Canadian Identity
What does it mean to be a Canadian? Why is it so hard for us to define ourselves?
Everyone has a different viewpoint on what it means to be a Canadian, and if we should collectively embrace a national identity. Canada is a pluralistic society, which means that we accept and encourage all cultures, and nationalities. That's what makes us so unique from other countries.
People use various things to identify themselves:
- Color of hair
- Gender
- Race
- Style of clothing
- Teams they are on
- Entertainment preferences
- Stereotypes: Lumberjack, fur trader, live in igloos, eat blubber, ride dog sled, don’t know Jimmy, Sally or Suzie (small population)
- Explaining our differences: PM instead of President, bilingual (not American = British spelling/pronunciation - zed), peacekeepers vs policing, diversity vs assimilation, Pronouncing about
- Proudly sew flag (world likes Canadians)
- Beaver
- Explaining Canadian terms: toque, chesterfield, "hommo milk"
- Describing us: 2nd largest landmass, first nation of hockey, the best part of North America,“Thank you” (polite)
- National Identity
- Key Features of Canadian Identity: Geography, Northern location, next to US, 2nd largest country, Natural Resources, Wealthy, don’t depend on others, Society, urban, modern, Cultural make-up, Bilingual, multicultural, World Position, Middle power, peacekeeper
- Watch for the following:Railway: unified Canada coast to coast, Men drinking: could be reference to prohibition (US “Rum Runners”), Soldiers heading off to war, note the British flag = World War One
- Women's hockey team
- Soldier returning home-billboard in background to buy war bonds
- Lowering of the old Canadian flad and raising the new flag in 1960s
- Watching the hockey game on TV
- Summit Series
- Paul Anka – popular singer
- Miss Prairie, guys on Atlantic coast (our diversity)
- Crazy fan at hockey game
- Niagara Falls (tourism, geography)
- Air Canada plane at foreign airport (Tehran hostages?)
- Lumberjack log rolling
- Commercial
- Rugby, speaking in French
- William Shatner – famous Canadian actor
- Money has symbolism
- Canadian National Anthem
- "We Are The Beaver"
Regional Issues
East Vs. West
Regional Disparity
- Disparity = inequality
- Causes of Canadian Regional Disparity
- Physical features – affects on agriculture, tourism
- Climate – affects on agriculture
- Resources- affects on imports, jobs
- Location – attracting migrants, cost to transport
- Urbanization – jobs, pollution, lost farmland
- Transportation – access to markets (waterway)
- Technology – efficiency vs. cost
- Labor force – quality of education
Signs of Regional Disparity
- Wages – why higher in Alberta than Manitoba?
- Unemployment – what job opportunities are there?
- Education – how many have post-secondary?
- Standard of living – are people’s needs being met?
- Migration – how many people are moving in or out?
Equalization Payments
- Effort to reduce regional disparities
- Strong = “have” province
- Weak = “have not” province
- Alberta’s concern: we have been a “have” province for a long time and see much of our money going to provinces who then are able to give their citizens better services
Who has had it worse?
Settlement of the West
Sir Clifford Stifton
- Immigration Minister
- administration of the Yukon during the gold rush
- “His promotion of immigration was an immense success. Taking advantage of a strong economic recovery that made farming in the West more attractive, he established a vigorous organization to seek out settlers in the US, Britain and - most controversially - east-central Europe. Against attacks by nativists, he defended the "stalwart peasants in sheep-skin coats" who were turning some of the most difficult areas of the West into productive farms.” (Canadian Encyclopedia)
The Reform Party
- “The West Wants In” – Albertans feeling alienated
- More right-wing ideology not being represented in Ottawa
- Gained in popularity through the 1980s and 1990s – eventually took over the Conservative Party
Alberta
- Not represented in legislature (population and unequal Senate)
- Most government projects go to Central Canada
- Banks are headquartered in Central Canada and often set interest rates that hurt the western economy
- Ottawa spends a lot of time trying to keep Quebec in Canada, but seems to ignore Alberta’s interests
- The West is treated as a source of natural resources, and the federal government does little to change this (less money is made on natural vs. manufactured)
- Federal government took away control of natural resources through programs like the National Energy Program that controls oil, and after WWII selling grain at below cost to England
- Historically tariffs in place to protect manufactured goods of the East, but not resources of the West
- Government cuts often hurt the West more – e.g. the cancellation of the Crow Rate
- Alberta pays more to the federal government than they get back in transfer payments, while Quebec gets more than it pays.
Francophones - Quebec
- Conquest of 1759 (British defeat the French)
- Lord Durham’s report – assimilation of French
- Colonies of Canada government – not based on representation by population until the English outnumbered the British
- Inability for French Canadians to participate in government of the colonies for a long time
- English invade Red River area = Metis/Riel Rebellion
- Ignoring rights by closing French, Roman Catholic schools = Manitoba schools question
- Conscription – blamed for conscription during WWI and WWII despite the fact that other groups, like farmers, also didn’t enlist (sign up) to join the war effort
- Quiet Revolution – the federal government initially opposed steps for French to regain control in business and government from the more powerful Anglophone minority
- Constitution – all provinces signed in a back room deal without Quebec present
Sources Cited
Info- class youtube videos, class website notes, and in class notes
Photos
http://www.straight.com/blogra/396351/canada-retains-top-spot-worlds-most-reputable-country Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://www.ottawalife.com/2014/05/kicking-off-the-season-the-ultimate-guide-to-ottawas-summer-festivals/ Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://www.ottawalife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Capital-Pride-250x187.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://www.ottawalife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Carnival-of-Cultures1-250x166.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://www.ottawalife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Festival-of-India-250x166.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://www.ottawalife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Summer-Solstice-Aboriginal-Arts-Festival1-133x200.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://www.ottawalife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Unisong-Choral-Festival-250x166.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://img.src.ca/2013/07/23/635x357/130723_eb590_rci-queen-ottawa2010_sn635.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://canada.lilithezine.com/images/Canadian-Multiculturalism-03.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://images.lpcdn.ca/435x290/201210/10/598158.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://www.nomoredebts.org/_Library/images/Alberta_2.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://calgarycommute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Alberta.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://albertalending.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/alberta.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Info- class youtube videos, class website notes, and in class notes
Photos
http://www.straight.com/blogra/396351/canada-retains-top-spot-worlds-most-reputable-country Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://www.ottawalife.com/2014/05/kicking-off-the-season-the-ultimate-guide-to-ottawas-summer-festivals/ Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://www.ottawalife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Capital-Pride-250x187.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://www.ottawalife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Carnival-of-Cultures1-250x166.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://www.ottawalife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Festival-of-India-250x166.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://www.ottawalife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Summer-Solstice-Aboriginal-Arts-Festival1-133x200.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://www.ottawalife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Unisong-Choral-Festival-250x166.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://img.src.ca/2013/07/23/635x357/130723_eb590_rci-queen-ottawa2010_sn635.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://canada.lilithezine.com/images/Canadian-Multiculturalism-03.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://images.lpcdn.ca/435x290/201210/10/598158.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://www.nomoredebts.org/_Library/images/Alberta_2.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://calgarycommute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Alberta.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015
http://albertalending.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/alberta.jpg Wednesday, January 14, 2015