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The Diefenbaker Years

The Diefenbaker Years. 1957-1963. Political Trends 1945-1967. Conservative Majority. Liberal Majorities. Liberal Majorities. St. Lawrence Seaway Closure to end pipeline debate. John Diefenbaker becomes Prime Minister. Lester B. Pearson’s Liberals return to power.

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The Diefenbaker Years

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  1. The Diefenbaker Years 1957-1963

  2. Political Trends 1945-1967 Conservative Majority Liberal Majorities Liberal Majorities • St. Lawrence • Seaway • Closure to end • pipeline debate John Diefenbaker becomes Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson’s Liberals return to power Louis St. Laurent becomes Prime Minister 1948 1958 1963 • Commission in • Bilingualism and • Biculturalism • New Flag • Trudeau joins • the Liberals Mackenzie King retires • Builds the Diefenbunker • Cancels the Avro Arrow • Passes Canadian Bill of Rights • Cdn $ = 99.5 US

  3. Leader of the Conservatives From the Prairies Minority government 1957 Majority government 1958-63 Canada in a recession – hard economic times Appointed Ellen Fairclough-1st female cabinet minister James Gladstone – 1st Aboriginal Senator John Diefenbaker Video: Peoples History “ John Diefenbaker, Transcontinental pipeline”

  4. Bill of Rights Freedom of speech, religion and of the press Protection of the law without discrimination because of race, colour, religion, sex or national origin Right of the individual to life, liberty, and security of the person Limitations: Applied to federal law only Diefenbaker’s Lasting Contributions Diefenbaker holding his Bill or Rights I think!

  5. Economic recession Diefenbaker fixed our dollar at 92.5 cents Made exports cheaper and imports more expensive Canadians did not approve Cancelled the Avro Arrow project $12 million cost per plane – drain Canada’s military budget 15,000 people lost their jobs Resulted in the brain-drain Diefenbaker – disappointments

  6. BOMARC missiles Used to stop surface-to-air missiles (to protect Canada from a possible Soviet attack) Diefenbaker was indecisive about arming the missiles with nuclear warheads Conservative party was split on the issue Lester B. Pearson and most Canadians agreed that we needed the nuclear warheads Diefenbaker forced to call an election over the issue – Pearson won a minority government Diefenbaker Continued Video: Peoples History “The Shadow of Nuclear War”

  7. Lester B. PearsonThe Diplomat 1963-1968

  8. Canadian ambassador to the U.S. Was involved in the formation of the United Nations Oversaw Canada’s joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Lester B. Pearson - Career Diplomat

  9. Nasser (President of Egypt) nationalized the Suez Canal Canal originally controlled by Britain and France Make the canal Egyptian Canal important for shipping oil to Europe Br. and Fr. Bombed the Canal Zone Suez Crisis, 1956

  10. Suez continued • USSR condemned Britain and France’s aggression and threatened nuclear strikes against Paris and London • US was angry – had not been consulted • Canada – trapped in the middle • Could not support Britain (dies to empire not strong enough) • Needed to support US (needed to maintain western alliance • Possible show-down between 2 new superpowers - deadly for all

  11. Pearson and the UN • Pearson went to the UN and proposed sending in a UN peacekeeping mission • UN unanimously supported the idea • Peacekeepers remained in Egypt until 1967 • Pearson won the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize Video: Peoples History “On Guard for Thee”

  12. Pearson’s Minority Government • Liberals forced to work with the NDP • Universal healthcare plan • Canada Pension Plan • Royal Commission on the Status of Women Video Peoples History 1964-1976, “A Question of Equality” • Canada’s new flag 1965 Video Peoples History 1964-1976, “Under a New Flag”

  13. Shadows for the Future – French English Relations • Concern over French English relations • Unity crisis in Canada • Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism • Explore relationship between French and English Canadians • Made recommendations • Federal civil service should be bilingual • Pearson PM till 1968. New liberal leader • Pierre Elliot Trudeau Video Peoples History 1964-1976, “Language Wars”

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