1. Chapter 15 The Quest for Canadian Unity
Social Studies 20-2
Chapter 15
The Quest for Canadian Unity

2. Key Terms Patriated Equalization payments Inherent right Ecozone
Economic nationalists

3. Should Canadian unity be promoted?
Volunteer to read page 333
On your own please answer the bulleted questions

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. West not alone
Please read the top of page 339

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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 while doing this section

16. 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

17. 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 How might these payments affect national unity?

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. The View from Here
Please read page 345

31. Aboriginal Self-determination and National Unity
Please read pages
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.

32. Nunavik and the New North
Please read page
Now complete Handout

33. Emerging Trends Affecting National Unity
Trends occurring inside and outside Canada are likely to affect Canadian unity, these include:
Immigration
Urbanization
Aboriginal Peoples
Complete handout while doing this section

34. 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 Suprised?

35. 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

36. Economic Globalization
Read page
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

37. 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