● Introduction
● Political Geography
● From Junior Partner to Middle Power
● Canada's Military Commitments
● Canadian-American Relations
● Overseas Development Programs

From Junior Partner to Middle Power

Although no wars have been fought on Canadian soil since the early 19th century, Canada has sent forces abroad in many instances. Participation has often provoked controversy. In both world wars, when Canada entered into what Prime Minister Wilfred Laurier (who served between 1896 and 1911) famously called "the vortex of European militarism", leaders faced political problems at home.

Prime Minister Wilfred Laurier

In 1914, when the World War I broke out in Europe, Canada had an army of only 3000 men. Initially, only volunteers were sent to fight, but as the war dragged on for years, it became necessary to draft fighters. In 1917 the Canadian government introduced conscription, which provoked a huge debate in the country: French Canadians in particular were unwilling to become involved in the European squabbles and did not want to fight under the British flag. A bitterly divisive battle ensued, with French Canadian boys forced to fight in Europe or face arrest at home. Bitterness ran so deep in Quebec that some

Anti-Conscription Rally in Quebec City during World War II

Members of the Royal Canadian Air Force Embark for England in February, 1940, to 'Do their Bit' during WWII

historians cite the Conscription Crisis as the point at which Canada truly became a country of two nations—French and English. Up until World War II, Canada, like Australia and New Zealand, was still considered to be very much influenced by the policies of the British motherland. When Winston Churchill made his famous “Britain stands alone” speech after the fall of France to the Nazis, of course Britain was not strictly standing alone: there were thousands of troops from former colonies helping. The huge contributions these countries made to the Allied war effort earned them a degree of respect and independence they hadn't enjoyed before. Just as many young boys returned from the war as men, Canada emerged from World War II as a full-fledged and sovereign state.

In the 1950s, Canada entered into what is now regarded as its golden age of international diplomacy. Canada became very active in the United Nations and the Commonwealth, and grew economically strong. The period was

L.B. Pearson at Security Council Meeting, United Nations, Lake Success, New York, 1949

perhaps capped by Canada's role in the Suez Crisis of 1956, when British and French planes attacked Egypt's Suez Canal in order to safeguard their economic interests, and the US disagreed with this "imperialist" action. The crisis was defused when Canada proposed that a UN peacekeeping force be introduced into the troubled region until a diplomatic settlement could be reached, and offered to supply troops. For this, the External Affairs Minister, Lester Pearson, earned a Nobel Peace Prize. In the 1960s, Canada began to

Lester Pearson Addressing an Ottawa Press Conference on Canada's Suez Policy and the Suez Crisis, 1956

steer a more independent course in world affairs, proving that it was no mere appendage of US Cold War policy. Lester Pearson moved from foreign minister to prime minister (1963-1968), and carried on his agenda of liberal internationalism. He was followed by perhaps Canada's best-known world leader, Pierre Trudeau (1968-1984), who worked especially hard to give Canada a foreign policy distinctive from the US. More recently, while Canada has not had such a high profile internationally, it nevertheless continues to be active in the international arena.

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