POLITICAL CHANGES in the 50s and 60s

11:55- Birth of Newfoundland

• Unionize with Canada

• PM. Joey Smallwood N.F.L.

• Not everyone wanted this, some wanted independence as Newfoundlanders because they would “lose power”, rather than be Canadians

• Either become a colony, a nation or become one with Canada

• In the end, Confederation win with 52% of the vote

• Newfoundland joins Canada

• National Significance

• Newfoundland joining the Confederation was symbolic because Canada’s relationship with Britain as a colony deteriorating.

• United the country from coast to coast

Bill of Rights

-PM John Diefenbaker brought forth the law 

--First federal law to protect the human rights of Canadians at the federal level

-It served as a precursor to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms

-The Bill of Rights was weak as it did not apply to provincial law. (Your rights are not protected if committing a provincial offense.)

• National Significance

• The Bill protects the rights to equality before the law and ensures the protection of the law.

• Helps establish Canada as a country that stands for Human Rights

Flag Debate

• P.M. Lester Pearson asked to make a new flag and was met with booing.

• Opposition Leader Dean Baker insults Lester Pearson

• Protests and fist-fights were consequences

• Canadian Peace-keepers in Suez were resisted by Egyptians because they had the Britain Flag

• George Stanley, Dean of Arts, created the first iteration of the Canadian Flag

• Votes were unanimous, the Present Flag was made real 65’

• Stanley’s family was harassed with death threats 

• International Significance

• The Creation of the Canadian Flag is symbolic because it represents Canada’s growth as an independent nation with the removal of the Union Jack.

•  Created Unity issues, but also helped national unity in the long run