Trudeau and the Cold War

1. Trudeau and the Cold War

2. Interesting Facts… “Typical French-Canadian” - Thought Canada should have stayed out of the Korean War and NATO. http://www.jontattrie.ca/ThreeNightsinHavana.htm - Trudeau tried to paddle a canoe to Cuba from Florida in 1960, but turned back half way.

3. American Draft Dodgers and Deserters Canada became a safe haven for American Draft- Dodgers and Deserters. Draft-Dodger – avoided the draft (not yet in the military, but might be called) Deserter – someone in the military refusing service.

4. - Cut its NATO forces in Europe in half - Cut Canada’ military by 20,000 troops to 80,000. - Withdrew nuclear weapons from Canada - Considered joining non-aligned movement

5. Trudeau strongly voiced his opinion towards the US War in Vietnam. He created CIDA which carried out development assistance programs in developing countries and countries in transition.  In 1983–84, he was awarded the Albert Einstein Peace Prize, for negotiating the reduction of nuclear weapons and Cold War tension in several countries.

6. Canada’s Cold War Immigration Policy The Canadian Immigration Policy was racial and ethnically bias. Immigrants from Great Britain, USA, Western Europe and Scandinavia were preferred. Common language similar culture. Netherlands Farm Families Movement - German immigrants preferred - 1952.

7. Blocked entry… Suspected communists, questionable political tendencies Physical handicaps, inappropriate physical characteristics. It welcomed people fleeing from communist repression. Canada accepted 37,000 Hungarian refugees. (1956) Worried eastern European immigrants might be used for communist infiltration.

8. Cold War in Quebec Catholic Church had significant influence on Quebec. Catholics were persecuted in Soviet Union. Priests used Anti-Communist rhetoric in their sermons. Quebec Premier Maurice Duplessis was anti-communist (1936-1939 – 1944-1959)

9. Asbestos Strike in 1949 Workers at an Asbestos mine went on strike for better safety and pay and working conditions. Violence broke out after Duplessis hired replacement workers. Laws were passed in Quebec which made it illegal to hire Communists Marxists or anyone with communist sympathies.

10. Trudeau (a reporter at the time) “a violent announcement that a new era had begun. Quebec silent revolution began after Asbestos Strike

11. Canada and the Cold War 1964-1981

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13. Canada played an important role negotiating at the Geneva Conference in 1954 (French-Vietnam).

14. Canada would not join SEATO. Canada laid out six prerequisites to joining a war or military alliance in Asia. - It had to involve cultural and trade ties in addition to a military alliance. - It had to clearly meet the will of the people in the countries involved. - Other free Asian states had to support it directly or in principle. - France had to refer the conflict to United Nations. - Any multilateral action must conform to the UN Charter. - Any action had to be divorced from all elements of colonialism. The Vietnam War did not meet these requirements so Canada would not involve itself militarily.

15. In a speech in Philadelphia, Prime Minister Pearson criticized US President Johnson for bombing North Vietnam in 1965. (Operation Rolling Thunder.) A comic strip that illustrates U.S. President Lyndon Johnson's frustration in Canada's refusal in joining the war in Vietnam. LBJ criticized Canada for not supporting the US.

16. Canada and the Vietnam War Canada stayed out of the Vietnam War, but helped out the US in other ways… - Provided the US with materials and weapons used in the war. - Nickel, copper and lead went to the US to make shells and ammo. Defense Production Sharing Agreement

17. Agent Orange was made in Canada. www.agentorangecanada.com Canada contributed $10 billion in food aid to S. Vietnam. Just like Eastern bloc countries (Czechoslovakia, Hungary, East Germany) were helping the Soviets and the Chinese help the Viet Cong, it was argued Canada should be allowed to counter this and play a similar role in helping the US.

18. 30 to 40 thousand Canadians volunteered and served alongside the Americans during the War.

19. Canadians not only protested the Vietnam War, but also offered a safe refuge for Americans that did not want to fight.

20. Canada became a safe haven for American draft dodgers and deserters. Draft Dodger – avoided the draft (not yet in the military, but might be called) Deserter – someone in the military refusing service.

21. Many American Draft Dodger and to Deserters moved to Canada. http://www.cbc.ca/player/Digital+Archives/War+and+Conflict/Vietnam+War/ID/1767657759/ Including Nelson BC. The influx of these young men, who (as mentioned earlier) were often well educatedand politically leftist, affected Canada's academic and cultural institutions, and Canadian society at large. These new arrivals tended to balance the “brain drain" that Canada had experienced.

22. Between 30,000 to 40,000 Americans moved to Canada to avoid fighting in the Vietnam War. Some sources say that it was between 50,000 and 125,000. This exodus was "the largest politically motivated migration from the United States since the United Empire Loyalists moved north to oppose the American Revolution”. American officials put pressure on Canada to arrest and deport the deserters. No action was ever taken.

24. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjhy3-vIX6s

25. Canada provided weapons (ammunition), ingredients to make napalm, agent orange, humanitarian supplies went to the Americans and the war effort. Nickel, copper lead went to the US. Unemployment in Canada fell to 3.9% Defense Production Sharing Agreement Over $2 Billion was purchased from Canada by the United States.

26. 1970 - FLQ Crisis The Anti-Vietnam/Civil Rights Movement during the late 1960’s spread to Canada and Quebec Separatism gained momentum. Political groups began to form in Quebec that demanded more autonomy from Canada. Parti Quebecois formed under the leadership of Rene Levesque supporting the idea Quebec independence.

29. Expo ‘67 French President Charles de Gaulle closed his speech with ‘Vive le Quebec libre!’ Long Live Free Quebec! Became popular rallying cry for separatist movement. The speech offended many English-speaking Canadians and was heavily criticized in France as well,[137] and led to a significant diplomatic rift between the two countries

30. 1970 - October Crisis After De FLQ (Front de liberation du Quebec) began using violence and bombings across Quebec. The FLQ’s activities reached a peak in October 1970. Quebec’s Labor Minister Pierre Laporte and the British Trade commissioner, James Cross.

31. Trudeau’s and his government cracked down on FLQ activities. Claimed the group was motivated by Marxist ideology and encouraged by the Cuban Revolution. After Laporte’s murder, Trudeau declared martial Law and civil liberties were suspended under the war measures act. Many FLQ members were detained without criminal representation. 500 people were arrested.

32. Calling in the army and putting Quebec under martial law was not an easy, or popular decision, but when they said he could not do it and survive politically, he said, "Just watch me".

35. Canada and China During the 1960’s, Diefenbaker saw an opportunity to trade with China and sold them $60 million worth of wheat. Trudeau officially recognized Communist China in 1970. Canadian Security Services and the US government were deeply concerned.

36. Canada’s Attitudes towards Communism in the 80’s. Canada joined the US in its boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow (in response to the Afghan invasion). Many Canadian athletes dream’s were lost. “SHATTERED HOPES” Canadian Athlete Advisory Council was created to deal with athlete’s concerns.

37. In 1981, the Trudeau government received a letter from Reagan requesting permission to test Tomahawk missiles over Canadian territory in the Arctic. The argument was made that they were defensive weapons. Trudeau spent a long time deliberating what to do . He agreed and legislation was made up. (CANUSTP) Canadians were confused, disappointed in Trudeau’s decision.

38. Canadians opposed the decision as they thought Canada was back on the front lines of the Cold War. Canadians thought Trudeau was committed to disarmament. http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/war-conflict/defence/norad-watching-the-skies/cruise-missile-testing-coming-to-canada.html