Transcript File

Trudeau and the Cold War
Interesting Facts…
“Typical French-Canadian”
- Thought Canada should have stayed out of the
Korean War and NATO.
http://www.jontattrie.ca/ThreeNightsinHavana.htm
- Trudeau tried to paddle a canoe to Cuba from
Florida in 1960, but turned back half way.
American Draft Dodgers and Deserters
Canada became a safe haven for American DraftDodgers and Deserters.
Draft-Dodger – avoided the draft (not yet
in the military, but might be called)
Deserter – someone in the military
refusing service.
- Cut its NATO forces in Europe in half
- Cut Canada’ military by 20,000 troops to 80,000.
-Withdrew nuclear weapons from Canada
- Considered joining non-aligned movement
Trudeau strongly voiced his
opinion towards the US War
in Vietnam. He created CIDA
which carried out
development assistance
programs in developing
countries and countries in
transition.
In 1983–84, he was awarded the Albert Einstein Peace
Prize, for negotiating the reduction of nuclear weapons
and Cold War tension in several countries.
Canada’s Cold War Immigration Policy
The Canadian Immigration Policy was racial and ethnically bias.
Immigrants from Great Britain,
USA, Western Europe and
Scandinavia were preferred.
Common language similar
culture.
Netherlands Farm Families
Movement -
German immigrants
preferred - 1952.
Blocked entry…
Suspected communists, questionable political tendencies
Physical handicaps, inappropriate
physical characteristics.
It welcomed people fleeing from
communist repression.
Canada accepted 37,000 Hungarian
refugees. (1956)
Worried eastern European
immigrants might be used for
communist infiltration.
Cold War in Quebec
Catholic Church had significant
influence on Quebec.
Catholics were persecuted in
Soviet Union.
Priests used Anti-Communist
rhetoric in their sermons.
Quebec Premier Maurice
Duplessis was anti-communist
(1936-1939 – 1944-1959)
Asbestos Strike in 1949
Workers at an Asbestos mine
went on strike for better
safety and pay and working
conditions.
Violence broke out after Duplessis hired
replacement workers.
Laws were passed in Quebec which made it illegal
to hire Communists Marxists or anyone with
communist sympathies.
Trudeau (a reporter at the time) “a violent
announcement that a new era had begun.
Quebec silent revolution began after
Asbestos Strike
Canada and the Cold
War 1964-1981
Canada played an important role negotiating at
the Geneva Conference in 1954 (French-Vietnam).
Canada would not join SEATO.
Canada laid out six prerequisites to joining a war or
military alliance in Asia.
- It had to involve cultural and trade ties in addition to a military alliance.
- It had to clearly meet the will of the people in the countries involved.
- Other free Asian states had to support it directly or in principle.
- France had to refer the conflict to United Nations.
- Any multilateral action must conform to the UN Charter.
- Any action had to be divorced from all elements of colonialism.
The Vietnam War did not meet these requirements
so Canada would not involve itself militarily.
In a speech in Philadelphia, Prime Minister Pearson
criticized US President Johnson for bombing North
Vietnam in 1965. (Operation Rolling Thunder.)
A comic strip that illustrates U.S.
President Lyndon Johnson's
frustration in Canada's refusal in
joining the war in Vietnam.
LBJ criticized Canada for not supporting the US.
Canada and the Vietnam War
Canada stayed out of the
Vietnam War, but helped out
the US in other ways…
- Provided the US with
materials and weapons
used in the war.
- Nickel, copper and lead
went to the US to make
shells and ammo.
Defense Production Sharing Agreement
Agent Orange was
made in Canada.
www.agentorangecanada.com
Canada contributed $10 billion in food aid to S. Vietnam.
Just like Eastern bloc countries (Czechoslovakia, Hungary, East
Germany) were helping the Soviets and the Chinese help the Viet
Cong, it was argued Canada should be allowed to counter this and
play a similar role in helping the US.
30 to 40 thousand
Canadians volunteered
and served alongside the
Americans during the War.
Canadians not only protested the Vietnam War,
but also offered a safe refuge for Americans that
did not want to fight.
Canada became a safe haven for American
draft dodgers and deserters.
Draft Dodger – avoided the draft (not yet in the
military, but might be called)
Deserter – someone in the military refusing service.
Many American Draft Dodger and to Deserters
moved to Canada.
http://www.cbc.ca/player/Digital+Archives/War
+and+Conflict/Vietnam+War/ID/1767657759/
Including Nelson BC.
The influx of these young men, who (as mentioned
earlier) were often well educated and politically
leftist, affected Canada's academic and cultural
institutions, and Canadian society at large. These new
arrivals tended to balance the “brain drain" that
Canada had experienced.
Between 30,000 to 40,000 Americans moved to Canada
to avoid fighting in the Vietnam War.
Some sources say that it was between 50,000 and
125,000.
This exodus was "the largest politically motivated
migration from the United States since the United
Empire Loyalists moved north to oppose the
American Revolution”.
American officials put pressure on Canada to arrest
and deport the deserters. No action was ever taken.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjhy3-vIX6s
Canada provided weapons (ammunition), ingredients to make
napalm, agent orange, humanitarian supplies went to the
Americans and the war effort.
Nickel, copper lead went to the US.
Unemployment in Canada fell to 3.9%
Defense Production Sharing Agreement
Over $2 Billion was purchased from Canada by the United
States.
1970 - FLQ Crisis
The Anti-Vietnam/Civil
Rights Movement during the
late 1960’s spread to Canada
and Quebec Separatism
gained momentum.
Political groups began to form in Quebec that demanded
more autonomy from Canada.
Parti Quebecois formed under the leadership of Rene
Levesque supporting the idea Quebec independence.
Expo ‘67
French President Charles de Gaulle closed his speech
with ‘Vive le Quebec libre!’
Long Live Free Quebec!
Became popular rallying cry for separatist movement.
The speech offended many English-speaking Canadians and
was heavily criticized in France as well,[137] and led to a
significant diplomatic rift between the two countries
1970 - October Crisis
After De FLQ (Front de
liberation du Quebec)
began using violence and
bombings across Quebec.
The FLQ’s activities reached
a peak in October 1970.
Quebec’s Labor Minister Pierre
Laporte and the British Trade
commissioner, James Cross.
Trudeau’s and his government cracked down on
FLQ activities.
Claimed the group was motivated by Marxist ideology
and encouraged by the Cuban Revolution.
After Laporte’s murder, Trudeau
declared martial Law and civil
liberties were suspended under the
war measures act.
Many FLQ members were detained
without criminal representation.
500 people were arrested.
Calling in the army and putting Quebec under martial
law was not an easy, or popular decision, but when
they said he could not do it and survive politically, he
said, "Just watch me".
Canada and China
During the 1960’s, Diefenbaker saw
an opportunity to trade with
China and sold them $60 million
worth of wheat.
Trudeau officially
recognized Communist
China in 1970.
Canadian Security Services
and the US government
were deeply concerned.
Canada’s Attitudes towards Communism in the 80’s.
Canada joined the US in its boycott of the 1980 Summer
Olympics in Moscow (in response to the Afghan invasion).
Many Canadian athletes
dream’s were lost.
“SHATTERED HOPES”
Canadian Athlete Advisory Council was created to deal with athlete’s concerns.
In 1981, the Trudeau government received a letter
from Reagan requesting permission to test Tomahawk
missiles over Canadian territory in the Arctic.
The argument was made that they were
defensive weapons.
Trudeau spent a long time deliberating
what to do .
He agreed and legislation
was made up. (CANUSTP)
Canadians were confused,
disappointed in Trudeau’s
decision.
Canadians opposed the decision as they thought
Canada was back on the front lines of the Cold War.
Canadians thought Trudeau was committed
to disarmament.
http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/war-conflict/defence/norad-watchingthe-skies/cruise-missile-testing-coming-to-canada.html