Change in power

1. Change in power • Louis St. Laurent: PM from 1949-1957 • Why did the Liberals fail to hold on to power? • Trans-Canada Pipeline • Arrogance (as put forth by the Conservatives) • John Diefenbaker becomes PM after the Conservative win • As PM, “Dief the Chief” advocated for a return to Britain • He wanted to maintain close ties with Britain and to move away from Canada’s increasing involvement with the US economy • Britain was integrating itself with the European Common Market, which made Diefenbaker’s anglophile tendency seem unrealistic and old fashioned, with little appeal to the Canadian people

2. “One Canada” • It was not just the French-Canadians who were disturbed by Diefenbaker’s “One Canada” policy • Many Canadians no longer had British roots • For example, in 1958 more immigrants came from Italy than from Great Britain • 1960: Canadian Bill of Rights was passed • This bill stated: • Guaranteed rights of “life, liberty, and personal security” • As well as, freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and the press • Diefenbaker considered the Bill of Rights one of his greatest achievements, many Canadians worried that it was an attempt to reduce the power of the provincial gov’ts because they were traditionally the protectors of civil rights. • The bill only applied to actions by the federal gov’t, so the fear was unfounded

3. Canada and the Cold War • Canada was in difficult and delicate situation during the Cold War • Canada was opposed to the spread of communism and the growing strength of the Soviet Union • But, Diefenbaker did not want to seem like a lackey of the USA • The awkward attempts to find a middle ground between unquestioned support for the US’s Cold War policies and Canadian independence would help bring about his defeat in 1963

4. Canada and the Cold War • 1957: North American Air Defense Agreement (NORAD) stated that Canada and the US would cooperate on repealing and air attack on North America • As part of the agreement the US constructed three early warning radar lines in northern Canada and Alaska to warn of a Soviet missile or bomber attack across the Arctic • Canada’s further reliance in the US for military support was further illustrated in 1959 when Diefenbaker cancelled the gov’ts plan to build the supersonic fighter plane the “Avro Arrow” because of high costs and technological difficulties • After this, Canada was dependent on the US for high-technology military equipment; this served as a blow to Canadian pride

5. Canada and the Cold War • Cuban Missile Crisis • The US used NORAD to force Diefenbaker to put Canadian forces on high alert • Angered that he was not consulted, Diefenbaker was slow in compliance • Dief the Chief believed that this show of independence would gather support from Canadians, however, they believed in this time of crisis that he should have stood with their American ally • JFK and Dief the Chief did not like each other and that may have played a role in JFK’s lack of sensitivity to Canadian nationalism; it could also be that JFK was preoccupied with the crisis • A few months after the Cuban Missile Crisis, Diefenbaker refused to put nuclear tips on US cruise missiles located in Canada even though a 1959 agreement stated that Canada would do so

6. Canada and the Cold War • Diefenbaker again believed that his show of defiance against the US would garner support from Canadians, and again he was mistaken • The Defense Minister resigned in protest and the US State Dept. formally complained about Canada’s failure to comply with international agreements • With an election(1963) coming up the Conservatives faced many problems • The foreign policy with the US • A severe recession in Canada • Unemployment at 11% in 1961 and the little gov’t action in response to the unemployment and end the recession

7. Election of 1963 • Due to the Conservatives issues, the Liberals were able to regain the majority in Canada and Lester Pearson became the PM • After his election, Pearson put nuclear tips on the missiles • And Canada would have US nuclear weapons in the country until 1984

8. Vietnam War • This conflict put severe strain on US-Canadian relations • Initially, many Canadians approved of the US involvement in Vietnam, Canada did not contribute troops like it had in Korea (Side Note: around 125,000 Americans fled to Canada to dodge the draft, a little known irony of the war is that several thousand Canadians volunteered for service in the US military.)

9. Vietnam War • April 1965 • PM Pearson was speaking at Temple University in Philadelphia; in his speech he suggested that the US might want to stop bombing North Vietnam and see if that will bring the Communists to the peace table • In a private meeting LBJ grabbed Pearson by the lapels of his suit and bluntly and profanely told the PM how much he disapproved of Canadian interference in US foreign policy