1. Canadian Culture

2. Protecting Canadian Culture
Massey Commission
National Film Board strengthened
CBC TV
Canada Council
CRTC
FIRA

3. 1. Massey Commission
Because of large influence of Hollywood and US media in general, the Canadian government established the Massey Commission to investigate the state of Canadian culture
1951 – Commission reported that Canadian culture needed to be protected from US influences – recommended that the National Film Board (est. in 1939) be strengthened and that the federal government become involved in funding universities and the arts
Massey Commission

4. 2. CBC TV
1952 – CBC Television established (CBC Radio Established in 1936)
1st to appear on CBC TV –
Percy Saltzman

5. 3. Canada Council
1957 –based on the Massey Commission’s recommendations– Canada Council was established to award tax-funded grants to writers, artists, and theatres
National Ballet and Royal Winnipeg ballet – soon won international acclaim
well-known authors emerged – Robertson Davies, Margaret Lawrence and W.O. Mitchell
Largest arts grant to an individual is $10,000 to Helen Creighton (here in Nova Scotia in 1955) to transcribe folk tunes on tape at the National Museum.

6. 4. CRTC 1952 – CBC put in charge of development of television
1968 – established the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
agency that regulates the amount of foreign material broadcast over the airwaves and imposes rules requiring “Canadian Content” (Cancon)
Bryan Adams Not Canadian? CBC Archives

7. 5. FIRA
1973 – Trudeau established the Foreign Investment Review Agency (FIRA)
To approve the establishment of any new foreign companies in Canada
Intended to target American investment & protect Canadian industries
Not For Sale

8. Developing Canadian Culture
1. PM Louis St Laurent ( )
Trans-Canada Highway, St Lawrence Seaway, and Trans-Canada Pipeline
All linked Canada in new ways geographically and economically
Newfoundland joined Confederation (1949)
Joey Smallwood (right) – 1st Premier of Nfld

9. 2. PM John Diefenbaker (1957-1963)
Raised pensions for elderly & disabled* (*Social Safety Net)
Gave financial aid to farmers
***1960 – created the Canadian Bill of Rights – guaranteed all basic freedoms to Canadians
Freedom of speech, worship & assembly
Gave Aboriginals the Right to Vote in Federal Elections
Dief with Bill of Rights

10. 3. PM Lester B. Pearson ( )
Before PM – Minister of External Affairs – won Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for UN Emergency Force suggestion in Suez Crisis
Appointed Royal Commission on Bilingualism & Biculturalism (“Bi and Bi Commission”) to look into French-English Relations
Discovered that French-Canadians did not receive the same benefits as English-Canadians outside of Quebec (i.e. jobs in gov.)
Bi and Bi Commission

11. Tommy Douglas and the CCF 1st introduced Medicare in Saskatchewan
Pearson – con’t
Introduced the Canada Pension Plan* (*Social Safety Net)
1966 – introduced Medicare* for all Canadians (*Social Safety Net)
Tommy Douglas and the CCF 1st introduced Medicare in Saskatchewan
PM Pearson

12. 1965 – Pearson introduced Canada’s new national flag (no longer with British ensign)
Flag hotly debated in 1964 – those who wanted to honour British heritage outraged
Flag became a declaration of both independence and unique identity

13. 4. PM Pierre Elliot Trudeau (1968-1979; 1980 -1984)
“Trudeaumania” –charismatic – treated like a rock star

14. Trudeau – cont’ His vision: a “just society” – equality for all
also strong advocate of individual freedom – believed gov. should not interfere with personal liberties
1969 – implemented Official Languages Act
made Canada truly Bilingual and Bicultural – hoped it would help Quebec feel more a part of Canada

15. Trudeau – cont’ Emphasized increased independence from USA
militarily (i.e. cut back on NATO forces),
economically (i.e. FIRA), and
politically (established ties with communist China and Cuba despite US protests)

16. Trudeau – cont’ Focus: Foreign Aid to Developing Countries
While the Cold War politically split the world between the East and West, an economic gap separated the rich North from the poor South.
The Trudeau government aimed to promote world peace, he believed the North should be helping countries struck with poverty in the South to develop their economies and improve living conditions.
This became known as a policy of “Trade and Aid” of Trudeau’s foreign policy.

17. Foreign Aid - CIDA
In 1968 the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) was formed to boost foreign aid to less industrialized countries (countries receiving aid would agree to buy products from Canada, which is called “tied aid”)

18. Multiculturalism
With changes to immigration policy came changes to the composition of Canadian society
1971 – Trudeau adopted a policy of multiculturalism
Helped schools set up new courses
Promoted multicultural events
Set up a council to study issues
Multiculturalism became law with the Multicultural Act of 1988
(PM Mulroney)

19. Canada Health Act - 1984 Canada Health Act (1984)
Canada’s Health insurance legislation
Guidelines to ensure all citizens have euql access to services
Doctors and hospitals not allowed to charge user fees
Each province received $$ from the federal government through transfer payments
Pro of system – EVERYONE has Access
Con of system – VERY expensive to administer

20. 1982 - Repatriation of Constitution & Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Trudeau’s most valuable contribution to Canadian Society: Repatriation of Constitution and Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Brought constitution home from Britain with Canada Act (1982) and Constitution Act (1982)
Trudeau and Queen Elizabeth II signing Canada Act

21. Constitution & Charter
Repatriation of constitution occurred in part due to a promise Trudeau had made to Quebec during the 1980 referendum
Ironically, in the end, Quebec was the only province to not “sign off” on the new constitution and amending formula, thus leaving Quebec out of the constitutional process
Outcome opposite of what Trudeau intended: more tensions with French Canada

22. Trudeau – negative legacy
During the 1970s
High inflation - introduced price and wage controls – angered many
OPEC Crisis – 1972
Raised price of oil from $6 a barrel to $16
Unemployment high at same time
Led to unions demanding higher wages – gov. went into debt

23. OPEC Crisis

24. Trudeau – negative legacy
Western Alienation – NEP
In response to the OPEC Crisis – Trudeau implemented the National Energy Policy (NEP)
Froze Alberta oil prices below world levels to keep the cost of oil down for Canadians
Also imposed a tariff on oil sold to the USA to make up for oil imported from OPEC countries
Elicited angry reactions from Alberta because were prevented from getting fair market value for their oil
Led to feelings of Western Alienation (Central government acting out of self-interest rather than region’s interests)

25. PM Brian Mulroney ( )
Developed very close relationship with USA economically and President Reagan personally
Led to Free Trade Agreement (1987) and North American Free Trade Agreement (1992; ratified in 1994)

26. Mulroney – Constitutional Accords
Focus of time in office: attempt to resolve the divisive issue of national unity
As Quebec was the only province that did not sign the new Canadian constitution = Mulroney wanted to include Quebec in a new agreement with the rest of Canada
1987, he negotiated the Meech Lake Accord with the provincial premiers, a package of constitutional amendments designed to satisfy Quebec's demand for recognition as a "distinct society" within Canada, and to devolve some powers to the provinces
Unfortunately – Meech Lake did not pass

27. Mulroney – Constitutional Accords
Charlottetown Accord – next attempt
outlined extensive changes to the constitution, including recognition of Quebec as a distinct society
agreement overwhelmingly defeated in a national referendum in October 1992
Failure of Charlottetown sparked a revival of Quebec separatism and another Quebec Referendum in 1995

28. Mulroney – cont’
decline of cod stocks in Atlantic Canada led the Mulroney government to impose a moratorium on the cod fishery
Put an end to a large portion of the Newfoundland fishing industry, and caused serious economic hardship
Reinforced feelings of REGIONALISM, as many blamed the federal government for mishandling the issue
To the last Fish