Social Studies 10 Lessons 📖

By: Gen L

In partnership with Hyperion University, 2023

Lesson 5: PM Chrétien (1993-1999)

The '93 Election

  • Kim Campbell started the campaign in the lead, but would suffer the largest defeat in Canadian history.
  • Two things sank the Conservative's Chances:
    1. Liberal's publication of "The Red Book", a detailed platform outline earlier than expected.
    2. Conservatives ran a negative ad making fun of Chrétien's partial paralysis in his face.
    • Support basically evaporated.

Enter Chrétien

  • He had been working on Parliament Hill since 1963 and was in every Liberal cabinet since 1965.
  • He knew Ottawa well and moved quickly to make a strong, centralized, powerful PMO
  • One of his first priorites was to limit the staggering debt that had developed under Trudeau and Mulroney.
  • With his Minister of Finance, Paul Martin, they made deep cuts and controlled gov't spending.

1995 Québec: The Next Time

  • 1994: A new PQ gov't promises a sovereignty referendum.
  • Meech Lake & Charlottetown were fresh in everyone's head.
  • The loudest federalist voice was Cons. leader, Jean Charest.
  • Chrétien was criticized for not playing a stronger role.

The Next Time, cont.

  • 30 Oct, 1995: The results were in. 49.4% Yes, 50.6% No. (This was shockingly close.)
  • A shocked Canada realized that it survived by .4%.
  • Lacking a clear victory, seperatists lost momentum.
  • Chrétien established rules making future referendum questions clearer & consequences harder should Quebec ever seperate.
  • The Clarity Act passed in June of 2000.

First Nations Progress

  • After years of land disputes, in 1996, the BC and Can. gov'ts made a deal with the Nisga'a of Northern BC, giving them self-governance.
  • 1999: the Nisga'a treaty passed.
  • The largest treaty was realized in 1999 when Nunavut became Canada's new Territory.
  • It gave Inuit political control over their land.
  • In BC, 8 modern treaties have been signed.

The 8 Modern Treaties

  • 5 Maa-nulth First Nations (Vancouver Island)
    • Huu-ay-aht First Nations
    • Toquaht Nation
    • Uchucklesaht Tribe
    • Ka:'yu:'k't'h' / Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nations
    • YuuÉ«uÊ”iÉ«Ê”athÌ© First Nation
  • Tsawwassen First Nation
  • Nisga'a Nation

US-Can International Developments

  • Chrétien maintained a quiet, but friendly relationship with US President Bill Clinton.
  • It became distant with the election of George W. Bush.

Trade Diversification

  • One of Chrétien's priorities was to diversify trade.
  • He formed many "Team Canada" trade missions that visited various regions & countries.
    • 1994 / 2001 - China
    • 1995 / 1998 - South America
    • 1996 - India & S.E. Asia
    • 1997 - Korea & S.E. Asia
    • 1998 - Mexico
    • 1999 - Japan

Rwanda: UN's Failed Peace

  • 1994: Canada contributed peacekeepers to Rwanda which was experiencing a devastating civil war.
  • The mission was under direction of Can. Major General Romeo Dallaire.
  • It was apparent that as the crisis worsened, tribal rivalries were unfolding into genocide.
  • Dallaire appealed to the UN for more troops, more action.

UN's Greatest Failure

  • His calls were ignored & some countries pulled forces.
  • Dallaire remained with minimal troops and staff.
  • Although he managed to save many people, he beared witness to the worst of human brutality, enabled by the failure of the UN and developed world to prevent such acts.
  • Where were the other troops Dallaire wanted?

Yugoslavia: The Troops Dallaire Wanted

  • 1991: Civil War in Yugoslavia
  • 1995: Under advice of the UN, NATO forces (including Canadians) were sent as peacekeepers to Bosnia-Herzegovina.
  • Peace proved elusive, Serbian forces were killing Muslims.
  • 1998: NATO threatens strikes against Serbians in Kosovo

1999 Bombing of Kosovo

  • Canadian CF-18's fly 10% of NATO air strikes over Kosovo.
  • NATO sends a peacekeeping force to Kosovo, including 1400 Canadians.

Finish