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Acadians are Exiled From Their Own Homes
From 1755 to 1764 Acadians were expelled from their homes in the Maritimes of Canada. An estimated 11,500 of roughly 14,100 were deported, with many dying due to disease and famine. The Acadians had avoided compliance with Britain which is largely regarded as the reason for the genocide. On December, 9th 2003 Queen Elizabeth II officially apologized for the atrocities against the Acadian people. -
The Conquest (Battle on The Plains of Abraham)
On the 13th of September 1759, the French and British attempted to take Quebec City and siege Quebec. They fought on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City for only twenty minutes before the British took the city. Partially because of this battle the Treaty of Paris was signed later on securing North America for the British. -
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The Royal Proclamation Determines That First Nations Are Sovereign
After the British victory at the Battle of The Plains of Abraham in 1759, they started working on their government systems in Canada and the 13 Colonies. In 1763 The Royal Proclamation was signed into law creating Quebec, new territories, and determining that only the monarchy could buy and sell land from indigenous peoples which upset many people who wanted the opportunity to make money from the land. The Royal Proclamation was repealed in 1774. -
Lord Durham's Report Encourages The Assimilation of Francophone Colonists
After uprising and rebellion in 1837-38, Lord Durham was sent to British North America to investigate the unrest. 1839 Durham publishes his report on the 'Affairs of British North America' with his main suggestions to merge all of Canada and create internal government systems. He believed that the French Canadians in the South were the main issue. If more power was given to the anglophones of Upper Canada, Lower Canada could be assimilated and the 'ethnic issue' as he put it, could be rectified. -
LaFontaine and Baldwin fight for responsible government in Canada
In 1840 LaFontaine and Baldwin fought for responsibility to be taken by the government for their errors and wanted to impose a fair system -
The BNA Act is passed, creating the nation-state of Canada
The BNA or British North America Act 1867 united Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick. It established a government and divided power between the new provinces and territories of the nation-state. -
The Indian Act Is Created
On the 12th of April in 1876, The Indian Act was created to further the oppression and assimilation of Indigenous peoples sought after by the Canadian government. The Indian Act has been heavily updated and edited since 1876. The original policies of the Indian Act included; the creation of reserves, renaming Indigenous people, prohibiting Indigenous people from purchasing ammunition and alcohol, denying the right to vote, and banning the practice of traditional ceremonies within communities. -
Louis Riel is executed for treason
After his lead role in the northwest that sought to defend metis land rebellion Louis Riel was tried and executed for treason after committing his life to the revolution and the protection of indigenous and metis rights. -
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Chinese Head Tax Discriminates Against Chinese Immigration
Following the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Chinese labor that had been used to construct the railway was no longer in high demand. The Canadian government viewed the Chinese as 'undesirable citizens.' To combat the high population immigrating, the Chinese Immigration Act of 1885 was established. The act placed a tax on Chinese immigrants hoping for the numbers to dwindle. Additional acts were created and the tax rose, in 1947 the Canadian government repealed the act. -
Manitoba Schools Question Becomes An Issue In The Federal Election
During the federal election of 1896, the conservatives were seen as insensitive and incapable of creating a realistic solution to the Manitoba Schools Question which had only become more politically charged after the separate catholic school system had its funding cut. This resulted in avoidance of the issue and eventually, many government officials stepping down before Charles Tupper was put in charge in late January. -
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Conscription Crisis during World War One
As World War One was beginning in 1914 many Canadian Anglophones enlisted with fervor as many of them had recently immigrated from Britain themselves. The Francophone population had felt slighted and disrespected by Europe and Britain and refused to enlist. The decision was not seen as an issue until the majority of those who had enlisted began to dwindle. A conscription act was brought into law and the Francophones rioted up until the end of the war in 1918, causing much bloodshed of their own. -
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Internment of Japanese Canadians In World war Two
Due to World War II, roughly 22,000 Japanese Canadians were interned due to fears and racism within the Canadian government the act was however soon repealed in 1949 as talk of reconciliation began. -
Canada Adopts The Maple Leaf Flag
On January 28th, 2008, Queen Elizabeth presented an official proclamation, and in that proclamation, a new flag was given. Soon after the flag was inaugurated on Parliament Hill. The white represents the winter snow, the maple leaf represents pride, courage, and loyalty and the red represents a possible remaining tie to the British Empire. -
Creation of The Parti Quebecois
The Parti Quebecois was founded in 1968 by Rene Levesque who wanted to fight for the protection of the francophones of Quebec and separate it from the ret of Canada. -
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The White Paper On Indigenous Rights
Before being withdrawn in 1970, the White Paper, or 'Statement of The Government of Canada on Indian Policy, 1969,' was a policy that would have abolished any policy relating to Indigenous peoples in Canada. The policy incited many protests, leading to its dismissal. It would have removed land claims, treaties, status, and reservations. -
Bill 101 Is Passed Into Law In Quebec
In 1977, Bill 101 the 'Charter of French Language' was passed into law. Throughout the years legislation had gradually brought the French language to the forefront of Quebec culture. Large progress was made when Canada adopted official bilingualism in 1969. Bill 101 made French Quebec's official language and it began to take dominance in business, on signs, and in parliament and by law and also culturally by preference. -
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The NEP (National Energy Program) is implemented
In 1980, Pierre Trudeau sought to increase profits for energy-producing provinces in the west. The NEP guaranteed a decrease in prices for the domestic producer (Canada) and increased tax and import costs for foreign consumers. In 1984 the NEP was swapped in favor of the PIP (Petroleum Incentive Program). -
Quebec Refuses To Sign The Constitution
There were clauses in the 1982 constitution that would remove Quebec's ability to 'veto' future changes. While a separate clause would have guaranteed protection for French language rights everywhere in Canada 'where numbers permitted' it would have also effectively ended Bill 101 in Quebec and protected English language rights in the province. -
The assembly of first nations is established
The Assembly of First Nations was established in 1982 to act as a voice for First Nations across the nation. They address social justice, political change, rights, and self-governance. -
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Canada Adopts Official Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism was recognized by section 27 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982. This led to Canada adopting official multiculturalism in 1988 with the 'Canadian Multiculturalism Act.' The act aimed to promote equity within all multicultural communities and individuals in regard to Canadian society. The act was also to promote the preservation of communities and heritage sites in Canada. -
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Supreme Court Determines That Turbans Can Be Worn With The RCMP Uniform
In 1988 when Baltej Singh Dhillon applied for a job with the RCMP Dhillon was informed that he met all entrance-level requirements and could be offered a job if willing to shave his beard and swap his turban for a stetson. In 1989 after finding sympathy from a commissioner a recommendation to alter to dress code was filed with the federal government. In 1990 the freedom for observing Sikh individuals to wear a turban and beard was passed allowing Dhillon to join the force. -
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The Oka Crisis
After traditional land for the mohawk that had been heavily disputed was sold to further the construction of townhouses and a golf course the Indigenous people of those regions acted in protest. The individuals reacted by creating roadblocks and peacefully protesting over protecting their traditional grounds and the Mohawk burial grounds on the land. After the 78-day standoff, they agreed to have the land purchased by the federal government to be preserved for the Mohawk people. -
The Second Referendum Is Held To Decide If Quebec Should Separate From Canada
Before the 1995 referendum there had also been one in the 1980s which much like the latter one ended in a victory for the non-separatist groups. The second referendum was caused after the separatist Bloc Quebecois once again gained office in Quebec. The separatists believed that being a part of Canada was stifling them ecologically, socially, culturally, and economically. -
Canada Apologizes For Residential Schools
On June 11th, 2008 Prime Minister Stephen Harper officially apologized for Canada's residential school system. He highlighted Canada's role in the abuse, and neglect the children suffered and the separation from their families and communities. He stated, "The government now recognizes that the consequences of the Indian Residential Schools Policy were profoundly negative and that this policy has had a lasting and damaging impact on Indigenous culture, heritage, and language."