Topics for Chapter 26 p. 420-439

1. Topics for Chapter 26p. 420-439 • Compare the relationship between Canada and Britain with the relationship between Canada and the US • Discuss “colonialism”, “influence”, “economy”, “public perception” • Use examples to describe your thoughts • Describe Continentalism (and its opponents) • Give examples of this idea • Discuss the Massey Report

2. Canada 1945-1995 Topics for study • The role of gov’t • Domestic policies • Resources and obstacles • Urbanization, industrialization, and sectionalism • Changing trade patterns, the role of foreign investment and transnationals, place in the world economy • Population growth, social legislation, education

3. Canada and WWII • Canadian Economy • regulated by the Dept. of Munitions and Supply • WWII caused Canada to become a world power in industry • Consumer items were rationed and the production of nonessential items were halted • The economic boom helped the labor movement and union membership doubled • wages were frozen to help prevent inflation • strikes were put down by government • Canadian Society • political dissenters were jailed • Japanese-Canadians were interred in much the same way they were in the US • 20,000 were sent to British Colombia for prison (the majority were Canadian citizens)

4. Canada and WWII • Still others were sent to farms so as to exploit their labor • At war’s end many were not permitted access to their homes and their property was auctioned off. • Increasing casualties in 1942 led to the public asking for conscription • Under the leadership of Arthur Meighen, the Conservative Party demanded conscription be instituted (English speaking Canadians were in favor) • King decided that the only way to undercut the Conservatives was to ask the Canadians to release the gov’t from its pledge not to introduce the draft. • Country approved conscription; left Canada divided: 72% of voters in Quebec opposed; 80% of the rest of Canada approved • French speaking Canadians felt betrayed

5. Canada and WWII • Hoping to keep Canada united King held off on conscription until autumn of 1944 when the first conscript's were sent abroad • King was re-elected in 1945, in part, because of the way he avoided controversy with conscription • King was also re-elected because of his social and economic policies for after the war. • 1940: unemployment insurance provision was added to the Old Age Pension Plan of 1927 • 1944: family allowances introduced • mothers were given $5-8 for child care • During the war the federal gov’t took over the provincial authority to levy income and business taxes • was not around after the war

6. Canada and WWII • Legacy of WWII for Canadians • Laid the future basis for the Canadian welfare state • WWII was, for the most part, a unifying and positive experience for Canadians • Full employment became the norm • Canada proved itself as a strong and independent nation upon the world’s scene • The stage was set for a significant post war economic boom

7. Canada 1945-1995 • After WWII there were factors that would lead to an economic boom • Canada was an industrial nation that could help war-torn countries • A pent-up demand for goods after the Great Depression and WWII • Along with the economic boom there was also a “baby boom”, just like the US, after boys came home from war. • 30% increase in the birth rate and a 50% decline in infant mortality because of advances in science

8. Canada 1945-1995 • There were a vast amount of people who emigrated to Canada after the war as well • 1,200,000 in the 1950’s, the highest for any one decade in Canadian history • 95% of those from Europe, 33% of those from the British Isles • The increased immigration and the rural who wanted to the farm for the city provided the labour necessary for post war economic growth • The discovery of iron, oil, uranium, and other mineral deposits stimulated the development of the West and North and help make Canada one of the world’s leading industrial nations

9. Canada 1945-1995 • Canada had the resources but not the capital to fully fund the expansion of its growing industrial plants • If they didn’t have the capital to grow in Canada, where did they look for it? • The completion, in1970, of the Trans-Canadian Highway helped connect the country • Along with the completion of railroads • The completion of the Canadian-US St. Lawrence Seaway allowed ships from the ocean to reach Canada and the US through the Great Lakes

10. Canada 1945-1995 • PM Mackenzie King retired in 1948 and the Liberals, with their solid power base in Québec kept control of the nat’l gov’t in the 1949 elections • Louis St. Laurent became the country's second French-Canadian PM • During the post war period Canada began to increase its social welfare programs • 1951: federal gov’t instituted an old age pension where those over 70 (65 is destitute) received $40/month

11. Canada 1945-1995 Timeline for Universal Health Care • 1957: Parliament passes the Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Service Act • 1961: all of the provinces had federal cost-sharing hospital insurance plans • 1968: Parliament expanded federal cost-sharing to all medical services • 1972: all provincial plans had been extended to include medical services outside of hospitals

12. Canada 1945-1995 • What issues were raised at the beginning of universal health care? • Private doctors? • Charges for medical attention? • A two tier system developed • Those who could afford private health care • Advantages: • Those who were dependent on the gov’t provided health care • 1984: Parliament passed the Canada Health Act