~ an Historical Sidebar ~

"What will be the consequences of industrial reciprocity?...the factories of Canada will lose the advantages....they now posess...and eventually the largest manufacturing industries will be concentrated in the U.S....that is to say, our annihilation as a country." George-Etienne Cartier

The struggle to realize The Dream of Canada goes back long before my time...
In fact, it began even before Canada was born as a nation-state!

1) Birth Pains: The Fight for Canadian Sovereignty

1690- a fleet leaves Boston to attack Quebec; troops from New York move overland to Montreal. Canada fought this invasion and won.
1711- 45 American ships set out to attack Quebec while troops move overland to attack Montreal. A storm hit the fleet and they withdrew.
1755- Invading American soldiers are ambushed and beaten back by French, Indians, and Canadians.
1775- Montreal taken by General Montgomery. Only Quebec city stood in the way of annexation. But on May 6, 1776 British ships arrive at Quebec. The Americans were defeated.
1812- The loss of The War of 1812 deflected American expansionism from north to south (Florida from Spain) and southwest. (Texas from Mexico). But U.S. designs on Canada were by no means over...
1867 - CANADA BECOMES A NATION! The Dream of Canada is born! Did our American neighbours help us celebrate? In response to the passing of the British North America Act, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passes a resolution of "extreme solicitude", condemning the formation of Canada as a seperate nation.

2) Growing Pains: Early Free Trade Wars

1783 - The Treaty of Paris. Having failed through force, the Americans attempt diplomacy - and win! By the treaty, Canada lost forever all its territory between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers (Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana). All of this territory was "surrendered to an enemy which had been incapable of effecting the capture of a single one of them."

1844 - Polk became U.S. President on the slogan "54 40 or Fight", claiming all the west coast of North America up to Alaska: so the U.S. succeeded in getting, without a struggle, the harbour at Seattle, the entire Columbia Valley, Washington, Oregon, Idaho.

1847 - The repeal of the Corn Laws. Result: "Property in most of the Canadian towns, and more especially in the capital [Montreal] has fallen 50% in value... Three-fourths of the commercial men are bankrupt, owing to free trade." -- Lord Elgin, Governor-General of Canada (1849)

1854 - The 'Reciprocity' Treaty. Results: U.S. lumber companies and fisheries gained, Canadians lost. Exports from Canada to the U.S. consisted almost entirely of raw materials.

1891 - Canada's first 'free trade' election. In 1887 most provinces call for free trade with the U.S. A strong battle ensued, but free trade was defeated.

1911 - Canada's second free trade election - again defeated. This put an end to talk of free trade for more than 20 years.

1935 - The Canada-U.S. 'Reciprocal' Trade Agreement. Exports of Canadian raw materials increased rapidly, and imports of finished products from the U.S. grew. Rather than using our own raw materials to build finished products, the agreement set in place the economic structure that allowed American capital to take over large parts of the Canadian economy during the next 50 years.

Next: Free Trade.