What happened in Canada in 1970-2000?

Answer 1

The end of the 20th century saw the end of the Canadian dream for many and the start down a path to a new Canadian dream.

Canada had reached it's peak in many ways by 1970. Canadian political influence was global after our showing in WWII, the first major war in which Canadians wore Canadian uniforms, answered to Canadian generals who answered to Canadian politicians. Our economy bounced back quickly after the war, Canadians saw their household wealth grow, income disparity shrink.

We started the last half of the 20th Century with the 7th largest military in the world, well able to defend ourselves. Canada even deployed nuclear weapons in it's actions against the USSR, East Germany and communism. We had a large Navy well able to patrol the longest coastline in the world, a nuclear capable Air Force and a space program that included some of the earliest communication satellites. Canada was a contender.

In 1970 Canadian nationalism was still on a bit of a high after the centennial celebrations of 1967 but the election of Pierre Trudeau in 1968 would change the course of Canadian history forever.

Canada always had regional divisions but the Federal Government would pit region against region, turn it's back on it's own history, and set a course for massive Immigration that would significantly change the character of the country in less than a couple generations. All with little input from Canadian citizens, particularly those from Western Canada, but few outside of Quebec or the elite agreed with most policies. So many within Quebec disagreed many voted to leave the Confederation, repeatedly.

Military cuts and decline continued throughout the last third of the 20th century with the United States taking over the defense of Canada and Canada taking on a minor role within American military policy. Gone was the time when Canada could take major action as they did in the Korean War. Militarily Canada went from being able to defend itself and help others to being little more than an adjunct of the USA military industrial complex, via NATO and the UN.

In the early 1980's that same French Prime Minister first elected in 1968 would sever ties from Britain by repatriating the Canadian Constitution, He would even reach back in time to rename the British North America Act. Average Canadians had little and in most cases, no say in the contents of their Constitution which entrenched the power of Quebec and Ontario by giving those two veto rights over any future changes even if 10 or all other members of the Confederation wished to make changes.

The last third of the the 20th century would see Canada turn it's back on Britain and within a decade reject independence by accepting Free Trade with the USA and give up much of it's Independence in many areas.

Canada was created to hold off American invasions and American trade deals that would give the USA preferential access to Canadian resources. Canadians had voted on this matter in 1867, 1911 and soundly rejected the idea of Free Trade and integration with the USA both times.

Canada would vote yet again on Free Trade in 1988 and again they soundly rejected the idea.

But this time their will would not prevail and there would be no further votes. Another Prime Minister from Quebec would take Canada into a Free Trade Deal and further economic and cultural integration with the USA, against the wishes of the majority of the voters.

Gone was the proud vision of an independent and strong Canada held by Canadian forefathers, by Canadians who fought proudly in our many wars, one of them against the USA. Multi-Generational Canadians would see their cultural icons attacked, their history denigrated and their vision for a great independent Canada rejected at the highest levels and by those who felt disenfranchised in the past.

Playing into this move away from a great Canada and to a Canada where Canadians would have little say in their trade agreements, economy, or the Canadian position on many international issues was immigration. Given Canada's low population the immigration that started in the late 20th century has been massive.

Immigration changes in the last third of the 20th century included putting up barriers to Europeans, particularly English speaking Europeans and lowering barriers for immigrants from French and developing countries. This was done via means tests and increased refugee acceptance. Canada became the #1 country in the world for refugee acceptance when Canada's small population is taken into account.

Immigration is changing Canada in many ways. As in the past most positive but new Canadians would be taught little of the Canada that was meant to own the 20th century. A Canada that had and would stand up with, and stand up to, it's greatest ally and threat, the USA.

Many things happened in Canada in the last third of the 20th Century. An uprising in Quebec, deployment of Canadian military by a French Prime Minister against the French citizens of Quebec, a National Energy Program designed to take oil and money from Western Canada, lost of language rights, a Canadian Constitution, violent uprisings from Aboriginal groups, Free Trade and then Globalization, the destruction of a traditional Canadian political party the PC's, the creation of new parties such as The Reform Party, the vilification and decimation of our traditional religious and cultural institutions, and many more notable events and trends occurred, started and ended.

But the trend that will have the greatest impact on Canada, is having the greatest impact on Canada, is massive immigration.

That trend started in the last half of the 20th century and it is defining Canada in the first half of the 21st Century. Soon the majority of Canadians will be First and Second generation will little connection to Canada or Canadian history but deep ties to lands and cultures outside of Canada. They are building a new Canada.

This isn't the first time this has occurred and as has happened in the past these new Canadians will determine how Canada will grow. They will be building a Great and Powerful Nation in their image with their ideas and beliefs.

And that trend started in the last third of the 20th Century. Canada has been modest in it's history but the trends started in the last half of the 20th Century will surely see the 21st century belonging to Canada.

What happened? A lot and you ain't seen nothing yet.