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1967-Present: Overview / Multi-Racial Canada / Refugee Crisis / Quebec and Immigration
Overview
The era of post-war affluence came to an end in 1973, when recession hit the Canadian economy. As Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell markedly by 1974, the economy began a remarkable slow-down. By 1982, the Canadian recession hit lows not experienced since the Great Depression years. High levels of unemployment were accompanied by serious inflation (an economic problem termed "stagflation"). Mounting national debts and the beginning of a turn to fiscal conservatism, reinforced by similar trends in the United States and Britain, raised new questions about Canada's economic policies and prompted the federal government to curb further expansion of government services and to retrench social programs. Constitutional crises accompanied these economic problems. Growing political disaffection within Quebec and the rise of separatism led to bitter debate both inside and outside the province.
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Stagflation, 1970-1980. "Stagflation," a term economists use to refer to the rare combination of high inflation and slow economic growth, existed in Canada in the 1970s and early 1980s. Normally, high inflation reflects a growing economy, marked by low or declining unemployment. |
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National Archives of Canada (PA-115039, photo by Duncan Cameron). |
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René Lévesque, Montreal,
QC, Lévesque, leader of the Parti Québécois, became premier of Quebec in 1976 on a platform of "sovereignty association," a form of separatism in which Quebec would become politically autonomous but still maintain economic ties with Canada. |
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1945-1967: Policy Practise