new world order

Buddy Buddy with the U.S. Conservative leader Brian Mulroney became Prime Minister of Can. in Sept. 1984. Mulroney wanted to develop links with the United States, where Trudeau wanted to distance Can. from the U.S. In 1985 the U.S. proposed the development of the SDI ( Strategic Defense Initiative) nicknamed Star Wars. Canadians protested against any involvement in the program. Mulroney said No.

Buddies cont.. Mulroney stated that Canada was “Open for Business”. He promoted foreign investment in Canada. Mulroney helped establish the CUFTA - - Free trade agreement which removed tariffs on goods crossing the border. Free trade is a controversial subject for many Canadians. (Pg. 151) Free trade was established in 1989 and in 1992 it became NAFTA and included Mexico. Mexico offered lower wages and less strict pollution laws.

End of the Cold War Mikhail Gorbachev realized that the USSR couldn’t afford the arms race with the U.S. He proposed massive cuts to the nuclear arsenal of both the USSR and the U.S.. He began sweeping changes to Soviet policies. He improved personal freedoms and allowed for greater freedom of speech. The policies of perestroika ( reconstruction) , and glasnost (openness) encouraged the peoples of East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland,Hungary, and Romania to demand similar reforms.

End of Cold War ??? The Berlin Wall was demolished and symbolized, for many, the end of the Cold War. Attempts by Chinese protesters to seek reforms were crushed in Tiananmen Square in 1989. Soldiers and tanks caused the deaths of hundreds of Chinese.

Gulf War The end of the Cold War did not herald an era of peace. Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait a rich oil producing country. The U.N. demanded that Iraq withdrew. A coalition of countries led by the U.S. took military action against the Iraqi armed forces. Canada contributed a squadron of CF-18 fighter bombers, army units and Navy vessels. The action was referred to as Operation Desert Storm. Bush proclaimed a “New World Order.” The U.N. (lead by the U.S.) would now take a more active role in policing the world.

Somalia In 1992 Canadian and U.S. forces joined together in Operation Restore Hope to provide support of Somalia, an African country which had been ravaged by years of civil war. Controversy arose when members of the Canadian Airborne Regiment tortured and beat a Somali teen to death. Attempts to cover up the incident were made.

Rwanda The effectiveness of the U.N. was further put to the test in Rwanda during ethnic riots (1994). Canadian Major General Romeo Dellaire requested military support to help prevent slaughter. The global response was unenthusiastic at best. Nearly 1 million Rwandans were killed.