to decades of western resentment of the Liberal party and the federal govt
The federal govt made several changes to this act in accord with the protests of Alberta and the ruling of the Supreme Court before it was dismantled
He also played a major part in the development of the race-free immigration policy and found the UN Peacekeeping Forces.
Pearson brought in many social programs, like universal healthcare and Canada Student Loans.
Pearson was very well known for national pride as well, seeing as he was credited with the new national flag, the Maple Leaf flag.
He was a strong believer of biculturalism and worked relentlessly as an advocate for the French-Canadians.
Founded in 1945, it is currently made up of 193 Member States.
Typically, the UN missions are based off the Charter of Rights, and they may take action in issues that impact humanity, such as global warming, terrorism, human rights, gender equality and peace.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
In the early 1980s, as the government of Pierre Trudeau began the process of patriating Canada’s Constitution it was decided decided to include within the Constitution a new Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Concerns were raised in the debates concerning the charter. Would it give courts and judges too much power to interpret its meaning? How could it be amended once it was in place? There was also reservations among the provincial leaders that a Charter would restrict the right of provinces to independently make laws as they saw fit. After many years of passionate public debate, the Charter took effect as part of the Constitution Act, 1982 when Queen Elizabeth II signed the governing legislation, the Canada Act, 1982, into law on 17 April that year in Ottawa.
Prior to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, it was near impossible to stop an elected government from passing unfair laws and policies. There was no protection for minority rights or fundamental freedoms. The difference the charter could have made to pre-charter events in our history in enormous. Additionally, we as a nation lacked a clear representation of our collective values. The charter is the supreme law of our nation after all.
Canadian Environmental Protection Act
Originally enacted in 1988, CEPA provided an approach to assess and manage chemical substances in the environment that were not addressed under existing programs. After being reviewed in the 1990s, it was replaced by the current legislation that provides new powers for health and environmental protection.The act received Royal Assent on September 14, 1999, and the new act came into force on March 31, 2000.
The CEPA is an important cog in the ever growing machine of Canada. As we became more aware of how our actions impact the government, we have to adapt to and overcome the various challenges that come with having an economy that is dependant on the extraction and sale of natural resources as well as the desire to protect the environment. The CEPA is one such attempt at finding a balance, trying to preserve the environment, while also avoiding being too restrictive upon our economy.
Policies
UN Slavery convention of 1926, which was aimed to reduce slavery and combat the slave trade.
The convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951, which defines the term ‘refugee’ and establishes a framework for the rights of individuals who are granted asylum.
Refugees are more common now than ever, with multiple conflicts occurring. In 2016, the UN said that approximately 65.3 million refugees were displaced, the highest number ever recorded
Influence
Poliomyelitis
With the exception of 3 countries, poliomyelitis (polio) has been eliminated from all countries, thanks to the efforts of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
Hunger
Recently, the FAO and EU partnership was augmented by a €1 billion EU initiative which provided 2 million people in 6 countries with agricultural development activities worth almost €60 million EU.
Established in 1995, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organization that oversees the global rules of trade between nations.
The WTO has made Canada more open to trading from various countries and so, the country has developed the skills and necessary infrastructure to expand their trade.