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Constitution Act of 1982 (Charter of Rights and Freedoms)
The rights and liberties outlined in the 1982-adopted Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are guaranteed, subject to the reasonable restrictions set down by legislation. Such rights as the right to equality, democracy, and movement are guaranteed under the charter.
(https://www.cga.ct.gov/PS98/rpt%5Colr%5Chtm/98-R-0143.htm) -
Meetch Lake Accord
In an effort to get Quebec to approve the updated Canadian Constitution, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney made this attempt in 1987. The Meech Lake Accord was the outcome. The Constitution was to be amended (changed) in accordance with an agreement between the federal and provincial governments. The collapse of the Accord in English Canada was viewed as a rejection of Quebec by many Québécois.
(https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/meech-lake-accord) -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
On November 9, 1989, the Communist Party of East Berlin's spokesman proclaimed a change in his city's relations with the West as the Cold War started to soften throughout Eastern Europe. He said that from that day's midnight onward, GDR nationals may freely enter and exit the nation.
(https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall) -
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Desert Storm(start to end)
The First Gulf War, commonly known as Operation Desert Storm, or the Persian Gulf War, was a conflict that erupted in the Persian Gulf in 1991 when Iraqi President Saddam Hussein gave the order to invade and occupy Kuwait in early August of 1989.
(https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/persian-gulf-war) -
Oka Crisis
The Oka Crisis, often referred to as the Kanesatake Resistance or the Mohawk Resistance at Kanesatake, was a 78-day standoff between Mohawk demonstrators, Quebec police, the RCMP, and the Canadian Army. It took place between 11 July and 26 September 1990. On Montreal's north shore, in the town of Kanesatake close to the Town of Oka, it happened.
(https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/oka-crisis) -
G.S.T.
Now in its tenth year, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was implemented. On January 1st, 1991, it was put into effect to replace the Federal Sales Tax (FST), which had been around since 1924. The GST, the FST it replaced, and a number of other options that were studied throughout the years make up a complicated topic with numerous implications and contentious concerns that have not all been fully resolved.
(https://publications.gc.ca/Collection-R/LoPBdP/BP/prb0003-e.htm) -
Collapse of the Soviet Union
Due in major part to the numerous drastic reforms that Mikhail Gorbachev carried out during his six years as president of the USSR, the once-powerful Soviet Union had collapsed. Gorbachev, however, resigned from his position on December 25 after being disillusioned by the collapse of his country. A lengthy, fearful, and occasionally murderous period in world history came to a peaceful conclusion.
(https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/fall-of-soviet-union) -
Charlottetown Accord
The 1992 Charlottetown Accord was an unsuccessful attempt to change the Canadian Constitution by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and all ten province premiers. The Accord addressed the issue of Indigenous self-government, recognised Quebec as a separate nation. Both the federal government and each of the 10 province administrations endorsed the Accord. But on October 26, 1992, Canadian voters rejected it in a referendum.
(https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-charlottetown-accord) -
NAFTA
A trilateral economic bloc in North America was established when Canada, Mexico, and the United States signed the North American Free Trade Agreement. The 1988 Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement between the two countries was replaced by the new agreement when it went into effect on January 1st, 1994.
(https://www.trade.gov/north-american-free-trade-agreement-nafta) -
Rwandan Genocide
Up to 800,000 members of the Tutsi ethnic minority in Rwanda, a country in east-central Africa, were killed during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, also known as the genocide against the Tutsi. The genocide was started by Hutu nationalists in the country's capital, Kigali, and it spread horrifyingly quickly and brutally as local authorities and the Hutu Power government incited common people to take up guns against their neighbours.
(https://www.history.com/topics/africa/rwandan-genocide) -
1995 Quebec Referendum
Similar to the 1980 referendum, the Québec sovereignty vote was decided on October 30, 1995, by a slim margin in favour of the "No" camp. The future of Canada's constitution is still quite unclear following the collapse of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords. The House of Commons' political climate underwent a sea change after the 1993 election, which was the first indication.
(https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec-referendum-1995) -
Creation of Nunavut
New boundaries were drawn in Canada's northern regions on April 1, 1999, resulting in the creation of a new Northwest Territories. A new NWT and Nunavut, which in Inuktitut means "our land," were established. Since 1949, when Newfoundland joined Confederation, the map of Canada had not seen a significant shift.
(https://www.ntassembly.ca/visitors/creation-new-nwt) -
Nisga’a Frist Nation Treaty
When the Nisga'a Treaty went into effect on May 11, 2000, history was created. One of just a few modern treaties ever signed in Canada, it was the first in the nation to explicitly include inherent self-government. It was also the first modern treaty ever signed in British Columbia. -
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Canada in Afghanistan
Canada's military involvement in Afghanistan started in 2001 and came to an end in 2011 and it exited in 2014. Following the Taliban's overthrow, Canada participated in attempts to secure the country's new administration and aid in its rehabilitation.
(https://www.warmuseum.ca/learn/canada-and-the-afghanistan-war/) -
9/11
Thousands of people were killed on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, when suicide bombers boarded US passenger planes and slammed them into two New York towers. At the same time, four planes over the eastern US were hijacked by small groups of terrorists.
The World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York were hit by two planes. Initially, at 8:46 Eastern Time, it struck the North Tower (12:46 GMT). At 9:03, the second vehicle struck the South Tower.
(https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57698668) -
Same-Sex Marriage legalization
On July 20, 2005, the federal Civil Marriage Act went into effect, legalising same-sex unions across Canada. Following the Netherlands (2000), Belgium (2003), and Spain, Canada became the fourth nation to legalise same-sex unions (2005). Since that time, same-sex unions are recognised in every province in Canada.
(https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/same-sex-marriage-in-canada) -
Residential School Apology
The Right Honorable Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada, apologised on behalf of the government of Canada on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 in a statement to former pupils of Indian Residential Schools.
(https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100015644/1571589171655) -
Vancouver Olympics
Vancouver was chosen as Canada's third Olympic host city. There were a record number of trips to the top of the podium this time, in contrast to the first two Olympic Games that were held in Canada when the host country failed to win a gold medal. The 26 overall medals won by Canada were a record for the country, while the 14 gold medals were the most ever won by one nation at a Winter Games.
(https://olympic.ca/games/2010-vancouver/) -
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Canada and Syrian Refugees
Between November 2015 and February 29, 2016, the Canadian government welcomed 25,000 Syrian refugees into their country. This comprised refugees who were sponsored both publicly and privately. In 2016, we remain committed to welcoming Syrian refugees to Canada. Learn more about the strategy.
(https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/issues_development-enjeux_developpement/response_conflict-reponse_conflits/crisis-crises/conflict_syria-syrie.aspx?lang=eng) -
Tragically Hip’s Final Concert
Tragically Hip performs their last act before disbanding at an event in Kingston, Ontario, the hometown of the band's main singer, Gord Downie. In December 2015, Downie received a final brain cancer diagnosis. The band performs three encores over the course of the roughly three-hour event.
(https://calendar.songfacts.com/august/20/17910)