Canadian Identity_Unity Project

Canadian Identity/Unity Project By: Kaden W and Jacob T

Truth and reconciliation act for Inigenous peoples The truth and reconciliation act was created for indigenous peoples that were affected by residential schools. This started as orange shirt day where people in canada would wear an orange shirt to commemorate a young girl who was taken in by a residential schools to “celebrate” her leave her grandmother bought her a orange sparkly shirt. However her orange shirt was taken from her and she never saw it again. Now Canadians across the country wear orange shirts for the painful history of residential schools. In present day Justin Trudeau as well as 6 other individuals created a truth and reconciliation day for to commemorate the all the children who went through the residential schools system which destroyed the indegenous culture here in canada. This day unified canadians and shaped identity by accepting the true history and legacy of residential schools. This day takes place on september 30th and Orange Shirt Day was first celebrated in 2013 and Truth and Reconciliation Day was celebrated in 2021.

People in the Truth And Reconciliation Act In 2008 Justin trudeau and three commissioners that formed the TRC. One was Harry Laforme, a court of appeal judge in Southern Ontario and a member of the Mississaugas of New Credit First Nation. The second person was a lawyer named Jane Brewin Morley. And the third person was an Aborigional health expert named Claudette Dumont-Smith. After less than 6 months The chair Justice Harry Laforme resigned because of conflict with the other commissioners, challenges and government interference were also reasons that he left the chair position. Jane Morley and Claudette Smith resigned around 3 months later as well. By June of 2009, The TRC needed three new commissioners and the names of those three commissioners were Justice Murray Sinclair who was an Ojibwa judge from the court of the Queen’s Bench in Manitoba, Chief Wilton Littlechild from Maskwacis who was a lawyer in alberta and Marie Wilson, a CBC broadcaster from Yellowknife. All three commissioners had to quickly re-establish the commission and to gain trust with Indigenous peoples after the failure of the TRC. The person in the top right is Jane Morley, the person in the top left is Claudette Smith, the person in the bottom left is Harry Laforme and the three in the bottom right are from left to right are Chief Littlechild, Justice Sinclair, and Marie Wilson. Justin Trudeau is in the middle.

Quotes from people in the Truth and Reconciliation Act. Harry Laforme said “That functionally bilingual requirement trumped what I think is an even more precious notion for the Supreme Court, of having an aboriginal person there,” this relates to identity and unity as it shows that Harry Laforme viewed having an aborigional person on the supreme court as a way to promote unity and equality throughout even the highest systems in Canada. Another quote from Marie Wilson is \"It's not going to be fast, and it's not going to be easy, but it's going to be rich and uplifting for us all.\" She is saying that there is a bumpy road of challenges ahead, but if everyone sticks to it the end goal will be reached. Marie wilson in this quote is saying that after the hard process there will be a stronger sense of Canadian identity and unity for all in both a sense of belonging and a more unified Canada.

Sovereignty for Quebec/The Quiet Revolution After the confederation of Canada Francophones power, influence and political voice began to rapidly decline in the early 20th century. As a result Quebec had three options, to abide as a second class citizen of Canada, Promote Quebec as a strong and self governing province or promote a vision of sovereign Quebec. Immigrants would also be more encouraged to speak english as the majority of Canada was speaking english. Therefore this new influx of immigrants was slowly reducing the percentage of Francophones in Canada. The Quiet Revolution was meant to focus on traditional values of the francophone church and community. It also sought out to Modernize Quebec by improving social programs. The October crisis was a key event in the quiet revolution. The FLQ kidnapped the Provincial labour minister Pierre laporte and British diplomat James cross. This demonstrated the FLQs commitment to make their voice be heard. For the first time in Canadian history the War Measures Act was used during peacetime. The morning after the Act was put into place four hundred and five people were arrested including one singer named Pauline Julien. This unites French Canadians across the country but especially in Quebec where they fought to be heard politically and fought to coexist with anglophones within Canada.

Individuals involved in the Quiet Revolution The left photo is Jean Lesage, He was the premier of Québec from 1960–1966. Born on June 10, 1912 in Montreal Lesage went to a private school was enrolled into law at Laval University and graduated in 1934. On June 22, 1960 Lesage was elected the 19th premier and the government he had formed created the social, political and economic conditions that helped the Quiet Revolution spread. The right photo is Pierre laporte, he was a Canadian lawyer, a journalist and a politician. He was the deputy premier of the province of Quebec and was killed on October 17, 1970 by the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ) during the October Crisis. There were very few political people killed during the October Crisis and he was one of the few unlucky ones. His death intensified the October Crisis as he was an important political figure.

Quotes from the people involved in the Quiet Revolution One of Premier Jean Lassage’s famous quotes was “Maîtres chez nous” in English it says ”Masters of our own house”. This quote caused an uproar in Quebec as it gave the citizens a sense of confidence that they had never felt before. Pauline Julian was a singer that got arrested by police after the War Measures Act was put into place. She said “I refused to stay in the living-room during their search. I told them: You are in my house, I'm going with you everywhere.” she stated that “they weren't as brutal as I have head they were elsewhere.”

Western Alienation Western Aleinationatin has been a important subject when it comes to uniting Canada from the 1800’s till now. The Federal political system is a prime example as the rep by pop procedure of election is what currently is used. The flaws with this is that Quebec and Ontario have to largest population combined against all the other provinces and territories combined. Therefore many political leaders can get away with appealing to those provinces and their values only. This ultimately lead to a battle for ontario where all the other provinces especially the west are ignored and alienated. There are also economic factors that play into western alienation. Alberta is the highest GPA per capita is Canada, however, we get punished for our prosperity via equalization payments, Canada is built up of “Have provinces” and “have not” the idea behind equalization payments is that the have provinces give out money to the have not provinces t spread the wealth across canada. Canadians is western Canada are impacted everyday because of their voice or lack thereof in Federal elections and economic inequity via equalization payments.

Important people involved in Western Alienation. The first Canadian Prime Minister was named John A Macdonald and he announced a \"National Policy\" to \"broaden the base of the Canadian economy and restore the confidence of Canadians in the development of their country.” this pushed a vision of national equality throughout canada and helped keep an economic balance between the provinces. When oil got pricy around the years 1979 and 1980 Pierre Trudeau introduced the NEP (National Energy Program). This program was meant to Have Canada own more oil and redistribute the wealth from the oil towards the government. People in the western areas of Canada were upset from this because there would be unfair revenue sharing. This relates to western alienation as it shows that western canada is being alienated by having their resources and wealth taken away from them without the proper consolation so they are losing valuable resources and not getting anything back in return.

Quotes that relate to Identity and Unity from western alienation Justin Trudeau said “We are moving forward to solve some of those challenges but it’s going to take all Canadians sticking together, helping out folks who are struggling in places like Alberta and Saskatchewan.” This quote from Justin Trudeau relates to Canadian unity as he is talking about Canadians sticking together and helping people out, specifically people in Alberta or Saskatchewan which are both in western Canada.

The Charter of Rights and freedoms The Charter of Rights and Freedoms was a huge leap forward in the development as a Nation. It was Created on April 17th 1982 by Prime Minister Pierre Elliott trudeau. The Charter of rights and freedoms has 7 categories which make up Canadian citizens rights and freedoms. Which are, Fundamental Freedoms, democratic rights, Mobility Rights, Legal rights, equality rights, language rights, and minority language education rights. These laws that govern us affect our everyday life and affect individuals in a positive way making sure they are not only protected but free as well.

People Involved in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms Pierre trudeau started Patriating the Canadian Constitution and took it out of the hands of the British Parliament. The government also decided to include within the Constitution a new Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Jean Chrétien helped negotiate the patriation of the Canadian constitution as well as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Quotes relating to Identity and Unity Pierre Trudeau said “There is no such thing as a model or ideal Canadian. What could be more absurd than the concept of an “all Canadian” boy or girl? Society which emphasizes uniformity is one which creates intolerance and hate.” Another quote from Pierre Trudeau is “I saw the charter as an expression of my long-held view that the subject of law must be the individual human being; the law must permit the individual to fulfil himself or herself to the utmost.”

The Great Flag Debate of 1964 The Canadian flag is a symbol of who we as Canadians have become today. Canada's old flag since 1867 was Britain's union flag. However, in 1925 Prime Minister Mackenzie King promoted the idea of a new flag and in 1945 it was created and featured a golden maple leaf, however, it was rejected. During Lester B Pearson Prime Minister term he presented the idea of a new flag once again. However he decided to let Canadian citizens participate in the design. This was a huge debate because Pearson needed to ensure the flag was fit to be Canada's new face. Once the idea of a new flag was approved by the committee a 15 person committee was given six weeks to chase the new design. Eventually it was narrowed down to two flags, the Pearson Pennant and the Stanley Flag and eventually on October 22nd 1964 the new flag was voted to be the Stanley Flag unanimously. The choice of a new Canadian flag united Canadians as it demonstrated our independence from britain as our own nation.

People involved in the Great Flag Debate of 1984 Prime Minister Mackenzie King (1921-1930 and (1935-1948) made the Canadian Red Ensign which is Canada’s official federal flag. It was used regularly on Canadian ships and federal buildings soon after. Prime Minister Lester B Pearson (1963-1958) insisted on a design that conveyed allegiance to Canada while avoiding colonial association. Then a debate in the house of commons happened and Historian Rick Archbold described it as “among the ugliest in the House of Commons history.”

Quotes that relate to Canadian Identity/Unity about the Great Flag Debate Lester B Pearson said \"I believe that today a flag designed around the Maple Leaf, will symbolise and be a true reflection of the new Canada.\" this represents Canadian Identity and unity as it shows how the new Canadian flag will unite Canadians and reflect their identity. Pierre Trudeau said that \"Quebec does not give a tinker's dam about the new flag,\" This shows Quebec's independence at the time and how they were not fully unified with the rest of Canada. It represented how Quebec also had a different Identity in how they wanted their provinces society to be. Quebec peoples wouldn’t care much about a canadian flag as they may not have considered themselves a whole part of Canada at the time.