"We have something special here, something we don 't want to lose. We have a way of life, a way of looking at ourselves, a way of reacting to the world. Mr. Mulroney 's trade deal will change all that. It will make us a little more then a junior partner of the United States. I believe in a strong, sovereign independent Canada. I believed that we are now talented enough and competent enough and tough enough to make our own choices, for our own future, in our own way. I need your support on November 21st. You and I must not allow Mr. Mulroney to sell us out, to reverse 120 years of Canadian history, to destroy the Canadian dream."(6-7) The first part of this statement sounds very much like the stance any (small-c) conservative would normally argue, trying desperately to hold on to the past, slowing down change and progression, as well as the blatant opposition of closer ties with the US. These sentiments are reiterated 14 years after the fact in Uncle Same and US, in which author Stephen Clarkson makes the case that we are slowly slipping away from our spirit of nationality, and that the combination of cultural, technological, social and political factors have heralded our apparently seamless integration into the American economy. Mulroney 's change of heart, coupled with Prime Minister Trudeau leading the Liberals towards economic nationalism during his tenure, resulted in what seems to be an unusual reversal of the traditional stances of each of the parties, marking the
“We are indeed, and are still today, like a youth starting out on his path, glancing over his shoulder at the ancient glories of his home in Britain or France and, when he looks ahead, dazzled by the glitter of the United States.” (Hutchison, Bruce. “The Canadian Personality.” p. 71)
of Canada's greatest prime ministers. Some might say that he was a good or bad leader, but that is all in
The Canadian government?s plan to get rid of the great American culture influence was one of many faults. There would be no way of carrying this out without disappointing much of the un-disturbed Canadian society, those who have grown comfortable with their surroundings and are appreciative of everything the United States has had to
Macdonald felt the key to Canada?s success, as a country, would rely on its connection to its mother country, Britain. Macdonald showed these feelings in his first address to the electors:
Many people across the globe argue that nationalism within Canada is simply not feasible. It is said that we as a people, differ so greatly with our diverse cultures, religions, and backgrounds that we cannot come together and exist together as a strong, united nation. In his book, Lament for a Nation, George Grant tells the reader that “…as Canadians we attempted a ridiculous task in trying to build a conservative nation in the age of progress, on a continent we share with the most dynamic nation on earth. The current history is against us.” (1965) Originally directed towards the Bomarc Missile Crisis, the book argues that whatever nationalism Canada had was destroyed by globalization as well as the powerful American
Having lived in Canada when I was 8 before the US-Canada magazine dispute occurred, I found myself thoroughly engrossed in Canadian culture. It seemed a perfect culture, built to protect domestic interests and despite the potential division between countries, created a safe environment where people were unafraid to leave doors unlocked, due to almost no crime. The peaceful and respectful nature of most Canadians isn’t just a fluke, the country was designed this way, and one of the primary influencers of this strategy is the media. Watching the news in Canada, the focus is positive, the message is positive, there is no forced fear of sense of doom as we see here in the US. Life is about being sustainable, not so much a struggle to the top of the food chain, but working together, instead of separating and segregating groups. That is except the region of French Quebec; however, Quebec is like a whole new country in itself.
John Diefenbaker was the last “old Tory” to be the Prime Minister of Canada. He was a member of the Conservative Party with deep values as well as being a British loyalist who supported the Queen. Diefenbaker was also a man that was well known for not supporting anything he thought was anti- British. This sentiment was most evident when Diefenbaker criticized the Liberal’s refusal to support Britain in the Suez Canal crisis and sided with the Americans. This loyalty the Diefenbaker had to the British Commonwealth would not serve him well as Prime Minister of Canada. In 1958, Diefenbaker would win the largest majority government in Canadian history upsetting the new leader of the Liberal Party, Lester B. Pearson, who had taken over for St.
Jocelyn Letourneau’s is a history professor that wrote the essay “Reconstructing the Canadian Identity”. The author argues that if one compares the Harper government's idea of conservatism against Trudeau’s idea of multiculturalism, the reader can infer that multiculturalism is failing and Canada should go back to its monarch roots. By bringing back symbols of monarchy, a new Canadian perspective would form. Letourneau’s essay is structured in a very well and composed matter. His arguments and connections are structured in proper format where his whole essay can be linked and understood easily by the average individual. Although Letourneau’s essay is structured in a proper format, it is without its faults. The essay contains many fallacies that give his arguments a weak perspective on the topic. Also throughout his essay, the author appears to be taking a side within his argument. His bias viewpoint makes himself, and his work uncredible to the reader.
“Help those who cannot help themselves” was William Lyon Mackenzie King’s life motto as a child. William Lyon Mackenzie, better known as Mackenzie King was the 10th Prime Minister of Canada. Mackenzie was the leader of the liberal party and is currently Canada’s longest serving Prime Minister at 22 years. In this essay I will argue why I believe Mackenzie King should be the next Prime Minister of Canada. I believe William Lyon Mackenzie King should be the next Prime Minister of Canada due to his lengthy leadership experiences, his high degree of intelligence and how he was able to define Canadian Independence.
Pierre Elliot Trudeau was arguably one of the most vivacious and charismatic Prime Ministers Canada has ever seen. He wore capes, dated celebrities and always wore a red rose boutonniere. He looked like a superhero, and often acted like one too. Some of the landmark occurrences in Canadian history all happened during the Trudeau era, such as patriating the constitution, creating the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the 1980 Quebec Referendum. However, it is Trudeau’s 1969 “white paper” and the Calder legal challenge which many consider to be one of his most influential contributions to Canadian history.
The same society that built the morals and beliefs and principles he has in him had then become the same society that crippled him to make the choice of leaving all those behind as he stated, “And what was so sad, I realized, was that Canada had become a pitiful fantasy. Silly and hopeless. It was no longer a possibility. Right then, with the shore so close, I understood that I would not do what I should do. (55)”
Thesis: Sam Steele should be the next Prime Minister of Canada and representative of this great nation as he has great personal attributes of loyalty, inspiration, and leadership skills
Opposing the belief that a dominating leader is running Canada, Barker brings up several key realities of the Canadian government. He gives examples of several “… instances of other ministers taking action that reveal the limits prime-ministerial power,” (Barker 178). Barker conveys the fact that Canada is not bound by a dictatorial government, “…it seems that the prime minister cannot really control his individual ministers. At times, they will pursue agendas that are inconsistent with the prime minister’s actions,” (Barker 181). Both inside and outside government are a part of Canada and they can remind the prime minister that “…politics is a game of survival for all players,” (Barker 188). Barker refutes the misinterpretation of the Canadian government by acknowledging that a prime-ministerial government existing in Canada is an overstatement.
In this essay, I will demonstrate that the Prime Minister is powerful and can cause many potential dangers by analyzing different elements inside and outside of our government over the period of different Prime Ministers throughout the Canadian political history.
As the 20th century comes to an end, Canada is a transcontinental nation whose interests and representatives span the face of the globe and extend into every sphere of human behaviour. However this was not always the case. When the four colonies of British North America united to create Canada on July 1, 1867, the new country's future was by no means secure. Canada was a small country, with unsettled borders, vast empty spaces, and a large powerful neighbour, the United States. Confronting these challenges was difficult for the young country. Though Canada was independent in domestic matters, Britain retained control over its foreign policy. Over the next fifty or so years, Canada's leaders and its