Social Studies 20-2

Chapter 15

The Quest for Canadian Unity

Key Terms

Patriated Equalization payments Inherent right Ecozone Economic nationalists

Should Canadian unity be promoted?

Volunteer to read page 333 On your own please answer the bulleted

questions

What is National Unity?

Please read top half of page 334 This if often closely tied to their sense of

identity When people feel a sense of national unity,

they identify with others who belong to the same nation

For many Canadians, this sense of National identity and unity means sharing basic beliefs and values, such as respect for diversity

Forces Affecting National Unity Read the bottom half of page 334 Internal and external events can affect

national unity During World War I and World War II many

Canadians felt a strong sense of national unity

Lead to the development of Remembrance Day to honour those who have died for Canada

Fragile Unity

Please read page 335 Some Canadians believe that national unity

will eventually break down and Canada will become a number of small countries

In 2006 – 1 in 3 Canadians felt that Quebec will split from Canada by 2020

In 2006 – 1 in 3 Albertans believed that Canada’s western provinces should think about forming their own country.

How does the Nature of Canada Affect National Unity Read page 336 Individuals often have different goals and

concerns compared to others and those differences can cause conflict among group members

Nations and countries experience the same things

Geography of Canada

Please read page 337 Because of geography the needs from Coast to

Coast and North to South are very different – this causes tension between the different regions

Since 2002 Alberta had the highest rate of economic growth ever recorded by a Canadian province – Alberta also had the highest unemployment rate and its new prosperity has led to attracting skilled workers from other provinces such as Newfoundland without most of their skilled labourers

Western Alienation

Read all of page 338 Federal government decides how all tax money

collected from Canadians will be spent = tax revenue Tax revenue helps pay for various federally funded

programs, including health care, post-secondary education, and farm improvement loans

Federal goals and spending do not always match the goals and needs of people in specific regions of the country

Some Canadians believe that not everyone benefits equally from federal programs

Western Alienation 2

In Alberta and western provinces believe they are not benefiting as much as other provinces leading to feelings of alienation

In 1982 – National Energy Program brought alienation feelings to a head --- Alberta and Federal government argued over who should control oil development and revenues

West Wants In

Feelings of Alienation led to the founding of the Reform Party – led by Preston Manning

Duty was to promote Western Canada’s ideals

Was very popular and in 1997 became the official opposition in federal parliament

West not alone

Please read the top of page 339

Federal System and National Unity Read the bottom half of page 339 In 1789 when the United States went into its

civil war, Canada was watching John A. Macdonald and others wanted to

avoid a similar conflict so as a result they agreed that federal and provincial or territorial governments would share some powers – any powers not covered in the British North America Act would belong to the Federal Government

1982

Situation regarding shared powers changed in 1982 when Canada patriated the Constitution

In 1982 provinces were given new rights and powers, such as exclusive control over resource development

Issues Affecting National Unity In Canada the following issues have made it

difficult to build unity: Equalization Payments Provincial Issues Quebecois as a Nation Economic Changes Migrating Workers Complete handout 4.15.4 while doing this

section

Equalization Payments explained Read the top of page 340 The federal government must ensure that all

Canadians – no matter where they live – have equal access to public services

These services include health care and social services, electricity, and clean water.

Since 1957, the Canadian government has used a system of equalization payments to try and achieve these goals

Equalization Payments 2

The government receives the money for these payments from taxes it collects from Canadian individuals and businesses

Tax revenue is distributed to provinces that are in need

The provincial governments that receive the payments then decide how to spend the money

Check out figure 15-10. How might these payments affect national unity?

Equalization Payments 3 Provincial governments and citizens to not always

agree with federal government decisions. Which ones do you think disagree? Prosperous provinces often claim that their

taxpayers contribute to much to these programs. Less prosperous provinces sometimes say they do not receive enough equalization payments

Read the bottom of page 340, as well as page 341

Political Representation

Read top of page 342 Canada’s political representation is spread

unevenly across the country-just like its population=problem

Because of representation by population, smaller population regions are not represented well in government

2/3 of Canadians live in Ontario and Quebec

Official Multiculturalism

Read the bottom of page 342 1971 – Canada became the first country to

adopt multiculturalism as an official government policy

This policy was affirmed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and strengthened in the Multiculturalism Act of 1988

By 2006 – estimated 1 in 6 Canadians was a member of a visible minority group

The Quebec Issue

Quebec nationalism has caused a real cause for concern when trying to create a national unity

The Canadian government has put a lot of effort into convincing Quebec they are part of Canada

Read page 343

Challenges for Francophones across Canada Outside of Quebec French culture and

language is often ignored Many provinces outlawed French being

taught in schools Even up to 1930 – Saskatchewan barred the

teaching of French, even outside school hours

Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism In 1963, talk of separation was growing in

Quebec. In May an extremist separatist group called the Front de Liberation du Quebec, or FLQ started a terrorist campaign by planting bombs in mailboxes

Federal government realized that a problem was becoming serious

Established the Bi-Bi Commission

Reactions to the Bi-Bi Commission Read the top of page 344 Western Canada was very suspicious and

saw it as a government trick to force them to learn French

Aboriginals felt they were left out and not considered

Some saw it as a way to distract people from provinces economic and social problems

Official Bilingualism

Read the bottom of page 344 Official Languages Act was passed by Prime

Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1969 Goals were to:

Affirm French and English as official languages of Canada Preserve and develop official language communities in

Canada Guarantee that federal services are available in both official

languages Ensure that Anglophones and Francophone's have equal

opportunities to participate in Parliament and federal institutions, such as courts and the federal civil service

The View from Here

Please read page 345

Aboriginal Self-determination and National Unity Please read pages 346-347 Self determination often demands a degree

of self-governance Aboriginal peoples believe that self-

determination is an inherent right – a right that exists because they occupied the land and governed themselves for thousands of years before Europeans arrived in North America.

Nunavik and the New North

Please read page 348-349

Now complete Handout 4.15.5

Emerging Trends Affecting National Unity Trends occurring inside and outside Canada

are likely to affect Canadian unity, these include:

1. Immigration

2. Urbanization

3. Aboriginal Peoples

4. Complete handout 4.15.6 while doing this section

Immigration

Read page 350 The population of Canada increasingly reflects

all the nations of the world 2006 census of Canada

Canada’s foreign born population grew 4x faster than Canadian born populations

58.3 % of immigrants came from Asia More than 20% of Canadians speak neither French

or English as their first language Check out figure 15-24- Suprised?

Urbanization Read page 351 In 1901 only 37% of population lived in urban areas By 1956 – 67% lived in Urban areas By 2001 – 80% lived in Urban areas

Growth of Urban areas places pressure on various public services in provinces – strains resources

The more people living in an area the more responsibility, example Toronto.

A growing number of Aboriginal people are living in urban areas. Respond to the red question

Economic Globalization

Read page 352-353 Economic nationalists – people who believe that a

country`s businesses and industries should be protected – and that trade agreements are often a double edged sword

One hand– may provide citizens with economic prosperity

May threaten a country`s ability to make decisions that are in the best interest of its citizens and jobs may also be lost when companies move

Canadian Space Technology

A Canadian Space company known as MDA was planning on selling its technology to an American company for $1.3 billion

The Canadian government was obligated to look into the purchase, and in the end the sale would NOT benefit Canadians so it was denied.

Canadians felt very strongly about the sale of MDA and the governments action, leading to many other questions/concerns