Nation Building - 1982 to Present
Terry Fox
Terrance Stanley commonly known as Terry Fox was an athlete and Cancer research activist. Terry Fox was diagnosed with Cancer on may 4th 1976 when he felt a surging knee pain. Fox a Runner’s World article about Dick Traum, an amputee who had run the New York City Marathon. Terry Fox received an article about Runner’s World article about Dick Traum, an amputee who had run the New York City Marathon and he said “Someday I’m going to do something like that,” he told her. While Terry Fox was in Chemotherapy, saw many who suffered from Cancer and was determined to something about it. Terry Fox started to train and at the local junior high school. In mid-February 1979 he could run half a mile even with his condition. His prosthetist, Ben Speicher, modified his prosthesis so that it could better withstand the impact of running but it was still awkward and difficult to run with it. Terry Fox made a plan and was convinced that he could run across Canada. Even though his parents were reluctant. He stated "By next April I will be ready to achieve something that for me was once only a distant dream reserved for the world of miracles – to run across Canada to raise money for the fight against cancer." and "We need your help. The people in cancer clinics all over the world need people who believe in miracles" showing his sheer passion and determination to make a difference in the world. Terry Fox started journey across Canada on April 12 1980 and he ran around 42 km per day and would rest in a van during the night. However, Fox was forced to stop running just Thunder Bay, Ontario, on 1 September 1980, due to the the cancer had invaded his lungs. Sadly Terry Fox died on June 28 1981 in British Columbia. Terry Fox raised over $700 million for cancer research. Millions of people in Canada and around the world participate every year in the Terry Fox Run, and in 2007 the Terry Fox Research Institute was established in Vancouver. Terry Fox did what not many other Canadians could manage to do: Inspire a large mass of Canadian to change the nation for a greater cause then themselves.
First Nations, Metis, Inuit
In 1871 an act was passed by the Canadian Government called the "Indian Act". It's aim was to abolish the First Nation's culture and assimilate them into Euro-Canadian society. This has led to cultural disruption and human rights violations for generations of first nations peoples. Children were taken from homes and were put in residential schools. These residential schools had horrible conditions such as disease. This was one of the many ways. The government abolished the First Nations Culture. After these rules were put in place First Nations Suffered discrimination and hardship Most lived in small scattered reservations Others lived in big cities but Jobs were hard to find. Most reserves that the First Nations lived on had a lack of basic living necessities such as clean drinking water or healthcare.
Trudeau’s Just Society
In 1968, Trudeau promised to make Canada a just society
In regards to Aboriginals, Trudeau’s solution was the White Paper: reduce the special legal rights of Aboriginals in order to integrate them into society
and Responsibility for the First Nations would be taken from the
Federal Government and transferred to the provinces. Lose Indian status and be treated the same as minorities
Reserves would be dissolved and land claims would disappear. The negative responses received by the indigenous people was very negative and hateful. They believed that it was another attempt to abolish their culture. In response, Trudeau withdrew the White Paper in 1970 and stated "They can live in the Ghettos as long as they want." Throughout Canada's history, Indigenous problems have have defined the relationship between Canada's Nation and the indigenous peoples.
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Thanks to NAFTA, trade profits quadrupled from $297 billion to $1.17 trillion. That increased economic growth, profits, and jobs for all three countries. It also lowered prices for consumers. Canada increased its exports by 282 billion. NAFTA boosted trade by eliminating all tariffs between the three countries. It also generated agreements on international rights for business investors. Lower tariffs also reduced import prices. That also lessened the risk of inflation. (which was one of the factors of the great depression). NAFTA single highhandedly built its nation's presence within the world market and allowed it to share its flourishing resources with the world while also making profit aiding jobs, taxes, healthcare and general economic growth.
Benefits to Canadian Economy
NAFTA was created in 1984 by US President Ronald Reagan who presented a trading market between North American Countries (Canada, Mexico, United States of America). Congress passed a Trade and Tariff act that allowed the president authority to negotiate free trade agreement that also allows Congress only the ability to approve or disapprove the entire agreement. That makes negotiation in trading between countries easier. Later, Regan’s successor, President H.W. Bush, began negotiations with Mexican President Salinas to include them in a trade agreement as tarrifs had reached 250 percent higher than U.S. tariffs on Mexican imports.In 1991, Canada requested a trilateral agreement, which then led to NAFTA. Article 102 of the NAFTA agreement outlines its purpose. There are seven specific goals.
1.Grant the signatories most favored nation status.
2.Eliminate barriers to trade and facilitate the cross-border movement of goods and services.
3.Promote conditions of fair competition.
4.Increase investment opportunities.
5.Provide protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.
6.Create procedures for the resolution of trade disputes.
7.Establish a framework for further trilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation to expand the trade agreement's benefits. (Source: "FAQ," NAFTA Secretariat.)
Terrorist Attacks On September 11 2001
On September 11th 2001, several terrorist attacks occurred against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the world trade center in new York City. The third plane hit the pentagon and the fourth crashed in a field near Pennsylvania. 3,000 deaths were reported. The attack was led by al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden. The other 19 terrorists lived in the United States for years and took pilot lessons and became the workers of the attack. This attack shook the very foundation of America and the rest of the world and changed security laws around the world forever. Around a year later Canada's government created the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA). Before (9/11), the screening of passengers and their possession very often overlooked but was still searched. Now however, people looking to board Canadian airways are forced to remove clothing and in some cases racial suspicion. I had actually experienced this myself as I was once traveling to The United States and when coming upon the border and showing my passports. We were taken out and our car was searched thoroughly. We stayed at the border waiting area for around 5 hours. As my family and I travel frequently this is very common for us. We also pack snacks and plan ahead of time in case we we end up waiting at the border again.
Canada's Legislative response
After 9/11 Canada made major legislative adjustments to combat the new terrorist threat due to the sense of vulnerability felt throughout North America. With these changes new acts were were put in place such as the Anti-terrorism Act, the Public Safety Act, the Combating Terrorism Act, and so on that changed the very way people lived and felt while living in Canada. Many people thought that Canada could have been another target for terrorists which resulted in many people being very worried and skeptical. All these factors also caused some racism throughout western culture. Me and most likely many others have experienced this racism in another way or another. Since I am a Muslim and my name clearly indicates that, I have gotten racial slurs thrown at me but I in no way condone the behaviors and decisions made by extremist groups like al-Qaeda and in fact think they are disgusting and something no human would do. Many factors such as The Attacks of September 11th 2001 have shaped Canada as a nation whether it be the people living their and even its laws that govern it.
