Post-Confederation of Canada Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Post-Confederation of Canada - Essay Example Rowell-Sirois Commission (1937, report 1940) The famous great depression of 1930’s also affected Canada and it was due to the urgent need to address the economic challenges that faced the country that the Rowell-Sirois Commission was formed in 1937. The Commission was formed to devise permanent solutions that can prevent the country from experiencing another depression as it had been witnessed during the 1930s. The report, which the commission handed over to the government in 1940, is significant in the Canadian history since it is the report, which recommended that the federal government take full charge of workers’ pension scheme. Secondly, it is this report that made the federal government take full control of the unemployment insurance. Secondly, it recommended that the federal government create equalization payments and the disbursement of funds by the federal government to the provincial governments on a yearly basis. William Lyon Mackenzie King (1874-1950) Willia m Lyon Mackenzie commonly referred to as Mackenzie King was Canada’s 10th Prime Minister and the longest serving Prime Minister in Canada’s history who served for 22 years between 1921 through to 1948. According to political analysts, Mackenzie King did not have typical personal attributes of a great leader especially when compared to the his peers during this era, however, he was able to serve as the longest Prime Minister because of the wide variety of skills that he possessed, which resonated with the needs that Canada had during his era. He is most significant to the Canadian history because during his tenure he laid the foundation of the Canadian welfare state. Person’s case (1929) Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Emily Murphy and Irene Parlby, (the famous 5s), presented a petition on 18th October 1927that requested the Governor General to issue a directive to the Supreme Court in order for them determine whether women had the right or if they were eligible to become Senator under the British North America Act. This is because up until that time, women were regarded as â€Å"persons† who could not hold public offices as Canada Senators. The ruling in this petition is significant to the Canadian history as it recognized women as persons who were eligible for appointment to the Canadian Senate and it set forth the establishment of various women rights. NAFTA (1994) The North American Free Trade Agreement is an agreement that was signed by the United States, Mexico, and Canada on 1st January, 1994 creating a trilateral trading block in North America. The agreement was signed by the three countries in order to boost investment and trading between the three countries by eliminating some of the trade barrier that had previously existed in the region. According to economists, this agreement is particularly important in the Canadian history as it enabled the country to trade more thus boosts its gross domestic p roduct and overall economic condition. Louis Riel As previously mentioned, Louis Riel spearheaded the establishment of the government for the Province of Manitoba, and it is further noted that he was also a key figure in the Canadian history since he was the political and spiritual leader of the Metis people of the Canadian prairies. Louis Riel is also significant in the Canadia