Canada's Historical Events and Policies

Auto Pact

• The Automotive Products Trade Agreement of 1965 integrated Canadian and US auto industries, creating a stronger Canadian presence in the North American market.

Avro Arrow

• The Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow was a supersonic interceptor jet aircraft, designed in the 1950s.
• It helped establish Canada as a leader in scientific research and development.

Berlin Airlift

• The Soviet blockade prevented access to allied-controlled areas of Berlin.

Bilingualism

• The Official Languages Act granted Canadians the right to federal services in either English or French.
• Bill 101 in Quebec made French the official language of the province.

Cabinet/Cabinet Ministers

• Cabinet ministers share collective responsibility for government policies.
• The Governor General formally appoints ministers chosen by the Prime Minister.
• Most are Members of Parliament (MPs), and may also be Senators.
• They are responsible for government departments and report on their activities to Parliament.
• Cabinet and Prime Minister regularly discuss policies, spending, bills, and programs.

Canadian Bill of Rights/ Charter of Rights and Freedoms

• The Canadian Bill of Rights was a limited step in protecting rights.
• The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms provided stronger protections for fundamental freedoms.

Confidence motion

• A formal vote in a parliamentary system determines if the government retains the support of the legislature.

Conscription Crisis (WWII)

• Disagreements arose over mandatory military service.
• Initially, the government of William Lyon Mackenzie King opposed conscription, preferring volunteers.
• However, increasing pressure led to more troops being required.

Constitution Act and Charter of Rights and Freedoms

• The Constitution Act establishes Canada's legal structure and function.
• The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms.

Construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway

• Before the Seaway, goods movement on the Great Lakes was limited.
• The Seaway improved trade by enabling larger vessels, increasing economic growth for both Canada and the USA.
• The Canada and USA governments signed an agreement in 1954 to construct the Seaway.

Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF)

• A socialist and social democratic political party.

Cuban Missile Crisis

• A 13 day confrontation between the USA and the Soviet Union in 1962, involving the presence of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba.
• The crisis brought the world close to nuclear war.

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg

• American citizens convicted of espionage for passing nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Executive Branch

• One of the three main branches of the Canadian government, along with Legislative and judicial.

Federal

• One of the three branches of the Canadian government, along with executive and judicial.

Fidel Castro

• Prime Minister of Cuba (1959-1976).
• The Cuban missile crisis occurred in 1962 when the Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles in Cuba.
• The crisis was eventually resolved peacefully.

FLQ (Front de libération du Québec) / October Crisis

• A separatist and terrorist group in Quebec.
• The October Crisis of 1970 involved kidnappings and the murder of Pierre Laporte.
• The actions led to a major crisis.

Igor Gouzenko Affair

• A Soviet spy who revealed Soviet espionage activities in Canada.
• This increased awareness and suspicion of the Soviet Union.

House of Commons

• The lower house of the Canadian Parliament.
• MPs are elected representatives who participate in legislative debates and vote on laws.

Japanese Internment Camps

• Over 120,000 Japanese Canadians were forcibly relocated and detained during World War II.

Judicial Branch

• One of the three main branches of the Canadian government, along with Executive and Legislative branches.

Korean War

• Canada sent troops in support of South Korea in a UN action.

Leader of the Opposition

• The leader of the political party who did not win the federal election.

Legislative Branch

• Another of the three branches of the Canadian government; the branch that creates laws.

Lester B. Pearson

• Prime Minister of Canada (1963-1968).

Louis St. Laurent

• Prime Minister of Canada (1948-1957).

Moscow Olympics Boycott

• Many countries protested the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan by not participating in the Moscow Olympics.

Multiculturalism Act

• Encouraged immigration based on economic needs, rather than ethnicity.

National Energy Program

• The National energy program was implemented by the Canadian government to boost the Canadian economy.
• The policy aimed to make Canada more energy independent and to lower prices for Canadians.

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)

• A binational agreement between the USA and Canada to defend airspace from the Arctic to the Tropics against Soviet nuclear weapons.

Official Languages Act

• Ensured federal government services were available in both English and French.

Oil and Gas Development

• Growth in oil sands development in Alberta.
• Advances in technology and the National Energy Program occurred.

October Crisis

• A political crisis in 1970.
• The main event was the kidnapping and murder of Pierre Laporte, a Quebec Minister.

Parti Québécois

• A political party in Quebec supporting Quebec sovereignty.

Parliament

• Federal law-making body.
• The Crown, Senate, and House of Commons are the three main parts of Parliament.

Party Whip

• A legislator chosen by a political party to help enforce discipline.

Pierre Trudeau

• Prime Minister of Canada (1968-1979 & 1980-1984).

Prime Minister

• The head of government in Canada, usually the leader of the political party with the most seats in the House of Commons.

Provincial/Municipal

• The levels of government below the national (Federal) level.

Question Period

• Daily sessions giving MPs a chance to question the prime minister and cabinet ministers.

Quiet Revolution

• The period of social, political, economic and cultural change that occurred in Quebec in the 1960s.
• It reformed the education and resource systems, and dealt with the rising sense of Quebec nationalism.

Red Scare

• A period of moral panic provoked by fear of the rise, supposed or real, of left-wing ideologies in society.

Referendum on Quebec Sovereignty

• Elections held to give the citizens the chance to vote on whether or not Quebec should separate from Canada.
• Both votes failed.

Residential and Day Schools

• Forced assimilation of indigenous children.
• The schools resulted in cultural and intergenerational trauma, and caused cultural loss.

Senate

• The upper house of the Canadian Parliament.
• Senators are appointed, not elected by the people.

Speaker of the House

• The presiding officer of the House of Commons, responsible for making decisions on procedure, and enforcing rules, for all members.
• They are expected to be neutral and impartial.

St. Lawrence Seaway

• A waterway enabling larger vessels to travel between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean, promoting trade and economic growth.

Suez Crisis

• The leader of Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, which led to military conflicts.
• The UN intervened, and Britain withdrew its forces.

Trans-Canada Highway

• The longest highway in the world built across Canada.
• The highway facilitated transportation and improved trade across the country.

Trans-Canada Pipeline

• A large pipeline built to carry oil from Alberta to the rest of Canada.

War Measures Act

• Gives the federal government emergency powers during wartime, including those over civil liberties.

Western Alienation

• A feeling of Western Canada that the federal government unfairly favours central Canada.