Author: Dennis Gruending

Dennis Gruending is an author and blogger and a former Member of Parliament based in Ottawa, Canada.

Sundar Singh’s Plea for Sikh Justice in Canada

Early in the 20th century, Canada wanted to attract immigrants as workers and consumers. But the country did not want Asians as permanent residents, even though their labour was needed. The federal government passed laws to prevent the citizenship of Chinese and South Asians, and to prevent Asian women and wives from coming to Canada. In January 1912, Dr. Sundar Singh spoke to the Empire Club in Toronto. He challenged the law and prevailing attitudes against Sikhs.

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Maude Barlow’s Critique of NAFTA in 1992

In 1992, the Canadian, U.S., and Mexican governments were negotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement. Canadian civil society groups and many unions were opposed. They said the trade agreement would she jobs and undermine Canadian sovereignty. Maude Barlow, chair of the Council of Canadians presented those arguments to a House of Commons committee.

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Brian Mulroney’s Vision for Canada-U.S. Free Trade

Free trade with the U.S. has long been an issue in Canadian politics. When he ran for leader of the Progressive Conservatives in 1983, Brian Mulroney vigorously opposed any talk of free trade. But when he was later elected in 1984, he became an enthusiastic advocate. He gave this speech to a Chamber of Commerce gathering in Montreal in 1987.

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Why Sir John A. Macdonald refused free trade with the U.S.

Free trade, or reciprocity, with the U.S., was the big issue in Canada's federal election campaign in 1891. The Liberal-Reform Party led by Wilfrid Laurier was for it, and the Conservatives, led by their aging leader Sir John A. Macdonald, were opposed. Macdonald gave a famous speech saying no to what he said would result in Canada's being absorbed by the U.S. He won the election.

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Mackenzie King on conscription, April 1942

When Canada went to war in 1939, Prime Minister Mackenzie King promised there would be no military conscription for overseas service. But the war dragged on with no apparent victory in sight. In this speech on April 7, 1942, King asked Canadians to vote in a referendum, not on conscription, but rather to relieve the government from its earlier promise. Eventually, the government imposed conscription near the war’s end.

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Lester Pearson on a new flag, 1964

Canada's new maple leaf flag was adopted in late 1964 after months of bitter political debate between Prime Minister Lester Pearson and Opposition leader John Diefenbaker. Here is Pearson's speech to launch the flag debate in June 1964.

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Preston Manning, farewell, January 2001

Preston Manning founded the Reform Party of Canada in 1987. The party was reorganized as the Canadian Alliance in 2000. Manning lost the leadership contest to Stockwell Day but remained in parliament until his retirement in January 2002. This is his farewell speech.

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