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Imperial Relations
In the later part of Queen Victoria's reign, British anti-imperialism (reflected in the withdrawal of British garrisons from central Canada (in 1870-71) had given place to its opposite. In Canada, IMPERIALISM gave an outlet to growing NATIONALISM and the desire to play an expanding part in the world. When British General C.G. Gordon was cut off in Khartoum in 1884, there was considerable demand in Canada for a contingent to go to the Sudan. -
The Post-Confederation Era
The colonies that united in CONFEDERATION were essentially self-governing in internal affairs. Nevertheless, the BRITISH NORTH AMERICA ACT which effected the union said nothing about external relations. It was assumed that those relations were virtually the exclusive concern of the UK. The authorities conducting Canada's business with the US were the GOVERNOR GENERAL, the British minister in Washington and the foreign secretary in London. -
Reciprocity, Boundary Disputes and the Naval Controversy
Relations with the US continued to turn largely on commercial policy. In 1888 the Laurier Liberals had adopted "Unrestricted Reciprocity"; on it they fought and lost the election of 1891, Macdonald's last. Thereafter the Liberals abandoned unrestricted reciprocity and, death having removed Macdonald from the scene in 1891, were elected, in 1896. Laurier's government would come to grief, in due course, over reciprocity, but meanwhile he had to confront the ALASKA BOUNDARY DISPUTE, the last great -
World War I
Everything changed with the outbreak of WORLD WAR I. Canada was united behind the decision of Borden's government to give full support to Britain and to dispatch a CANADIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. There was now a stronger argument than ever before for a Canadian "voice" in the making of policy; but British Prime Minister H.H. Asquith still had nothing to offer. -
The Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s. It was the longest, most widespread, and deepest depression of the 20th century. -
Canada and the United Nations
Canada took a strong interest in the UNITED NATIONS, the successor institution to the League of Nations, right from the UN's founding conference in San Francisco in 1945. When faith in the UN's effectiveness was undermined by the COLD WAR between the Soviet Union and the West, Canada not only accepted but even advocated the idea of a western regional union for collective defence, and signed the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949. -
Commonwealth and Peacekeeping
As Britain gave up its imperial obligations, the Commonwealth became increasingly multiracial, a development that the Canadian government encouraged. The new polity was severely strained in 1956 by the SUEZ CRISIS, when Britain and France made a military attack on Egypt following Egyptian nationalization of the Suez Canal Co. The UN, including the US, condemned the aggression, which was also strongly reprobated by the nonwhite Commonwealth countries. -
Canadian-American Economic Relations
conomic relations with the US provided the worst problems of the Trudeau era. There was considerable popular anti-Americanism, sparked by resentment of US influence, and by continuing dislike of the Vietnam adventure, which terminated only in 1973. Energy problems following a crisis caused by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 1973-74 were a violent irritant, particularly in view of the domination of the Canadian oil market by American companies. -
Free Trade
One of the prominent pledges of Brian MULRONEY's Conservatives, overwhelmingly elected to power in September 1984, was to "refurbish" the relationship with the US, bruised by the many disputes of Trudeau's last term. Mulroney cultivated President Reagan, the 2 leaders' affinity was emphasized during Reagan's visit to Québec City in March 1985. -
The Role of Economics
Economics shape Canadian diplomacy to a remarkable extent. The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (previously External Affairs) houses both a foreign minister and a trade minister while a major review of foreign policy published in 1995 placed employment, prosperity and economic growth at the centre of Canadian priorities.
