History 2201E Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Great Canadian Flag Debate, Nobel Peace Prize, Quebec Sovereignty Movement
2 May 2018
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Department
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March 20, 2018
Lester B. (Mike) Pearson and Canadian Nationalism, 1963-1967
Introduction/Background
- In the aftermath of WW2, felt like Canada was becoming too close with the Americans
- Pearson confronted the burgeoning sense of Canadian nationalism
o Canadians want to assert their presence on the world stage
- Won a Nobel peace prize for his negotiations with the Suez Canal Crisis in 1956
o Devised an idea of peacekeepers to prevent military intervention
- Quebec nationalism became a part of French life and threatened the stability of the rest of
Canada
o The idea of Quebec sovereignty and separation
- As a response, Pearson established a royal commission on bilingualism and biculturalism
o The B&B Commission
o To have Canadians give their say on the place of Quebec and other non-French
speaking Canadians in Canada
o Results – official bilingualism
▪ Federal gov’t has two languages
▪ Only for federal offices nationwide
▪ Idea of multiculturalism arises
• Only becomes an act in 1988
• But as a policy, comes during Trudeau
• Pearson gave the roots
- In 1967, 100% suspend race-base critieria for immigration
o Adopt a point system: language, skills, education, mobility, sponsor, where you
want to live, Canadian relatives
o But it privileges those privileged
o Those who want to immigrate to upgrade skills would never have enough points
- Reorganized Canada’s pension plan
o Expanded to cover more Canadians – since WW2 went to a limited number of
Canadians
o Also had a bigger payout
- The adoption of the Medicare act,
o Went into effect, july 1st 1968
o All physicians in canda need to be cover under this program ( don’t want a
private/public system)
o Was universal, the provinces administered the program
▪ Was admissable – could have the same level of care whichever province
you went too
o A major building block in social welfare state
- Pearson tried to undoe some of Diefenbaker’s damge with the U.S. but it didn’t work
The flag debate: Red Ensign, Union Jack, United Uni, fleu-de-lys, Pearson Pennant
- Pearson wanted a neutral flag – not too british or french but represents all of canada
- Ensign: looked british
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Lester b. (mike) pearson and canadian nationalism, 1963-1967. In the aftermath of ww2, felt like canada was becoming too close with the americans. Pearson confronted the burgeoning sense of canadian nationalism: canadians want to assert their presence on the world stage. Won a nobel peace prize for his negotiations with the suez canal crisis in 1956: devised an idea of peacekeepers to prevent military intervention. Quebec nationalism became a part of french life and threatened the stability of the rest of. Canada: the idea of quebec sovereignty and separation. Idea of multiculturalism arises: only becomes an act in 1988, but as a policy, comes during trudeau, pearson gave the roots. Reorganized canada"s pension plan: expanded to cover more canadians since ww2 went to a limited number of. Pearson tried to undoe some of diefenbaker"s damge with the u. s. but it didn"t work. The flag debate: red ensign, union jack, united uni, fleu-de-lys, pearson pennant.
