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News in ReviewResource GuideDecember 2007

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Copyright © 2007 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

CreditsResource Guide Writers: Jill Colyer, Sean Dolan, Peter Flaherty, Jim L’AbbéCopy Editor and Desktop Publisher: Susan RosenthalResource Guide Graphics: Laraine Bone Production Assistant: Carolyn McCarthyResource Guide Editor: Don QuinlanSupervising Manager: Karen BowerHost: Carla RobinsonSenior Producer: Nigel GibsonProducer: Lou Kovacs Video Writers: Mark Harrison, Jennifer Harwood, Nigel Gibson Director: Ian CooperGraphic Artist: Mark W. HarveyEditor: David Smith

News in Review, December 20071. Harper’s Throne Speech Challenge (Start: 00:25; Length: 12:16)2. State of Emergency in Pakistan (Start: 12:53; Length: 13:09)3. Quebec’s Big Accommodation Debate (Start: 26:15; Length: 14:17)4. Lake Superior: Where Did the Water Go? (Start: 40:44; Length: 16:32)

CBC News in Review • December 2007 • Page 3

ContentsIn This Issue . . . ......................................................................................... 4

HARPER’S THRONE SPEECH CHALLENGE ................................ 6Introduction ..............................................................................................................6Video Review ...........................................................................................................8Throne Speech Highlights ......................................................................................10The Throne Speech ................................................................................................13Voices: Before and After the Throne Speech .........................................................15

STATE OF EMERGENGY IN PAKISTAN .................................... 17Introduction ............................................................................................................17Video Review .......................................................................................................19Modern Pakistan: A Timeline of Important Events ................................................21In the Line of Fire: A Profile of Pervez Musharraf ................................................23Daughter of Destiny: A Profile of Benazir Bhutto .................................................26Musharraf’s Supporters and Opponents .................................................................29Activity: What Should Canada Do about Pakistan? ..............................................31

QUEBEC’S BIG ACCOMMODATION DEBATE ......................... 32Introduction ............................................................................................................32Video Review .........................................................................................................34Determining What is “Reasonable” .......................................................................36The Quebec Challenge ...........................................................................................38Multiculturalism in Canada ....................................................................................39A Range of Opinion ...............................................................................................41Sources of Fear ......................................................................................................43Activity: A Multicultural Code of Conduct ...........................................................45

LAKE SUPERIOR: WHERE DID THE WATER GO? ................... 46Introduction ............................................................................................................46Video Review .........................................................................................................48Profile of the Great Lakes ......................................................................................49The Importance of Lake Superior ..........................................................................51Why? ......................................................................................................................53Can Anything Be Done? ........................................................................................55Activity: Who Pulled the Plug? .............................................................................57

News in Review Index ............................................................................ 58


NiR Study ModulesUsing print and video material from archival issues of News in Review, teachers and students can create thematic modules for independent assignments, and small group study.

NiR Study ModulesThe Budget: Countdown to an Election?

April 2007The Liberals Choose a New Leader

December 2006Taking Over: Canada’s New Government

June 2006Stephen Harper: The Path to Power

March 2006Winter Vote: The 2006 Federal Election

February 2006Canada Votes: A Liberal Minority

September 2004

Related CBC VideosIntro to the House of Commons

STATE OF EMERGENCY IN PAKISTAN (Start: 12:53; Length: 13:09)In early November, Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf declared emergency rule and suspended the country’s constitution. Musharraf said it was necessary to deal with a wave of extremist violence. But the move was widely condemned by many countries, including Canada. In this News in Review story we’ll look at the crisis in Pakistan and what it could mean for the future of that troubled region.

Related CBC VideosOther videos available from CBC Learning; see the back cover for contact details.

HARPER’S THRONE SPEECH CHALLENGE (Start: 00:25; Length: 12:16)In late October, the Conservative government outlined its plans in a Throne Speech. Prime Minister Harper also announced that if any of the promised legislation was defeated it would trigger a federal election. In this News in Review story we’ll look at the government’s Throne Speech and how the opposition parties reacted to the Prime Minister’s challenge.

In This Issue . . .

NiR Study ModulesLondon Bombers: Alienation and Terror

September 2006Kashmir Quake: Disaster in South Asia

November 2005London Bombs: A Summer of Terror

November 2005

The Conservative Party Chooses a Leader April 2004

Uniting the Right: Federal Politics Transformed, November 2003

Steven Harper: Leading the Alliance May 2002

Routing the Taliban, December 2001Terrorist Attack: The Retaliation

November 2001The Indian Subcontinent: Turning 50

October 1997


Sections marked with this symbol contain content suitable for younger viewers.

QUEBEC’S BIG ACCOMMODATION DEBATE (Start: 26:15; Length: 14:17)In Quebec a two-person commission is holding public hearings into how immigrants should fit in and what if anything their new society should do to accommodate them. The hearings have caused a storm of controversy in the province, with critics accusing them of fostering intolerance. In this News in Review story we’ll travel to the small town of Herouxville to try to understand what’s behind Quebec’s big debate.

NiR Study ModulesThe Act that Made Us Canadian

October 2007Quebecers Vote in a Provincial Election

April 2007Michaëlle Jean: Our Governor General

November 2006To Stay or Go: Quebec Ten Years Later

December 2005

LAKE SUPERIOR: WHERE DID THE WATER GO? (Start: 40:44; Length: 16:32)Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world. But in recent years a lot of that water has been disappearing at an alarming rate. Trillions of litres of water have simply vanished. Some scientists blame it on global warming, but many waterfront homeowners believe that something else is going on. In this News in Review story we’ll look at the mystery of the missing water in the greatest of the Great Lakes.

Related CBC VideosBetrayed: Water TrustBig Thirst: The Coming DroughtGeologic JourneyWater: To the Last DropH

2O

NiR Study ModulesGoing Green to Fight Global Warming

October 2007Dangers of Global Warming, May 2007A Call for Action on Climate Change

March 2007The Big Melt: Canada’s Changing Arctic

September 2006After Kyoto: Trying to Cool the Planet

February 2006Water Fight: A Tale of Two Rivers

December 2004 Kyoto: The Battle Lines Are Drawn

December 2002

Related CBC VideosBreaking PointLittle Mosque on the Prairie


FocusThis News in Review story looks at the Harper government’s fall 2007 Throne Speech. Drawing on public reluctance for a third election in three and a half years, the Harper Conservatives put forward a bold agenda and dared the opposition parties to bring down their minority government.

Further ResearchThe complete text and video of the Speech from the Throne may be read at www.sft-ddt.gc.ca/eng/index.asp.

HARPER’S THRONE SPEECH CHALLENGE

For people who like watching political chess played out in the halls of power, Ottawa was the place to be in the fall of 2007. Despite public opinion polls that suggested a fall election might not give him a majority, Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a number of bold political moves that put the Liberals on the defensive and reduced his other political opponents to mere voices crying in the wilderness. The Prime Minister flexed his political muscles and watched his challengers cower in confusion.

Laying the GroundworkPrime Minister Stephen Harper, an accomplished political strategist according to many pundits, was in high gear in the lead-up to his government’s Speech from the Throne. Sensing opposition vulnerability, Harper sought to outmaneuver the opposition going into the next session of Parliament. First, he met with the media and warned that his Throne Speech had better be accepted both after its reading and during its implementation period or Canadians would be going to the polls.

Harper was aware of two things: he could blame the opposition for triggering an election if they rejected his Throne Speech agenda and the electorate was likely to turn on the party who forced them to the polls for the third time in three and a half years. Next, Harper made it clear that he felt Canada should remain in Afghanistan until 2011. But, in order to be fair, he would ask a blue-ribbon study group to examine the issue before he put an extension of the Afghan mission to a vote in the House of Commons.

In an apparent slap in the face of his Liberal rivals, Harper appointed former Chrétien cabinet minister John Manley to the panel. Finally, he began acting

Introductionas if he had a majority in the House of Commons. He refused to meet with Stéphane Dion, the Liberal leader and Leader of the Official Opposition, prior to the reading of the Throne Speech. He even refused to entertain the idea of amendments to any aspect of the Throne Speech. In essence, Harper threw down the gauntlet and dared his opponents—particularly the Liberals—to cross him.

The Throne SpeechA shell-shocked opposition watched the Governor General read the Speech from the Throne and hoped that they wouldn’t be forced to topple Harper. The speech itself set out five priorities: making Canada stronger at home and abroad, strengthening federal-provincial relations, reducing taxes, setting new environmental goals, and establishing a plan to get tough on crime.

Most Canadians greeted the Throne Speech with mild ambivalence to its contents and visible anxiety at the prospect of another election. For their part, the opposition parties demonstrated a mixed reaction. The New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Bloc Québécois (BQ) immediately told reporters that they would vote against the Harper agenda. Meanwhile the Liberals hinted that they would not vote against it, but did not come out and commit to détente in the battle with Harper’s Conservatives.

According to backroom Liberals, Stéphane Dion was ready to go the polls. Harper had gone too far to embarrass them—particularly in his Throne Speech comment that all but declared that Canada had abandoned the Kyoto Protocol (a Dion achievement) by failing to reduce greenhouse emissions during the previous decade (when the Liberals were in power). News reports confirmed


Further ResearchTo stay informed about the activities of Canada’s major federal parties, consider regular visits to their official Web sites: Conservative Party (www.conservative.ca), Liberal Party (www.liberal.ca), New Democratic Party (www.ndp.ca), Bloc Québécois (www.blocquebecois.org) and Green Party (www.greenparty.ca).

that Dion had to be talked out of bringing down the government and, by the time the Throne Speech was put to a vote, the Liberals were saying things like “there’s no poison pill here” and “Canadians are electioned-out” to put their supporters at ease (cbc.ca: “No ‘poisoned pills’ in Throne Speech: Ignatieff”). To demonstrate their protest but not cause an election, the Liberals chose to abstain from voting on the Throne Speech. Thus, the Harper agenda was allowed to move forward.

Essentially the Liberals found themselves caught between the so-called rock and a hard place. To bring down the Harper Conservatives would surely mean defeat in the next election. Canadians were tired of federal elections and, with two provinces (Ontario and Saskatchewan) coming out of fall elections, the Liberals could get slaughtered at the polls for triggering another vote.

Then there was the problem of Dion himself. Conservative attack ads painted him as incompetent. Though Canadians aren’t particularly fond of attack ads, Dion’s autumn performance was anything but stellar. When asked if he would vote against the Throne Speech, Dion was initially elusive, which did not play well in the press. Later, when asked about the hated Goods and Services Tax (GST), Dion suggested that he would consider reversing Conservative GST cuts and return the tax to seven per cent if elected—a position his caucus

comrades scrambled to correct after Dion’s statement. Then, when former prime minister Brian Mulroney was accused of shady business practices, Dion stood up in the House of Commons and demanded a full public inquiry—after Harper had just announced he was calling a public inquiry into the matter.

Full Steam AheadMeanwhile, the Conservatives were able to put in motion their Throne Speech plans. The timing of widespread tax cuts left the opposition vulnerable through the spring, with retroactive income-tax cuts that promised to put hundreds of dollars in refunds back into taxpayer bank accounts. An omnibus crime bill passed with some rumblings, and election speculation soon petered out. A plan to build an Arctic research centre stood to improve Canada’s standing in the Far North, and the federal-provincial program announcement seemed to ease the often volatile relationship between Ottawa and the provinces. In terms of Afghanistan, Harper’s team made it clear they wanted to stay until 2011. But they would wait for the report of the blue-ribbon study group and then debate the issue in the House. By the time the first snow flakes fell, the chess match was over. The Harper challenge had been met with weakness by some and surrender by others. This left the Conservatives awash in confidence going into 2008.

DefinitionAn omnibus bill refers to a proposed law that contains many proposals on a certain theme, such as crime. It is sometimes used by a government to cow the opposition by presenting it with an “all or nothing” strategy.

Questions 1. What groundwork did Harper’s Conservatives lay down to ensure the

passage of the Throne Speech?

2. How did the opposition react to the Throne Speech?

3. Describe the Liberal conundrum and Stéphane Dion’s performance in and around the time of the Throne Speech.

Follow up1. “Full steam ahead” is an idiom. Use a dictionary to define the word idiom.

What is meant by the idiom full steam ahead?

2. There are two more idioms used in this story: “throw down the gauntlet” and “between a rock and a hard place.” What do these idioms mean?

http://www.conservative.ca



http://www.blocquebecois.org

http://www.blocquebecois.org


HARPER’S THRONE SPEECH CHALLENGEVideo ReviewWatch the video and answer the following questions.

1. What is a Throne Speech?

2. What challenge did Prime Minister Harper issue to his opponents prior to delivering the Throne Speech?

3. a) What would voting against the Throne Speech mean for the future of Harper’s government?

b) What is a confidence vote?

4. a) In the speech itself, the Harper government identifies a number of priorities. What are the government’s plans for the following:

Afghanistan

The Arctic

The Environment

Taxation

Crime

b) Identify the Throne Speech issues that were of concern to the following people:

Amanda Taylor _______________________________________________________

Phillip and Alberta Ferguson ___________________________________________

Korin Eggington ______________________________________________________

Dustin Taylor _________________________________________________________

5. What course of action did Stéphane Dion opt for in response to a vote on the Throne Speech?


6. How did Prime Minister Harper respond to Dion’s criticism of his government’s Throne Speech?

7. How did each of the main political parties respond to the speech?

The NDP _____________________________________________________________

The Bloc Québécois ___________________________________________________

The Liberals __________________________________________________________

8. What does the commentator mean at the end of the documentary when she says “the game of political chicken is far from over”?

9. In your opinion, which political party gained the most during the Throne Speech skirmishing in the fall of 2007? Why?


HARPER’S THRONE SPEECH CHALLENGEThrone Speech HighlightsReview the following Throne Speech highlights and complete the activity that follows.

A Stronger Canada: The Arctic and the ProvincesArctic Sovereignty• Open an Arctic research station in

Canada’s Far North

• Complete a detailed map of Canada’s Arctic seabed

• Deploy Arctic patrol ships and increase aerial surveillance of Canada’s Arctic

Federal-Provincial Relations• The federal government’s ability to

spend money on shared-cost programs in provincial jurisdictions will be limited

• Provinces and territories will be allowed to opt out of compatible government programs with compensation from the federal government

Afghanistan• Extend the Canadian mission in

Afghanistan from February 2009 to March 2011

• Focus of the mission: training the Afghan army and police

• Hold a vote in the House of Commons following the release of a blue-ribbon study group looking into the issue

Fighting Crime• Re-introduce crime fighting laws that

did not pass before the summer recess in one omnibus piece of legislation called the Tackling Violent Crime Bill

• Toughen laws dealing with impaired driving

• Toughen the Youth Criminal Justice Act

• Raise the age of sexual consent from 14 to 16

• Create stricter bail conditions for people charged with violent crimes

• Impose mandatory prison sentences for people convicted of gun crimes

Improving the Environment• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by

60 to 70 per cent by 2050

• Phase one of the plan would see greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 20 per cent by 2020

The Economy• $60-billion in tax cuts over the next

six years (see October 2007 Economic Statement below)

The October 2007 Economic Statement Two weeks after the Throne Speech, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty issued his government’s economic statement outlining the state of the Canadian economy and how the Harper Conservatives planned to introduce new tax cuts totalling $60-billion over the next six years. Flaherty had the luxury of working with a $13.8-billion budget surplus—over $4-billion higher than projected in Harper’s March budget.• GST to be reduced to 5 per cent from

6 per cent effective January 2008; the government projects that $12-billion will flow into the economy as a result of the GST reduction

• The basic personal amount of earning prior to taxes is increased to $9 600 retroactive to January 2007; further increase to $10 100 slated for January 2009

Throne Speech Quote“Defending our sovereignty in the North also maintains the capacity to act. New Arctic patrol ships and expanded aerial surveillance will guard Canada’s Far North and the Northwest Passage.”

Throne Speech Quote“Our Government does not believe that Canada should simply abandon the people of Afghanistan after February 2009. Canada should build on its accomplishments and shift to accelerate the training of Afghan army and police so that the Afghan government can defend its own sovereignty.”

Throne Speech Quote“Unfortunately much of this legislation did not pass. That is not good enough to maintain the confidence of Canadians.”


• The lowest personal income tax rate is reduced by half a percentage point to 15 per cent retroactive to January 2007; income tax cuts stand to put $200 back in the hands of Canadians making close to $40 000

• Reduction of the corporate income tax rate to 15 per cent by 2012 (from

22 per cent in 2007) with a 1 per cent reduction starting in 2008

• Reduction of the small business income tax rate to 11 per cent in 2008 (one year ahead of schedule)

Source: Department of Finance Canada, “Government of Canada is reducing taxes to lowest level in 50 years.” (November 21, 2007)

ActivityMake and complete a chart that examines the pros and cons of the Harper agenda. The chart should be structured as follows:

Theme Pros Cons

A Stronger Canada: The Arctic / Federal-Provincial Relations

Afghanistan

Fighting Crime

The Environment

The Economy/Tax Relief

Throne Speech Quote“Canada’s emissions cannot be brought to the level required under the Kyoto Protocol within the compliance period…”

Throne Speech QuotesSource for all Throne Speech quotes: cbc.ca. “Throne Speech zeroes in on taxes, crime, extending Afghan mission” (October 16, 2007)


HARPER’S THRONE SPEECH CHALLENGEThe Throne Speech

What is a Speech from the Throne?Every time a new parliamentary session opens, a speech outlining the Government’s agenda is read to members of Parliament. Because Canada is a constitutional monarchy, the speech is read by the Queen’s representative: the Governor General at the federal level or the Lieutenant Governor at the provincial and territorial level. The speech itself is written by the Government—the ruling party that won the most seats in the House of Commons in the previous election. The speech is an extremely important vision statement for the ruling party. It essentially is a public declaration of what the Government plans on doing for Canadians on both domestic and foreign fronts. In the case of the Harper government’s 2007 Throne Speech, the ruling Conservatives focused on five priorities: the war in Afghanistan, making Canada stronger, the environment, taxation, and crime.

What Happens on the Day of the Throne Speech?In the fall of 2007, the Harper government delivered its second Throne Speech. The Speech from the Throne is a major event in Ottawa, filled with pomp and tradition. About an hour before the speech, Governor General Michaëlle Jean left her residence in Rideau Hall and was taken by horse-drawn carriage to Parliament Hill. Four Mounties in full dress uniform accompanied her on the short journey. Upon her arrival, she inspected a Canadian Forces honour guard and, prior to her entry into the Parliament building, she was given a 21-gun salute. Once inside, Her Excellency was greeted by Prime Minister Harper

and began to prepare for the procession to the Senate chamber.

Tradition dictates that the Throne Speech must be delivered in the Senate because the Queen and her representatives are not allowed in the House of Commons. Tradition also dictates that members of the House of Commons are not allowed to enter the Senate chamber, so the ceremonial gatekeeper of the Senate, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, plays the role of inviting the Governor General, the Prime Minister, dignitaries, and members of the House of Commons into the Senate. The Usher of the Black Rod is the only person who is allowed to enter both the Senate and the House of Commons, and parliamentarians are only allowed into the Senate on the Usher’s invitation.

On the day in question, the procession began with the Usher of the Black Rod, Terrance Christopher, leaving the Senate and proceeding down the hallway to the main doors of the House of Commons. Upon his arrival, the Usher knocked on the door of the House three times with a three-foot-long ceremonial black rod. People outside the House could hear the door being unlocked before the Usher of the Black Rod was greeted by the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House, Kevin Vickers. The Sergeant-at-Arms turned and asked the Speaker of the House if the Usher of the Black Rod could enter the House. Once permission was granted, the Sergeant-at-Arms escorted the Usher of the Black Rod inside and, shortly thereafter, the members of the House of Commons prepared to leave the assembly.

The Usher of the Black Rod then left the House of Commons and proceeded to the Senate chamber followed by the Governor General, the Prime Minister,

Further ResearchTo learn more about the nature and workings of Canada’s Parliament, visit the official parliamentary Web site at www.parl.gc.ca. If you would like to know more about the mother of all Parliaments, consider a visit to the Web site of the British Parliament at www.parliament.uk.

Did you know . . . In England, the knock of the Usher of the Black Rod is traditionally greeted with a slamming of the door of the House in the face of the Usher. However, in Canada, the Usher simply encounters a locked door signifying the elected members’ right to govern without the intervention of the Queen.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/

http://www.parl.gc.ca/

http://www.parliament.uk/

http://www.parliament.uk/


gathered dignitaries, and members of the House of Commons. Once inside, the stage was set for the reading of the Speech from the Throne. Michaëlle Jean read the speech for about 40 minutes. She sat on a throne made of oak that is reserved for the head of state or his/her

representative. Once the speech was completed, the Usher of the Black Rod instructed the members of the House of Commons to leave the Senate. Then, he led the Governor General, the Prime Minister, and the dignitaries out of the chamber.

Further ResearchA visit to the Privy Council Office at www.pco-bcp.gc.ca can lead to a review of several previous examples of Speeches from the Throne. Questions

1. Why is the Speech from the Throne so important to Canadians?

2. Describe some of the tradition and ceremony that accompanies the Throne Speech.

3. Who is the Usher of the Black Rod? Describe his responsibilities.

4. Who is the Sergeant-at-Arms?

5. What role does the Governor General play in the Throne Speech?

6. What is your personal opinion of the many formalities and traditions that surround the reading of the Speech from the Throne? Explain fully.

http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/

http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/


HARPER’S THRONE SPEECH CHALLENGEVoices: Before and After the Throne SpeechReview the following quotes and complete the activity that follows.

Rumblings before the Throne SpeechPrior to the Speech from the Throne, Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a number of warnings to the opposition parties in Ottawa. Here are two of his warnings:

“The choice is: You either force us to election or give us this mandate.”

“You know, there is a fish or cut bait on this. You can’t pass the Throne Speech one day and the next day say, ‘Well, we didn’t actually mean to do it or we didn’t actually give you a mandate.’ We will take it as a mandate, and we will take it as an ongoing question of confidence to get those things done.”

The Speech from the ThroneOn the day of the Throne Speech, Governor General Michaëlle Jean delivered the Harper agenda in the Senate chamber of the House of Commons. Here are a few excerpts:

“The Speech from the throne is an important moment in our country’s democratic life.”

“It is now widely understood that, because of inaction on greenhouse gases over the last decade, Canada’s emissions cannot be brought to the level required under the Kyoto Protocol within the compliance period, which begins on January 1, 2008, just 77 days from now.”

“In the last session, our Government introduced important and timely legislation to tackle violent crime. Unfortunately, most of this legislation

did not pass. That is not good enough to maintain the confidence of Canadians. Our Government will immediately re-introduce these measures with a single comprehensive Tackling Violent Crime Bill.”

After the Throne SpeechAfter the Speech from the Throne was delivered, Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion found himself in a difficult situation. Opposing the speech by way of a vote in the House of Commons would bring down the government, thus triggering an election that public opinion polls clearly suggested Canadians did not want. This dilemma put Dion on the defensive. Here are a few quotes delivered in the aftermath of the Throne Speech:

“We know that Canadians want as a priority this Parliament to work. They don’t want a third election in three years and a half. So we’ll have a real lively caucus tomorrow.” — Stéphane Dion, Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Party

“We are looking at what we think of as a disappointing speech, a vague speech. . . . I don’t see any poisoned pills here, I see studied ambiguity.” — Michael Ignatieff, Liberal MP

“I told you two days ago I was a hawk. . . [T]hat remains my position, and I think that the Government . . . needs to be brought down.” — Garth Turner, Liberal MP

“Never before has a federal Government fallen on the basis of a Throne Speech.” — Stéphane Dion

DefinitionA caucus refers to the gathering of the legislative members of a single political party. Canadian caucuses meet regularly to discuss issues and plan strategy.


“It is up to us, our caucus, to decide whether the time has come to have an election. In our judgment, I think in Canadian judgment, it is not that time.” — Stéphane Dion

“[Dion] . . . reminded me a little bit of the professor who goes through your term paper and marks all over it everything he disagrees with it, but then passes you anyway.” — Prime Minister Stephen Harper responding to Dion’s criticisms of the Throne Speech

QuoteAlthough the Green Party does not have a seat in the House of Commons, its leader, Elizabeth May, still commented on the political wheeling and dealing around the Speech from the Throne. She noted: “We no longer have time for political games. We have to move decisively to protect our children’s future” (www.greenparty.ca/en/node/3039).

“We will be seeking timely passage of this legislation, and as is the case with confidence measures, the Government will not accept amendments to the substance of these initiatives.” — Prime Minister Stephen Harper

“. . . our members will be in place for each and every vote, and we will rise when it is our turn to vote and demonstrate clearly our opposition to the wrong direction that this Government is taking Canada.” — Jack Layton, Leader of the NDP

Source: CBC News in Review, November 2007; cbc.ca

Activity 1. Review the quotes in the first section. Identify the specific warnings that

Harper is issuing to his opponents. Why do you think he was so confident?

2. Review the quotes in the second section entitled “The Speech from the Throne.” What is the deeper meaning or subtext behind each quote?

3. Review the quotes in the third section entitled “After the Throne Speech.” Describe the attitude of the Liberals, Conservatives, and the NDP.

http://www.greenparty.ca/en/node/3039

http://www.greenparty.ca/en/node/3039


HARPER’S THRONE SPEECH CHALLENGEWriting ActivityIn the Speech from the Throne delivered in the fall of 2007, the Harper government identified five priorities:

• Making Canada stronger both at home (particularly in the Arctic) and abroad (specifically in Afghanistan)

• Making the Canadian federation stronger by supporting the provinces

• Providing economic leadership in the form of responsible spending and tax relief

• Fighting crime

• Improving the environment

Your TaskWrite your own Speech from the Throne and present it to your class.

Note: You can use the themes listed above or you can create other themes if you like. For example, in the aftermath of the reading of the Throne Speech, Liberals vowed to come up with a plan to fight poverty. You may wish to review the fall 2007 Speech from the Throne at www.sft-ddt.gc.ca/eng/index.asp.

Preparation• Form a group of four or five.

• Review the information found in this News in Review video and Resource Guide.

• Brainstorm ideas related to your themes. Each group member can take responsibility for a theme.

• Come up with a rough draft of an action plan of proposals dealing with your themes.

Write and Present Your Speech• Each group member will take the information gathered during the research

phase and write the section regarding their theme for the group’s Speech from the Throne. (Length: 100-200 words per section)

• Read your speech to the class.

• Conduct a mock news conference where you answer questions from your classmates defending your speech.

ExtensionYou may wish to send a copy of your Speech from the Throne to either a local newspaper or perhaps the Prime Minister’s office itself.

You can send your comments by e-mail to [email protected] or write or fax the Prime Minister’s office at: Office of the Prime Minister 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2 Fax: 613-941-6900

mailto:[email protected]


STATE OF EMERGENGY IN PAKISTANIntroduction

FocusThis News in Review story focuses on the ongoing political turbulence in Pakistan, where a state of emergency has been imposed. The potential for instability in that country and its neighbours, such as Afghanistan and India, is explored.

On November 28, 2007, Pakistan’s embattled president, Pervez Musharraf, said a tearful farewell to the armed forces he had led for almost a decade. Bowing to intense domestic and international pressure, he agreed to remove his army uniform in order to serve a second term as the civilian president of his troubled nation. But Musharraf’s move was viewed as “too little, too late” by his many political enemies inside the country, who remained skeptical of his motives and ultimate intentions. For on November 3 he had imposed a state of emergency, effectively suspending the constitution and empowering the police and armed forces to detain anyone suspected of opposing his rule. Musharraf justified this draconian move in a nationwide address to his people. He argued that it was the only way to deal with the rising threat of extremist Islamic groups operating within the country. He claimed that these factions, closely tied to international terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda and the Taliban forces fighting NATO troops in neighbouring Afghanistan, posed a mortal threat to Pakistan’s security.

However, to his opponents, Musharraf’s action seemed more likely inspired by his desire to curb legal challenges to his controversial re-election as president in October. He had dismissed the chief justice of the Supreme Court, Iftikhar Chaudhry, who had questioned the legality of Musharraf’s re-election, and replaced him and other judicial officials with hand-picked replacements who were sure to uphold his right to claim a second term in office. In the ensuing outcry over this high-handed act, many lawyers and journalists staged noisy demonstrations outside the court offices, which were broken up by the police.

Meanwhile, as demonstrations erupted throughout the country, and Musharraf’s opponents of various political stripes took to the streets in protest, two of the general’s most prominent rivals returned to the country from exile. Benazir Bhutto, the daughter of a former prime minister and twice prime minister herself, arrived to a tumultuous welcome by supporters of her Pakistan People’s Party. However, her return was marred by a serious assassination attempt when her motorcade was the target of a deadly bomb attack as it proceeded slowly through the packed streets of Karachi. Bhutto escaped injury, but over 140 of her supporters were killed in the blast. Later in November, another former leader, Nawaz Sharif, also returned from exile, in Saudi Arabia, and prepared to rally his political forces for a comeback attempt. Both Bhutto and Sharif ruled out any chance of negotiations with Musharraf to share power or act as a transition team to restore democracy in the country. They demanded that Musharraf lift the state of emergency and ensure that immediate free elections be called.

For his part, Musharraf was under intense pressure from his main ally, the United States, to set a date for new elections and remove his military uniform if he was to continue to serve as president. Since seizing power in a military coup in 1999, Musharraf had ruled the country as a virtual dictator, banning opposition political groups and keeping a tight rein on the country’s media. But after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, he had become a key strategic ally for U.S. President George W. Bush in the war on international terrorism. For this reason,

Further ResearchTo stay informed about politics and life in Pakistan visit the official government Web site at www.pak.gov.pk.


Western criticism of his undemocratic methods was muted, and large sums of military aid continued to flow into Pakistan.

Since its declaration of independence in 1947, Pakistan’s history has been marked by brief periods of unstable democracy punctuated by longer stretches of harsh military rule. The country occupies an important strategic position in Asia; as a nuclear power it is viewed as a major player in the region. A long-running territorial dispute with India over the border zone of Kashmir,

serious internal divisions among its various ethnic and linguistic groups, and the rising danger of fundamentalist Islamic organizations operating inside its borders all combine to make Pakistan “the most dangerous nation in the world” to some international observers. As the world anxiously watches the unfolding political drama in the country, there are growing concerns that Pakistan’s domestic problems could trigger even more serious confrontations with its neighbours in one of the most troubled regions of the globe.

Did you know . . .Both India and Pakistan won their independence from Britain in 1947. Pakistan has been ruled by the military for 32 of its 60 years as a nation. In that same time, its neighbour India has become the most populous democracy in the world.

To Consider 1. Why did President Pervez Musharraf step down as leader of the army at

the end of November 2007?

2. Why did he impose a state of emergency on November 3, 2007?

3. What did his political opponents say were the real reasons for his imposition of the state of emergency?

4. Who are Musharraf’s main political opponents? What are they demanding?

5. Why are Pakistan’s internal political problems a matter for considerable international concern?


STATE OF EMERGENCY IN PAKISTANVideo Review

Watch the video and answer the following questions.

1. Who is the president of Pakistan? Why did he proclaim a state of emergency in November 2007?

) 2. Why did he remove the chief justice of Pakistan’s Supreme Court?

3. What country borders Pakistan to the west? Why is this country important to Canada at the moment?

4. How many nuclear warheads does Pakistan possess? _____________________

5. What extremist Islamic groups are currently operating within Pakistan’s borders?

6. To what other Asian country is Pakistan compared in this video? Why?

7. What organization of which Canada is a member suspended Pakistan because of the state of emergency?

8. When did the current ruler of Pakistan seize power? _____________________

What country is his most important ally? ________________________________

9. When are new elections supposed to be held in Pakistan?________________

10. What important move did the president of Pakistan make at the end of November 2007?

Did you know . . .The United States has spent over $100-million to protect Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. Control of those weapons is a major source of anxiety for the world.


Post Viewing ActivityWatch the video and form groups to discuss the following statement:

“Much international opinion regards Pakistan as the most dangerous nation in the world.”

From the information contained in the video, give reasons that could support this statement. As a group decide whether or not you agree with this assessment of Pakistan and why.


STATE OF EMERGENCY IN PAKISTANModern Pakistan: A Timeline of Important EventsHere is a timeline of the main events in Pakistan’s troubled history since it gained independence from Great Britain. Circle the three events that you think are the most important and be prepared to explain your selections.

1947 Pakistan becomes independent after splitting from India. The new country contains two regions, on opposite sides of the Indian subcontinent, West and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

1948 Pakistan and India go to war for the first time over the disputed region of Kashmir.

1949 Following the death of independence hero Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Liaqat Ali Khan becomes prime minister but is shot dead at a rally in 1951.

1954 Pakistan signs a mutual defence treaty with the United States.

1956 Pakistan officially becomes an Islamic Republic governed by Muslim Sharia law.

1958 General Ayub Khan seizes power and bans political parties.

1965 Pakistan and India fight a second war over Kashmir, which ends with a UN-brokered cease-fire and a peace agreement mediated by Indian ally the Soviet Union.

1969 General Yahya Khan imposes martial law and dissolves parliament.

1971 India and Pakistan go to war again after an independence movement seeks

freedom for East Pakistan (Bangladesh). Pakistan loses the war, and Bangladesh becomes a separate country.

1971 Yahya Khan hands power over to a civilian leader, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who begins peace talks with India.

1977 General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq seizes power, toppling Bhutto’s government and declaring martial law. Bhutto is convicted of treason and hanged in 1979 despite widespread international protests.

1988 Zia and many of his senior military officials die in a mysterious plane crash. Civilian rule is restored, and Bhutto’s daughter, Benazir, leads her People’s Progressive Party to victory in general elections.

1990 Following the collapse of Bhutto’s government on corruption charges, Nawaz Sharif becomes prime minister. His government in turn falls three years later, enabling Bhutto to return to power.

1997 Sharif’s Muslim League Party defeats Bhutto at the polls, and he becomes prime minister for a second time.

1998 Pakistan conducts five nuclear tests in response to India’s detonation of atomic bombs. Tensions escalate between the two countries.

1999 After Sharif attempts to fire army leader General Pervez Musharraf, Musharraf stages a military coup overthrowing Sharif’s government and imposing military rule.


2001 Musharraf names himself president and gains much-needed U.S. backing after the September 11 terrorist attacks and the invasion of Afghanistan.

2005 A massive earthquake strikes the Pakistani part of Kashmir, killing tens of thousands of people. Canada rushes much-needed aid to the region.

2007 Musharraf removes the head of Pakistan’s Supreme Court after he challenges the president’s right to serve a second term in office. Protests break out all over Pakistan. Musharraf suspends the constitution and imposes a nation-

wide state of emergency. Hundreds of opponents of his regime are arrested. Political rivals Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif return from exile and call for an end to Musharraf’s rule and for free elections. Pakistan is suspended from the Commonwealth for the second time. Musharraf promises to step down as army leader and hold new elections by early January, but insists that he intends to continue to serve as president.

Source: CBC News In Depth, Pakistan, “Timeline,” www.cbc.ca/news/background/pakistan/

Analysis 1. What patterns do you notice in Pakistan’s turbulent political history since it

won its independence from Britain 60 years ago?

2. What issues have caused conflict between Pakistan and its neighbour India since both countries became independent?

3. Why might Canada be officially concerned about events in Pakistan?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/pakistan/

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/pakistan/


STATE OF EMERGENCY IN PAKISTANIn the Line of Fire: A Profile of Pervez MusharrafPakistan’s embattled President, Pervez Musharraf, believes that only his firm military hand on the government can save his country from descending into political chaos and the danger of a fundamentalist Islamic takeover. For this reason, he seized power in a military coup in 1999, ousting the ineffective and corrupt government of then prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Since then, Musharraf has not deviated from his goal of restoring what he calls “true democracy” in Pakistan, a system of government that he firmly believes must have as its foundation strong internal security and stability. He was acting on this belief when he imposed a nation-wide state of emergency in early November 2007, suspending the constitution, dismissing judges who challenged the legitimacy of his recent re-election as president, and jailing a number of political opponents and other critics of his regime. Despite widespread international condemnation of his action, especially from his main ally and military supplier, the United States, Musharraf justified his move by claiming that the state of emergency was all that stood between Pakistan and anarchy.

Pakistan’s history since winning independence from Britain 60 years ago appears to give some support to Musharraf’s claim that the military has acted as a stabilizing, albeit undemocratic, force in the country’s political evolution.

Musharraf himself was born in Delhi, now the capital of India, in 1943, into a Muslim, Urdu-speaking family. In the chaos and violence that followed the partition of the former British colony into the predominantly Hindu India and Muslim West and East Pakistan, Mushrarraf and his family fled to

Karachi, where he grew up and received a military education. He joined the army at the age of 21 and rapidly moved up in the ranks, attracting attention to himself because he did not come from the traditional Punjabi upper class that dominated the army’s officer corps. He received high honours for his actions during the two wars that Pakistan fought with India in 1965 and 1971 as a platoon and commando leader. During this time, he continued his military studies at the elite Royal College of Defence Studies in Britain, where he perfected his English and made some valuable contacts.

In 1999 he was appointed to the position of army chief of staff and soon found himself confronting the danger of a possible war with India over the long-disputed territory of Kashmir that forms part of the northern border between the two countries. Believing that the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was incapable of dealing with the crisis, Musharraf staged a military coup after Sharif’s attempts to prevent his airplane from re-entering the country failed. The coup was initially popular at home, since both Sharif and his main political opponent, Benazir Bhutto, who had alternated in power throughout most of the 1990s, had become discredited over widespread corruption and political double-dealing. But internationally, the reaction to the coup was uniformly negative; Pakistan was expelled from the Commonwealth.

All this was to change dramatically as a result of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States and President George W. Bush’s subsequent declaration of war on international terrorism. Al Qaeda, the Islamic fundamentalist faction believed to be responsible for the attacks, was based

Quote“I found myself between a rock and a hard surface.” — General Pervez Musharraf, on his restoring parliamentary elections in early January, but keeping his emergency decree (The New York Times, November 12, 2007)


in neighbouring Afghanistan, and Pakistan’s co-operation in the plans to oust the Taliban regime from that country was essential. Even though Pakistan had enjoyed good relations with the extremist Taliban for many years, believing it to be a force for stability in the region, Musharraf readily agreed to U.S. demands that he allow his country to be used as a staging area for military attacks on Al Qaeda bases in Afghanistan and the violent, semi-autonomous Northwest Frontier Province, where support for Islamic extremist groups was strong.

Musharraf took a calculated risk in allying himself with the United States at the time, knowing that opinion in his own country and much of the Muslim world was opposed to Bush’s actions. But he realized that he had no option, given the U.S. president’s declaration that “anyone who is not with us is against us.” In his controversial 2007 autobiography, In the Line of Fire, Musharraf writes that a top American diplomat warned him that the United States would “bomb Pakistan back to the stone age” if it did not support the war on terrorism. Since then, Musharraf has enjoyed considerable U.S. diplomatic and military support, but has antagonized Islamic political groups inside Pakistan who are strongly anti-American in their beliefs. He has survived a number of assassination attempts, but has pursued his pro-U.S. policies while at the same time seeking a rapprochement with Pakistan’s traditional enemy, India, over Kashmir and other issues dividing the two countries. And at home, he has not hesitated to use military force to crush extremist Islamic organizations, the most recent example being his decision to storm the Red Mosque and an adjacent madrassa (Islamic school) in Karachi in July 2007, resulting in hundreds of deaths.

Musharraf is a westernized Muslim who apparently enjoys an occasional glass of whiskey, and whose wife does not wear the traditional hijab, or head scarf. During his time as president, he has faced numerous crises and challenges to his rule, but has never hesitated to take strong actions to deal with them and perpetuate his hold on power. His decision to impose a state of emergency is completely in keeping with his belief that only he and the army he has led can guarantee peace, security, and stability for Pakistan. He has an almost visceral disdain for civilian political leaders such as his two main rivals, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, both of whom he believes always put short-term political goals ahead of the national interest. At the same time, he is strongly opposed to Islamic fundamentalism and the acts of international terrorism it has spawned, despite his earlier support for groups such as the Taliban.

Now that Musharraf has decided to remove his army uniform and seek a second term as a civilian president, it remains to be seen if he can gather enough political support within his divided and troubled country to hold on to power. Should he lose control of parliament, especially after new elections are held as promised in January 2008, he could face the possibility of impeachment, or even treason charges, for his imposition of the state of emergency in late 2007. Can Pervez Musharraf’s dramatic political career have a peaceful ending, or will he leave his country’s stage in disgrace?

Source: CBC News In Depth, “Pakistan’s Pervez Musharraf is ‘In the Line of Fire,’” www.cbc.ca/news/background/pakistan/musharraf.html, and BBC News Online Profile: “President Pervez Musharraf,” http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/pakistan/musharraf.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/pakistan/musharraf.html

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk


Inquiry 1. How has Musharraf’s background in the army prepared him for a career

in politics and influenced his beliefs about the kind of government his country needs if it is to remain peaceful and secure?

2. Why did Musharraf decide to support the U.S. war on terrorism after the September 11, 2001, attacks? What implications did this decision have for his domestic position as leader of Pakistan?

3. What challenges does Musharraf face now that he has removed his army uniform and is seeking to govern his country as a civilian leader?

4. How do you think Canadians should view Musharraf? Why?


STATE OF EMERGENCY IN PAKISTANDaughter of Destiny: A Profile of Benazir BhuttoLike the Gandhi family in neighbouring India, the Bhuttos are a powerful political dynasty that has played a major role in Pakistan’s post-independence history. Benazir Bhutto, the daughter of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and twice prime minister herself, returned to Pakistan in October 2007 to assume her role as leader of the popular Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and challenge the regime of President Pervez Musharraf. Bhutto knew that her decision was a potentially dangerous one to make, for even though she has numerous supporters in Pakistan she also has attracted many enemies among the hard-line fundamentalist Muslim groups operating inside the country. They hate her as a westernized Muslim who has condemned religious extremism and expressed support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism and the invasion of Afghanistan. Shortly after she arrived in Karachi—the country’s main city and stronghold of her PPP—her convoy was the target of a massive suicide car bomb that narrowly missed her while taking the lives of well over 100 of her followers and security guards. Showing characteristic aplomb and determination, Bhutto had dismissed the danger of assassination, stating that “no true Muslim will attack me because Islam forbids attacks on women, and Muslims know that if they attack a woman they will burn in hell.”

Such courage in the face of potentially deadly opposition has been a hallmark of Bhutto’s career ever since she entered politics following the execution of her father in 1979. She was born in the province of Sindh in 1953 and grew up surrounded by politics, as her father was to be the first democratically

Quote“In the view of my party, military dictatorship, first in the 80s and now again, under General Musharraf, has fuelled the forces of extremism, and military dictatorship puts into place a government that is unaccountable, that is unrepresentative, undemocratic, and disconnected from the ordinary people in the country, disconnected from the aspirations of the people who make up Pakistan.” — Benazir Bhutto, in a speech to Council on Foreign Relations, August 15, 2007 (www.cfr.org/publication/14041/conversation_with_benazir_bhutto.html)

elected prime minister in the country’s history. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a cultivated, westernized leader with a strong socialist, populist bent, whose government promised Pakistan’s impoverished people “roti, chapra, and makan,” or food, clothing, and shelter. Bhutto was sent abroad to complete her education in the United States and Britain, studying at prestigious universities such as Harvard and Oxford. After returning to Pakistan, she witnessed the military coup led by General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq, who toppled her father’s democratic government and eventually imprisoned and executed him on specious treason charges. It was as a result of this that she decided to pursue a career in politics and further her father’s interrupted legacy as a democratic leader.

She spent five years in prison, much of it in solitary confinement, before being released on medical grounds and allowed to leave the country. Abroad, she cultivated the image of a sophisticated, glamorous, and intelligent young woman who was grooming herself for an eventual return to public life as the leader of her country. In 1986 she returned to Pakistan, and following the death of Zia and some of his top generals in a mysterious plane crash in 1988, Benazir Bhutto finally led her PPP to an election victory. She was sworn in as Pakistan’s first female prime minister.

However, initial expectations that she would bring about a democratic transformation in Pakistan’s political life were quickly disappointed, as her government was dismissed by the country’s president on corruption charges within two years of her swearing-in. Despite the fact that her husband, Asif

http://www.cfr.org/publication/14041/conversation_with_benazir_bhutto.html






Zardari, is alleged to have stolen millions of dollars from the country’s treasury and transferred them to overseas accounts in Europe and the Middle East, Bhutto has always denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the accusations against her and her husband are politically motivated and without foundation. She was able to return to power in 1993, but was again dismissed, in 1996, after which she went into voluntary exile in the opulent Gulf emirate of Dubai

Bhutto’s family life has been marred by violent, unexplained murders, including the deaths of her two brothers: Shahnawaz—found dead in his French Riviera apartment in 1985—and Murtaza—who was shot dead in Afghanistan in 1996. In exile, Bhutto remained a staunch critic of President Pervez Musharraf’s seizure of power in 1999 and strongly backed the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan to remove the fundamentalist Islamic Taliban regime from power there and destroy Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda terrorist cells. Seizing the opportunity opened up by Musharraf’s crumbling political support in Pakistan in the fall of 2007, Bhutto returned to a tumultuous welcome from her PPP supporters, pledging to force Musharraf to call new elections, which she believed her party was in a good position to win. At the time of her return from exile, some observers questioned her intentions, believing that her return was a signal to Musharraf that she was interested in pursuing a power-sharing agreement with him that would help stabilize his shaky hold on power. But Musharraf’s subsequent declaration of a state of emergency in early November 2007 hardened her opposition to him, for which she was briefly placed

under house arrest. Commenting that Musharraf was obviously “out of his depth,” and incapable of governing, Bhutto demanded an immediate end to the state of emergency and new, free elections by early 2008.

Benazir Bhutto is indeed a “daughter of destiny,” as her autobiography asserts, but it is far from certain that she is destined to rise to the top leadership position in her troubled country for a third time. She enjoys widespread support among secular, westernized Pakistanis, but at the same time is reviled by the country’s hard-line Islamic extremists. Abroad, she is viewed as someone who could possibly restore Pakistan’s tarnished image as a modern democracy. Yet, at the same time, there are serious doubts about her political abilities given the corruption charges that surfaced during her previous two troubled administrations. As a woman, she could do much as a symbol of progress and enlightenment in a part of the world where her sex has traditionally faced serious obstacles to full equality. Whether or not she can put together a political alliance among Pakistan’s habitually warring factions and clans that will be strong enough to challenge Musharraf, her other main rival for power Nawaz Sharif, and the rising Islamic fundamentalist factions remains to be seen. Benazir’s ultimate political destiny has yet to unfold.

Source: CBC News In Depth, Pakistan, “Benazir Bhutto: The prodigal daughter returns to Pakistan,” www.cbc.ca/news/background/pakistan/bhutto.html, and BBC News OnLine, “Benazir Bhutto’s extraordinary career,” http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/pakistan/bhutto.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/pakistan/bhutto.html

http://newsvote.bbc.co

http://newsvote.bbc.co


Analysis 1. What factors in Benazir Bhutto’s background prepared her for a political

career in Pakistan?

2. What problems did she face during her two terms as prime minister of Pakistan?

3. Why does she attract both strong support and considerable opposition inside Pakistan?

4. What challenges does she face in order to succeed in returning to office as her country’s leader for a third time? Do you think she can be successful as a leader of Pakistan? Explain.


STATE OF EMERGENCY IN PAKISTANMusharraf’s Supporters and OpponentsHere is a summary of the main political groups in Pakistan and their positions on President Pervez Musharraf and his imposition of a state of emergency on the country in the fall of 2007.

Radical Islamic GroupsThere are a number of extremist Islamic groups operating inside Pakistan that have close ties with Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda organization and the Taliban insurgents who are battling NATO forces in neighbouring Afghanistan. The main base of support and operations for these groups in Pakistan is the country’s remote and lawless Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) that borders Afghanistan, where the Pakistani army faces serious problems imposing its control. These groups are working to topple President Musharraf’s government and replace it with a hard-line Islamic regime that will oppose the U.S.-led “war on terror” and ally itself with similar governments such as Iran’s. They have staged a number of dramatic suicide bombing attacks inside Pakistan and have, on many occasions, tried to assassinate Musharraf and one of his main rivals, Benazir Bhutto. Many international observers worry about the growing support these groups are attracting in the country and fear that, should they ever come to power, the possibility of a major crisis involving the use of nuclear weapons could not be ruled out.

Judges and LawyersThe initial protests over Musharraf’s imposition of a state of emergency in Pakistan emanated from the country’s judiciary and legal officials. They were angry over the suspension of the

constitution and the forced removal of the chief justice of the Supreme Court, Iftikhar Chaudhry, a vocal critic of Musharraf’s regime. Many of them were dismissed from their positions after refusing to sign an oath of loyalty to the provisional constitution that was instituted after the state of emergency was declared. Some were jailed or placed under house arrest. The judges and lawyers attracted considerable domestic and outside support for their defence of Pakistan’s constitution and legal guarantees against what many viewed as Musharraf’s heavy-handed actions.

Opposition Political PartiesMost of Pakistan’s fractured and competing opposition political parties were affected by the imposition of the state of emergency, and their leaders were detained. These include former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-N, and the Movement for Justice Party, led by former cricket star Imran Khan. All of these parties are pro-Western, secular groups who strongly oppose Islamic extremism. In addition, the county’s main pro-Islamic group, the Jamaat-e-Islami, led by Qazi Hussain Ahmed, was also subject to the crackdown. Interestingly, though, Pakistan’s other main Islamist party, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, of Fazlur Rehman, was not banned, since it indicated that it might be willing to enter into power-sharing talks with Musharraf’s own political group, the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, a breakaway from Sharif’s party that has little popular support.

Quote“Musharraf’s standing on a bar of soap, he can easily slip.”— Pakistani lawyer (Toronto Star, November 27, 2007)


Ordinary PakistanisDespite the fact that many people opposed Musharraf’s state of emergency, there is also a great deal of disillusionment with most of the opposition political parties in the minds of many ordinary Pakistani citizens. They remember the corruption and infighting that plagued the administrations of both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif and grudgingly grant to Musharraf the claim that he has at least been able to restore some degree of security and stability to the country. However, a growing number of Pakistanis are becoming more supportive of radical Islamic groups, and this was one of the reasons why Musharraf acted to suspend the constitution.

The Military and Intelligence ServicesPakistan’s armed forces have traditionally played a major role in the country’s political life, frequently intervening to dismiss civilian government and impose military rule in times of real or perceived crisis. For the moment, the military appears to be solidly behind Musharraf, but there are concerns that some junior officers may be unhappy with his pro-Western policy positions. In addition, the country’s powerful secret service, the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI), is believed

to harbour elements opposed to some of Musharraf’s policies, including his unconditional support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism and his withdrawal of military aid to Kashmiri separatists battling against Indian forces.

The MediaThe rise of the Internet and small television outlets have added a new dimension and voice to Pakistan’s political opposition. The state of emergency specifically targeted small independent cable television networks and Internet blogs that provided the anti-Musharraf groups with a platform. Many opposition newspapers continued to publish, defying a ban on any articles critical of the government. But because of the high illiteracy rate in Pakistan, many ordinary citizens do not have access to them.

Human Rights GroupsIn the aftermath of the state of emergency, the offices of Pakistan’s main human rights organization, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (www.hrcp-web.org), were raided, and its leader, Asma Jehangir, was confined to her home, along with its founder, I.A. Rehman.

Source: BBC News Online, “General Musharraf: For and against,” http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk

Further ResearchTo learn more about the Muslim League-Q in Pakistan go to the official site at http://pakistan muslimleague.info. To find out more about the Muslim League-N go to www.pmln.org.pk. To find out more about Benazir Bhutto’s People’s Progressive Party, visit www.ppp.org.pk. Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam’s official Web site is www.jamaat.org. Interestingly, all these political party sites have English portals. The progress of the January 2008 elections in Pakistan may be followed at www.elections.com.pk.

Note: It is possible that these Web sites may be blocked during times of political crisis.

Inquiry 1. Which of Pakistan’s opposition groups do you think poses the most serious

threat to President Musharraf? Why?

2. To what groups inside Pakistan could Musharraf potentially look for support if he seeks to preserve his hold on power as the country’s president? Why?



http://pakistanmuslimleague.info

http://pakistanmuslimleague.info

http://www.ppp.org.pk

http://www.ppp.org.pk

http://www.elections.com.pk/

http://www.elections.com.pk/


STATE OF EMERGENCY IN PAKISTANActivity: What Should Canada Do about Pakistan?Like Pakistan, Canada is a member of the Commonwealth and a former British colony. Canada has troops currently serving as part of the NATO coalition fighting against the Taliban insurgency in neighbouring Afghanistan. Canada sent considerable relief aid to Pakistan in the wake of the disastrous earthquake that struck the country’s northern region in 2005. In addition, Canada is home to a large community of people of Pakistani origin. For these reasons, what happens in Pakistan is of great concern to Canadians and their government.

Form groups with your classmates. Discuss what you think Canada’s position should be with regard to the imposition of a state of emergency in Pakistan, how it should respond to any threats to the stability of the region, and the position of Canadian troops in Afghanistan that might arise from it.

As part of your group’s discussion, you could formulate a letter to Musharraf, indicating how you think the Canadian government should be responding to his actions. This letter could be sent via the Internet to the Embassy of Pakistan in Canada, at www.pakmission.ca.

Notes:

Quote “We’re calling for free and fair elections, the reinstatement of the judiciary and we’re hoping they will continue their efforts toward regional security in Afghanistan.” —Canadian Minister of Defence, Peter MacKay (Toronto Star, November 5, 2007)

Did you know . . . In an online poll for the Toronto Star in November 2007, 74 per cent of respondents felt Canada should cut off its $50-million aid to Pakistan until democracy is restored.

Further ResearchA good source of information on Musharraf’s view of Canadian foreign policy toward his country and the troubled region surrounding it can be found in an interview he gave with CBC journalist Carole Off, which aired on The National in September 2006: www.cbc.ca/news/background/Pakistan/musharraf-interview.html.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/Pakistan/musharraf-interview.html






QUEBEC’S BIG ACCOMMODATION DEBATEIntroduction

In January 2007, the small Quebec town of Hérouxville became the object of international attention. The town council issued a set of “standards” for newcomers. The standards were seen as “insulting” and “racist” by many. Among the standards are the following statements:• It is forbidden to stone women or burn

them with acid.

• Children cannot take any weapons to school.

• Boys and girls cannot be segregated and will swim together in pools.

• Female police officers can arrest male suspects.

• Women are allowed to drive, dance, and make decisions on their own.

• Hérouxville children sing Christmas songs at Christmas and adults can drink alcohol.

The document was created in response to a number of cases in Quebec where immigrants had challenged social institutions to allow them to practise religious freedom. For example, a Sikh boy wanted to wear his ceremonial dagger—known as a kirpan—to a Montreal school.

André Drouin, one of the town councillors, denied that the “standards” are racist. Instead, he claimed that immigrants need to know what Canadian values exist in Hérouxville before they make the decision to move there. “I asked myself, ‘How is it that these people can ask for such things?’ And the only possible answer is that these people do not know who we are” (“Town outlines ‘norms’ for newcomers: Move is

latest sign of growing debate surrounding ‘Reasonable Accommodation,’” Guelph Mercury, January 30, 2007).

But others disagreed. In February, Canadian Muslim groups said they would file a complaint with the Quebec Human Rights Commission against the town of Hérouxville because it “clearly propagates negative stereotypes of Canadian minorities.”

In February 2007, the Quebec government ordered a special commission to study accommodations made to the province’s religious, ethnic, and cultural minorities. Gérard Bouchard, a sociologist, and Charles Taylor, a philosopher, were picked by Quebec Premier Jean Charest to head the commission. The commissioners began holding public hearings in Quebec in September 2007. Within one year they are to produce a report detailing the various concerns and to develop a series of acceptable accommodations.

Although the commission was designed to help the province better deal with the issue of reasonable accommodation, when the public hearings began in September, they sparked controversy all over again. Some of those participating in the hearings are extremely hostile to non-European immigration to Quebec of any kind. Many would be described as racist. This has led some observers to state that the hearings are actually increasing intolerance in the province. But others argue that the hearings are a strong example of freedom of speech and that they represent what is good and valuable in a democracy.

FocusThis News in Review story investigates the “reasonable accommodation” debate in the province of Quebec. We also review the sources of intolerance.

DefinitionIn this story the term reasonable accommodation refers to what extent a society should reasonably shape its rules and values to “accommodate” religious or cultural considerations.

Further ResearchLearn more about the reasonable accommodation commission at www.accommodements.qc.ca/commission/plan-de-travail-en.html.


To Consider 1. What kinds of reasonable accommodations have been made in your school

and community for people of diverse backgrounds? Be specific.

2. Do you believe that Canadians have become less tolerant and more racist?

3. Have you or your friends ever experienced racism? Have you ever acted in a racist or prejudiced manner? Explain.

4. What do you think causes racism?

5. Do you believe that the work of the Commission will ultimately lead to increased tolerance?


QUEBEC’S BIG ACCOMMODATION DEBATEVideo Review

Previewing Task: What is reasonable accommodation?With a partner, or in a small group, discuss and make notes on the following:

1. If you moved to another country that had very different legal, political, and cultural norms from those you experience in Canada, how much of the country’s culture and beliefs would you be willing to accept?

2. What if the dominant religion in that culture was different than your own? Would you still practise your religion, even if you were part of a small minority with the same beliefs?

3. If citizens of your new country were hostile to your Canadian beliefs and values, would you give up those beliefs and traditions to improve harmony?

4. How much should your new country change to accommodate you? Explain your answer.

The VideoWatch the video and respond to the following questions in the space provided.

1. What issue is causing so much concern in Quebec?

Quote“Who are we? How do we want to live together?” — Jacques Beauchenin, Montreal sociologist, Toronto Star, September 26, 2007

Did you know . . .Since 1990, an average of 225 000 immigrants have arrived in Canada every year.

Did you know . . . The Quebec town of Hérouxville—which ignited the debate over reasonable accommodation—has been nicknamed “Heroville” by some Canadians. What does this reveal about some Canadians?


2. What happened in Hérouxville to ignite this debate?

3. What are some of the main issues raised by this debate?

4. List some of the “accommodations” that have been made for new Canadians in Quebec.

5. Do you think the arguments raised by the town council of Hérouxville and others who spoke at the hearings are based on fact or fear? Explain.

6. How do you think these negative statements would make new Canadians feel?

ReflectionWhat standard of reasonable accommodation should we develop in Canada? Try to be as specific as possible.


QUEBEC’S BIG ACCOMMODATION DEBATEDetermining What is “Reasonable”Canada has a population of around 32 million people. Thousands of new immigrants and refugees arrive in Canada each year. In fact, Canada accepts more immigrants and refugees each year than any other nation in the world. It should not be surprising that “old” and “new” Canadians sometimes see the world differently. In general, Canadians have adapted peacefully and positively to the changing face of

Canada. But over the past few years there have been a number of cases that have caused conflict between two or more groups in Canada. Each case involves the issue of reasonable accommodation. But as you’ll see, people differ in their interpretation of what is “reasonable.” As you read each of the cases below, record whether or not you think the decision made was reasonable or not, and explain why.

October 2007 – Montreal Canadiens captain criticized for not speaking FrenchSaku Koivu, the captain of the Montreal Canadiens hockey team, has received a great deal of criticism within Quebec because he does not speak French. Some people believe that, as captain of the team, Koivu acts as an ambassador for Quebec. Koivu, who is Finnish and learned English when he moved to Canada, said that even though he doesn’t speak French well, he loves Montreal and does a lot for the community. Parti Québécois Leader, Pauline Marois, suggested that Canadiens players who don’t speak French should take lessons to learn.

Reasonable? (Y/N) ___ Why? _____________________________________________

May 2007 – Hutterites not required to have photosHutterites (a Christian community) believe that it is a sin to have their photo taken. Although the Alberta government began requiring Hutterites to have photo identification in 2003, two Hutterite communities appealed this decision. In May, the Alberta Court of Appeal ruled that forcing Hutterites to have their picture taken violated their constitutional right to religious freedom. In December 2007, the Supreme Court of Canada agreed to hear the case.


March 2007 – Women required to raise veils before votingDays before the provincial election in Quebec, authorities announced that women wearing a niqab or burqa would have to lift their veils in order to vote. It is law that all voters must have their identity confirmed before voting. However, thousands of Canadians send their votes in by mail and never have their identity visually confirmed.


February 2007 – Muslim girl ejected from soccer gameAn 11-year-old girl was ejected from a soccer game in Quebec because she was wearing her hijab. She had played soccer for years, and the hijab had never been raised as an issue before. The official at the Quebec tournament said he was enforcing international soccer rules that ban any type of head covering.


DefinitionA hijab is a headscarf, a niqab is a face veil, and a burqa is a long, loose outer garment, sometimes with a full face covering. These are worn by some Muslim women.


December 2006 – Judge orders Christmas tree removedAn Ontario judge ordered that a Christmas tree be removed from the lobby of a Toronto courthouse. The judge was concerned that the tree might offend non-Christians and make them feel like outsiders in the court house.


October 2006 – YMCA frosts glass windows at request of synagogueA YMCA in downtown Montreal frosted the glass windows of its exercise area after receiving complaints from a synagogue for Hasidic Jews, located across the street from the YMCA. The rabbi of the synagogue complained that male worshippers were being distracted by women exercising at the gym. (The YMCA later replaced the frosted glass with clear glass and window blinds after receiving complaints about the frosted glass from some of the women who exercised at the facility. The women felt it was wrong for them to be hidden from view. Now the blinds are raised or lowered at the request of those exercising in the gym.)


May 2006 – Muslim schoolgirls allowed swim test in privateThree Muslim schoolgirls in Quebec asked to be excused from swimming class because their religion forbade them from sharing a pool with males. The school board said the girls could not be excused from a key part of the physical education curriculum, but did allow the girls to be tested privately by a female instructor.


March 2006 – Quebec college ordered to find prayer space for Muslim studentsA complaint was made to the Quebec Human Rights Commission (www.cdpdj.qc.ca) by about 100 Muslim students because they were unhappy about having to pray in a stairwell. The Commission ruled that the college had a responsibility to offer reasonable prayer accommodation to the Muslim students, such as an empty classroom. But the Commission also stated that the college was not under any obligation to build a separate prayer facility for the students.


ReflectionConsider what you learned from these cases. With a partner, write your own definition of reasonable accommodation. Be prepared to share your definition with the class.

http://www.cdpdj.qc.ca

http://www.cdpdj.qc.ca


QUEBEC’S BIG ACCOMMODATION DEBATEThe Quebec Challenge

Pre-Reading TaskWith a partner, discuss the following points. Record your responses in your notebook.

• In what ways is Quebec unique as a province?

• Why might Quebecers be more concerned about multiculturalism than Canadians in other parts of the country?

• Does multiculturalism pose a threat to French-Canadian culture in Quebec?

Consider ThisSince 1990, Canada has received about 225 000 immigrants a year. Most of those immigrants have been from non-Western countries, including those in Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa. Nearly three-quarters of them have settled in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. So if immigrants have been spread throughout the country why has Quebec become the centre of debate regarding reasonable accommodation? One reason is that Quebec is the most homogeneous province in the country. Approximately 80 per cent of the population is of French ancestry.

The dominant religion in Quebec is Roman Catholicism. French settlers brought the religion to the area, and, for most of Quebec’s history, the Catholic Church played a dominant role in daily life. Schools were religious, hospitals and social services were run by Catholic nuns, and government policy was often shaped by Catholic principles. It wasn’t until the 1960s that a period of widespread social, economic, and political change occurred in the province. During the “Quiet Revolution” the conservative, agrarian, and religious values of the past were thrown out because Quebecers believed these values were hurting the economic and social development of the province.

Having only recently removed crucifixes—the principal symbol of Christianity—from all of its schools, Quebecers are particularly sensitive to public displays of religious faith. Many Quebecers believe that religion is a private matter and that it should not interfere with matters of state. So when any group argues that it has a constitutional right to live by the tenets of its religion publicly, many Quebecers react negatively.

Public displays of religious faith in Quebec schools have caused the greatest concern. When a Sikh student wore his kirpan—a ceremonial dagger—to a Montreal school in 2001, he was sent home. The Supreme Court of Canada eventually resolved the case in favour of the boy on the grounds that banning the kirpan from the school violated the student’s guarantee of religious freedom outlined in the Charter of Rights.

Disagreements have arisen recently because of the greater number of Muslim immigrants who live in the province. Some Muslims have argued for separate prayer spaces in some high schools. And some have requested that these spaces be for boys only. This issue was resolved after a separate prayer space, open to both boys and girls, was created in the high school in question.

ArchivesTo learn more about the tumultuous Quiet Revolution, go to the CBC Digital Archives at www.cbc.ca/archives and explore the audio-visual file entitled “Quebec Elections, 1960-2007.” If you understand French, visit the Radio-Canada archives at archives.radio-canada.ca and review the file “Élections au Québec : si la tendance se maintient . . .”

To ConsiderRevisit your responses to the opening three questions. Update your answers based on the information you learned in this section.

http://www.cbc.ca/archives

http://www.cbc.ca/archives


QUEBEC’S BIG ACCOMMODATION DEBATEMulticulturalism in CanadaCanada is a multicultural nation. This simply means that Canadians are not of any one cultural background, race, or heritage. Instead, Canada is composed of a vast diversity of peoples. This multicultural diversity is a result of centuries of immigration.

Although Canada has always been multicultural, the nature of this multiculturalism has changed over the years. One significant change is that since the early 1970s, the majority of immigrants to Canada have been “people of colour.” These immigrants have come from the developing world or other non-European areas. Before this time, the majority of immigrants to Canada largely came from Europe or other Western nations.

Canada’s multiculturalism has largely developed as a result of government policies. Many of these policies were designed to promote harmony and respect individual differences. A selection of government policies that have fostered multiculturalism are listed below. As you read about the policies, consider which may have had the greatest impact on our perspective of multiculturalism today.

1947 – Passage of the first Canadian Citizenship ActThis ensured that for the first time in Canadian history immigrants from non-Commonwealth countries applying for Canadian citizenship were on an equal footing with immigrants who were British subjects.

1960 – Passage of the Canadian Bill of RightsThis was the first federal statute to bar discrimination on the grounds of race, national origin, colour, religion, or sex.

1963 – Establishment of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and BiculturalismThe Commission explored the contribution of the “two founding races,” but also the contribution of “other ethnics” to the cultural enrichment of Canada.

1971 – Introduction of Canada’s Multiculturalism PolicyThe government committed itself to supporting all of Canada’s cultures and improving intercultural understanding and the social development of cultural groups.

1982 – Adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and FreedomsThe Charter relates to issues regarding diversity and multiculturalism in two sections. Section 15(1) reaffirms the concepts of equality and freedom from discrimination, while section 27 states that the Charter will be “interpreted in a manner consistent with the preservation and enhancement of the multicultural heritage of Canadians.” It also guarantees religious freedom to all Canadians.

1988 – Passage of the Canadian Multiculturalism ActThe Act defined multiculturalism as a central characteristic of Canadian society.

Have Canadians Become Less Tolerant of Multiculturalism?There has been a great deal of negative publicity surrounding the “reasonable accommodation” hearings in Quebec. But do the people speaking against immigrants at those hearings speak for the majority of Canadians? Or, do they

Further ResearchTo learn more about Canada’s policy on multiculturalism, visit the department of Canadian Heritage and view the multiculturalism Web site at www.pch.gc.ca/progs/multi/index_e.cfm.

http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/multi/index_e.cfm




actually represent a small minority of Canadians? A number of polls have been conducted recently to determine exactly how Canadians feel about multiculturalism.

An Environics poll conducted in the fall of 2006 found that:• 68 per cent of Canadians reject the

notion that immigrants should have their religious beliefs and values screened before admittance.

• 77 per cent of Canadians value the influence of immigrants.

• 84 per cent of immigrants believe their life is better here than back home.

• 70 per cent of non-Muslim Canadians believe their impression of Islam improves with increased contact with Muslims.

Source: “The numbers,” Toronto Star, November 10, 2007, www3.thestar.com/static/PDF/071110_the_numbers.pdf

Quote“As it turns out, the social resources in the form of Canadians’ goodwill toward newcomers and newcomers’ desire to participate fully in this society, are considerable.” — Michael Adams, pollster (Toronto Star, November 10, 2007) Analysis

1. Select the three government policies that you believe have had the greatest impact on multiculturalism today. Provide reasons for your selections.

2. Write a paragraph in response to the question: Have Canadians become less tolerant? Provide specific examples and statistics in your paragraph.


QUEBEC’S BIG ACCOMMODATION DEBATEA Range of OpinionAs you read the range of opinions below, complete a t-chart in your notebook with the following headings: Arguments in Favour of Multiculturalism and Arguments against Multiculturalism.

The current friction over the reasonable accommodation debate is making some people very nervous. For these people, the debate itself, and some of the sentiments being expressed at the Boucher-Taylor hearings, indicate that Canada is becoming a less tolerant nation. Others, however, argue that this debate is evidence of our strong democracy and a reflection of our constitutional right to free speech. Hiding our disagreements does not make us more tolerant or help us to better understand each other.

“If Canada is going to successfully absorb 250 000 (new immigrants) a year, we need more public debate and education about our national values, not less. . . . New and old Canadians will have to learn to adapt to the changing realities—everything from head scarves to same-sex marriages—just as their predecessors did in the past. — Adrienne Clarkson, Canada’s former governor general, (“Do immigrants need rules? The debate rages on,” Maclean’s, March 5, 2007)

“One of these days you will have (many divided) groups in Canada and groups in Canada, or groups in any country, doesn’t make a country.” — Andre Drouin, town councillor, Hérouxville, Quebec (“Town outlines ‘norms’ for newcomers,” Guelph Mercury, January 30, 2007)

“The Quebec nation has values, solid values, including the equality of women and men; the primacy of

French; the separation between the state and religion. These values are fundamental. They cannot be the object of any accommodation. They cannot be subordinated to any other principle.” — Jean Charest, Premier of Quebec (“Defining a Quebecer will not be an easy task,” The Record, February 13, 2007)

“(Canada has) done very well in getting past issues of race, skin colour, ethnicity, and religion—something Europe is yet to fully come to terms with but simply must. If you want to be a global player in the movement of goods and capital, you cannot stop the freer movement of peoples and cultures. Closed societies are dangerous societies. — Jan Niesen, director of Migration Policy Group, Brussels (“Don’t give in to prevailing prejudices,” Toronto Star, March 8, 2007)

“I fear that foreigners will impose their values on us, so we’ll lose our place. It is like I invite someone into my home and he slowly shows me the door.” — a 67-year-old retired engineer in Saguenay speaking to Bouchard-Taylor Commission (“Multiculturalism under the microscope in Quebec,” Toronto Star, October 13, 2007)

“Multiculturalism allows people to accentuate our differences. It’s really forcing people not to be part of a cohesive society.” — Tarek Fatah, founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress (“Do immigrants need rules? The debate rages on,” Maclean’s, March 5, 2007)


“As our society becomes more diverse it is natural for a conversation about our evolving identity to arise. However, the key to success lies in that conversation being grounded in respect and dignity rather than mistrust and division.” — Omar Alghabra, MP (Toronto Star, November 7, 2007)

“I’m a Somali first. I don’t say I’m Canadian. I’m a Canadian citizen, but when someone comes up to me and asks me what my nationality is, I don’t say Canadian or Somali-Canadian. I say I’m Somali. That’s how they know me. . . . . Africans that immigrated here don’t even consider themselves Canadian. They say they’re Canadian citizens but usually you don’t say to yourself, ‘Oh, I’m a proud Canadian’ like the Molson Canadian (beer) commercials. No one ever says that. Only Caucasian people think that . . .” — Mohamed Osman (“Voices,” Toronto Star, June 30, 2007)

“Equity is about meeting needs, not about treating everyone exactly the same.” — Yaw Obeng, supervising principal for equity, Toronto District School Board (“Operation colour-blind,” The Globe and Mail, June 10, 2006)

“But our elected leaders, as well as every one of us, must remain vigilant to attacks on multiculturalism and ensure immigrants and minority groups are treated fairly and that their integration into Canadian society is as smooth as possible. Instead of questioning multiculturalism, we should reaffirm the inclusiveness and tolerance that has made modern Canada a success.” — Editor, Toronto Star (“Canadian reality is multicultural,” Toronto Star, October 15, 2007)

Reflect and DebateUse your chart to develop debate points for the following resolution: Be it determined that multiculturalism is a good thing and strengthens Canada as a nation.

Be sure to include points for both sides of the debate question. You don’t know which side of the debate you will be asked to argue.

Arguments for Multiculturalism Arguments Against Multiculturalism


QUEBEC’S BIG ACCOMMODATION DEBATESources of Fear“I am ashamed to be a Quebecer sometimes, like when I hear idiocies like those coming from Hérouxville. Ignorance and fear produce xenophobia and racism, and the ideas of the extreme right.” — Jean-Pierre Trépanier, Quebec citizen (“Quebec heartland debates threat from ‘Canadian style’ multiculturalism,” Canadian Press, October 23, 2007)

Xenophobia is a fear or contempt of foreigners or strangers. Xenophobia is usually associated with racism because if a person has contempt for another person or group, they are more likely to act in a cruel or discriminatory manner toward that person. Racism is often linked to the belief that the members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other races.

Some of the speakers at the reasonable accommodation hearings in Quebec appear to be xenophobic and/or racist. But other speakers are not. Why is it that some people hold racist beliefs and others do not? There is no conclusive answer, but research in the social sciences has produced some insight into this question.

A Psychological PerspectiveMost psychologists believe that racist beliefs are not innate—that is, that humans are not born racist. Instead, psychologists tend to believe that racist attitudes are the result of socialization. Socialization is the process of learning one’s culture and how to live within it.

One element of socialization is the family and those closest to the children. Children learn by observing their parents and other family members, their friends, and their neighbours. If children hear the people around them expressing prejudices, they are very likely to adopt

the same beliefs. If children see those around them acting in a racist manner, they are likely to imitate that behaviour. If children see their parents express tolerance, then they are likely to be tolerant as well.

Another element of socialization is media—books, television, radio, movies, and online information. If the type of media a child is exposed to perpetuates stereotypes by assigning certain characteristics to particular groups, children are more likely to grow up believing those stereotypes. For example, in the past, children’s books tended to portray males and females in traditional roles—men were more likely to be shown in the role of doctor, while women were more likely to be shown as nurses,, for example.

Many psychologists believe that racism results from ignorance. Ignorance simply refers to lack of information. When we lack information about something we are more likely to believe stereotypes. According to this, someone who lives in a small town with a homogeneous population would be more likely to be racist because that person simply would not have had exposure to a diverse population.

Psychologists also believe fear plays a role in racism. Fear tends to occur when we are in a situation we don’t understand because it is different from what we are used to. When we become fearful, we tend to look for a scapegoat to blame for our problems. If, for example, unemployment is rising or the national economy is very weak, many people will look for a scapegoat to blame. In most cases they will choose the people they do not know, such as those with a different ethnic or cultural background. This is how fear can lead to racism.


A Sociological PerspectiveSociologists look at the way particular groups are valued or devalued in society. In Canadian society, white males consistently dominate the highest income group in the country. Sociologists believe this is because white males are the highest valued group in society. This white privilege often means that white males may have an easier time

finding a well-paying job, that their contributions within an organization are more highly regarded and rewarded, and that they may be promoted more quickly than others. Because white males tend to dominate the upper levels of management, they in turn then tend to hire others who are like themselves. This tendency to like someone who is similar to us is known as “in-group preference.”

AnalysisCopy the following organizer into your notebook and complete the required information. Think carefully about how each group is depicted or portrayed in Canadian society.

Group or identifying feature

Depiction in books or print media

Depiction in TV, movies, or other visual images

Homosexuals

Asians

Blacks

Muslims

Aboriginal groups

Women in non-traditional roles

Men in non-traditional roles

Women in traditional roles

Men in traditional roles


QUEBEC’S BIG ACCOMMODATION DEBATEActivity: A Multicultural Code of Conduct

BackgroundIn January 2007, the Quebec town of Hérouxville passed a set of “standards” aimed at immigrants. The town council claimed that the standards were designed to help immigrants decide whether or not moving to Hérouxville would be a good decision. Many Canadians were offended by the standards. These Canadians believed the standards to be racist and were concerned that they will have a negative impact on immigrants and all Canadians from visible minority groups.

The standards include the following statements:

• We consider that men and women are of the same value.

• We listen to music, we drink alcoholic beverages in public or private places, we dance.

• At the end of every year we decorate a tree with balls and tinsel and some lights.

• In our hospitals . . . woman doctors can treat men and women and the same for the men doctors. This same principle applies for nurses, firemen and women, ambulance technicians.

• In our schools the children cannot carry any weapons real or fake, symbolic or not.

• In many of our schools no prayer is allowed. We teach more science and less religion.

• In our public swimming pools we have men and women lifeguards for our security to protect us from drowning, don’t be surprised this is normal for us.

• You may not hide your face as to be able to identify you while you are in public. The only time you may mask or cover your face is during Halloween. . . . All of us accept to have our picture taken and printed on our driver’s permit, health-care card, and passports. A result of democracy.

• You will appreciate that both parents manage the children[’s] needs and both have the same authority. The parents can be of the same race or not, be from the same country or not, have the same religion or not, even be of the same sex or not.

Source: Municipalité of Hérouxville. (January 2007). Publication of Standards. Available online at http://municipalite.herouxville.qc.ca/Standards.pdf

Your TaskIn a small group, generate a Multicultural Code of Conduct. This Code should be designed to reflect important Canadian values and beliefs and should be written in positive language that celebrates diversity. Your Code should make immigrants feel excited to be part of Canada, rather than ashamed or embarrassed by their own cultural traditions.

To get started, you might choose to rewrite each of the Hérouxville standards reprinted above. You might also choose to visit the complete Publication of Standards document at http://municipalite.herouxville.qc.ca/Standards.pdf.

Once you have addressed the Hérouxville document, add a number of your own “standards” that you believe best describe multicultural Canada.

Did you know . . .The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority recently suspended a Muslim woman who lowered the length of her official uniform skirt because she wanted to protect her modesty and not show as much of her legs.

http://municipalite.herouxville.qc.ca/Standards.pdf

http://municipalite.herouxville.qc.ca/Standards.pdf


FocusIn September 2007 the water level in Lake Superior reached its lowest level in 100 years. At the same time, water levels in the other Upper Great Lakes—Lake Huron and Lake Michigan —also reached levels much lower than average. Where is the water going? This News in Review story looks for some answers.

Further ResearchAn extremely valuable resource for learning about the Great Lakes is The Great Lakes: An Environmental Atlas and Resource Book. It is jointly produced by the Government of Canada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It is available online at www.epa.gov/glnpo/atlas/index.html.

LAKE SUPERIOR: WHERE DID THE WATER GO? Introduction

Late summer 2007 was a shocking time for residents in the Lake Superior Basin. Lake water levels were lower than they had been in 100 years—at least 54 centimetres below typical levels. Of those 54 centimetres, 29 had been lost in the past year. A tremendous amount of water had literally vanished in very little time.

Lake Superior’s water losses joined those of the other Upper Great Lakes (Huron and Michigan) as a matter of grave concern for area residents and governments. Equally alarmed were environmentalists. Their climate models had predicted major changes would take place in the Great Lakes Basin over the next century. Few, however, expected to see such dramatic changes taking place so soon.

Some scientists who have spent decades studying the area’s climate were quick to point out that there does seem to be a regular cycle of increases and decreases in the water levels of all of the lakes. But they were also quick to admit that the water losses in Lake Superior were unusual and extreme.

Other TheoriesNot everyone was willing to accept cyclical events or climate change as being responsible for the current problem. One group—the Georgian Bay Association (www.georgianbay.ca) —commissioned a study that pointed to erosion in the St. Clair River as the main culprit in the current water loss in Lakes Huron and Michigan.

Conspiracy theorists also had some ideas. A popular one is that because of drought and low water levels in aquifers in the west, the United States was secretly drawing off water from Lake

Superior and piping it to other parts of the country.

The crisis atmosphere was relieved somewhat in late September and October 2007, when heavy rains raised Lake Superior water levels by about 20 centimetres. Concerns remain, however, that the long-term trend is that more water will be lost in the years to come.

A Valued ResourceSuperior’s importance to Canada and the U.S. cannot be overstated. Ten per cent of the world’s surface freshwater is found in Lake Superior, and it remains one of the most pristine bodies of water on Earth.

Recognizing its fundamental importance, the Canadian government recently created the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area. This marks the establishment of the largest freshwater conservation area in the world. Over 10 000 square kilometres of lake bed and lake waters, as well as islands, shoals, and some areas of mainland are included.

And it is true that the threats to the lake are not all natural or environmental. There is some basis to the conspiracy theorists’ fears that water could be diverted from the lakes to other parts of the continent (or even to other parts of the world). To prevent this from happening, Quebec and Ontario, along with the eight U.S. states bordering the Great Lakes, have negotiated the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. However, the pact is controversial in some states, and its ratification is uncertain at this point.

Canada and the U.S. share ownership of the lakes. Through the International Joint Commission (IJC, www.ijc.org)


they have worked together to promote the good health of the entire Great Lakes Basin. The IJC is currently in the middle of a study that hopes to determine why

the Upper Great Lakes are losing water. It also hopes to find solutions that will conserve this valuable resource for generations to come.

Quote“In many ways, you in the Lake Superior basin are the canary in the mine,” said David Phillips, senior climatologist at Environment Canada. “Lake Superior is really one of the early victims of climate change” (www.startribune.com/462/story/ 1518683.html).

Further ResearchRead more about the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area at the Web site of the Lake Superior Conservancy and Watershed Council: www.lscwc.org/default. spx?l=,1,585,2, 628,679. A map is available at www.pc.gc.ca/progs/ amnc-nmca/proposals/ carte-map_pro_e.asp.

Further ResearchThe Web site of Peter Annin, author of The Great Lakes Water Wars (www.greatlakes waterwars.com/index.htm), is the source of up-to-date materials on Great Lakes water issues. Click on the selection “Great Lakes & Other Water News.”

For ReflectionThe video points out that Canadians are heavy water users and use a staggering amount of fresh water every day. What would cutting back on water use mean to you? Are there ways in which you could easily cut down on the amount of water you use? Make a list of five areas in which you could cut back. Compare your list with those of other members of your class.


LAKE SUPERIOR: WHERE DID THE WATER GO?Video ReviewAnswer the following questions in the spaces provided.

1. What is the length of Lake Superior’s shoreline? _________________________

2. How much water does each Canadian use every day? ____________________

3. How many people live in the area around the Great Lakes? ______________

4. What are two factors that cause increased winter evaporation on Lake Superior?

5. Compared with 25 years ago, what percentage of ice now forms on Lake

Superior? _________

6. What river is suspected of draining water out of Lake Huron much faster

than in previous years? ________________________________________________

7. When were water levels on the Great Lakes at their most recent historical

highs? ___________

8. What are the two first steps the International Joint Commission will take in their investigation of Lake Superior water levels?

9. When do experts think Lake Superior will stop freezing in winter? ________

10. Compared with current losses, how much water is Lake Superior expected

to lose when freezing stops? ___________________________________________

11. Does the issue of water loss in the Great Lakes concern you? Explain.

12. In your opinion, is Great Lakes water Canada’s, North America’s or a global resource? Explain fully.

Did you know . . .The water level drop on Lake Huron has been so dramatic that some cottagers have 100-metre docks that lead only to land. In fact some boathouses have been abandoned 300 metres from the former shore.

Did you know . . . The Gordon Water Group of Concerned Scientists and Citizens is a newly formed group that hopes to pressure the federal government into taking a leading role on Canadian water issues. It’s Web site is www.gordon watergroup.ca. Their manifesto presents “. . . 25 recommended actions built around seven priority areas [that] are essential steps that would reignite the federal government’s role in sustaining this most precious resource and help guide our nation to a sustainable freshwater future.”


LAKE SUPERIOR: WHERE DID THE WATER GO?Profile of the Great LakesThe Great Lakes are the world’s largest freshwater source. They contain 20 per cent of the world’s surface freshwater supply (as opposed to freshwater obtained from underground sources). This represents 84 per cent of the North American supply and an amazing 95 per cent of the U.S. supply.

The Great Lakes cover an area of 244 000 square kilometres (23 per cent of the size of the province of Ontario). Their watershed—the area where rivers and streams drain into the lakes—is 767 000 square kilometres.

About 31 per cent of the Canadian population—8.5 million people—lives in the Great Lakes Basin. Ten per cent of the U.S. population—25 million people—also live there. Nearly 40 million people get their drinking water from the Great Lakes.

The shoreline of the Great Lakes is 17 549 km long. This is about 44 per cent of the circumference of the Earth.

More than 1 600 kilometres of border between Canada and the United States run through the Great Lakes.

Eight U.S. States—Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin—and the province of Ontario border the Great Lakes.

Remembering the names of the Great Lakes is easy. Just think HOMES: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior.

Economic ImportanceThe primary economic activities in the region today are agriculture, industrial

manufacturing, steel production, shipping, commercial and sport fishing, and recreation and tourism.

Agriculture: One-third of land in the basin is used for agriculture—25 per cent of total Canadian production, and 7 per cent of U.S. Dairy, grain, corn, and livestock are main farming activities.

Forestry: Canada and the U.S. are the world’s leading producers of pulp and paper products. Much of this production still occurs in the Great Lakes area. Reforestation has not always been adequate to protect the resource.

Manufacturing and Steel Production: Half of Canadian manufacturing and one-fifth of U.S. manufacturing are based on the Great Lakes shoreline. About 60 per cent of steel production in North America takes place there. Over 35 per cent of automobiles in the U.S. and Canada are assembled in the Great Lakes Basin. Pulp and paper plants, high tech and chemical industries, and other light manufacturing contribute to the region’s economy. The lakes also


provide water for power generation and cooling at nuclear plants.

Shipping: Since the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959, more than two-billion tonnes of cargo have moved to and from Great Lakes ports along the world’s longest inland waterway. Iron ore, coal, grain, and steel make up about 80 per cent of the cargo.

Fishing: There are over 250 species of fish in the Great Lakes, made up of native and introduced species. The most important are lake trout, salmon, walleye, and whitefish. The Lake Erie fishery is especially important, providing nearly two-thirds of Canada’s Great Lakes harvest. The annual value of the combined commercial and sport fishery is estimated at $4-billion. Overfishing, pollution, and invasive species are continuing problems.

Recreation and Tourism: In addition to sport fishing, the Great Lakes Basin provides a venue for all kinds of activities: skiing and snowmobiling in the winter and golf, boating and swimming in the summer.

Shoreline UseResidential – U.S. 26.5 per cent, Canada 18.6 per cent

Commercial/Industrial – U.S. 6.7 per cent, Canada 2.6 per cent

Agricultural – U.S. 1.5 per cent, Canada 8.2 per cent

Other – U.S. 65.3 per cent, Canada 70.6 per cent (Canada includes transportation/communications, recreation, extraction, water, wetlands, forestry, grassland, barren lands; U.S. includes public, beaches, forests, barren lands)

Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: www.glerl.noaa.gov/pr/ourlakes/facts.html

Further ResearchAn excellent source of information on the Great Lakes is the Great Lakes Information Network (www.great-lakes.net). See also The Great Lakes: An Environmental Atlas and Resource Book at www.epa.gov/glnpo/atlas/index.html.

Analysis 1. Considering the information presented above, why is the issue of water

levels in the Great Lakes so important?

2. Rank order from 1 to 3 what you feel are the most important economic activities in the Great Lakes Basin and briefly explain your choices.

http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/atlas/index.html




LAKE SUPERIOR: WHERE DID THE WATER GO?The Importance of Lake SuperiorBecause of its size alone, Lake Superior would have to be considered important. It is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area and third largest by water volume. It covers an area of 82 100 square kilometres—an area the size of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick combined. Its shoreline is 2 938 kilometres long.

Superior is also the deepest of the Great Lakes. Its average depth is 147 metres. Its deepest point is 406 metres. (Compare this with Lake Erie, whose average depth is 19 metres and whose maximum depth is 64 metres.) Because it is so deep, Lake Superior is also the coldest of the Great Lakes. Its average annual water temperature is 4.5 degrees Celsius.

Superior is so large and deep that it contains more than half the water in the Great Lakes—and 10 per cent of the world’s surface freshwater. In litres, this amounts to 11.4 quadrillion litres (written out, that looks like this: 11 400 000 000 000 000). It is the largest source of water to replenish the four other Great Lakes.

Lake Superior is fed by 330 rivers and streams that flow into it. Only one flows out—the St. Mary’s River that flows into Lake Huron. Its watershed—the area whose rivers and streams feed the lake—is 127 700 square kilometres—a very small area for a lake this size. That watershed is 90 per cent forested.

Lake Superior’s Basin is relatively scarcely populated—only 239 000 Canadians and 424 000 U.S. citizens live there. The land immediately around Lake Superior is 68 per cent forest. Only two per cent of the land is used for agriculture, another 3 per cent is used for residential and commercial purposes.

There are two major urban centres on the lake: Thunder Bay, Ontario, and the joint port of Duluth, Michigan/Superior, Wisconsin.

Economic ImportanceEconomically, Lake Superior is a tourist magnet. Millions visit the area every year in all seasons for outdoor activities. As many as 35 000 Canadians are involved in the tourism industry on the North Shore of Lake Superior. The city of Thunder Bay has about 1.4 million visitors every year.

Also important to the Lake Superior economy is shipping. Duluth/Superior is the busiest inland port in the U.S., with iron ore and coal being its two largest commodities. The recent drop in water levels has forced many companies to reduce the tonnage that their ships can carry on any one trip. This, in turn, reduces the amount of profit that they can make from each voyage and may have a significant impact on future transportation plans.

VulnerabilitiesLake Superior also has a commercial and sport fishery, but the lake itself supports a smaller and less diverse fish population than the other Great Lakes (only 78 species). This is because Lake Superior is ultra-oligotrophic. This means it produces very few aquatic plants and little algae compared with other lakes of the world. Among the causes are its small watershed relative to its size and depth, its “youth” (it is only roughly 10 000 years old, since the last ice age), and its lack of well-developed soils. This makes the lake very sensitive to changes caused by increased nutrients, invasive species, contaminants, and intensive land

The Shining Big-Sea-WaterLake Superior is the Gitche Gumee referred to in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem The Song of Hiawatha, based on the legends of the Ojibwa Indian tribe: “By the shores of Gitche Gumee, By the shining Big-Sea-Water.” Gitche Gumee is believed to be an older spelling of a Native American phrase meaning “big sea” or “huge water” (www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2007-06-13-lake-superior_N.htm).


use. It receives far less material from its watershed than many other lakes, and airborne pollutants potentially have a much greater impact than they might elsewhere.

Superior is vulnerable to long-term pollution for another reason: its flushing time, which is the time it takes for all the water now in the lake to be replaced by new water. In Superior’s case, this is 191 years. This means that should the lake become polluted tomorrow and all further pollution were stopped, it would still take two centuries to restore the lake to its current conditions!

Low-Water ProblemsThe recent drop in average water level has already created problems in Lake Superior. These include:

• Reduced power capacity at electrical plants. Water flow reductions have forced Edison Sault Electric to operate at less than 50 per cent capacity this year. The eastern portion of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has been especially hard-hit.

• Cargo ships—especially the larger ones—have had to carry reduced loads by about 5 per cent in order to reach docking facilities at Lake Superior ports.

• Wild rice beds that grow in Lake Superior wetlands—often a source of income for Aboriginal peoples—have gone dry.

• Recreational boaters find it increasingly difficult to find berths. Owners of larger boats often are unable to find suitable docking facilities.

Inquiry 1. Why is Lake Superior considered to be such an important body of water?

2. Why is Lake Superior so ecologically vulnerable?


LAKE SUPERIOR: WHERE DID THE WATER GO?Why?There is no doubt that something odd has been happening to Lake Superior. Water levels on the lake have been below average levels for the past 10 years, the longest period on record. And this year the decline was especially dramatic. In June 2007 the lake had dropped 34 centimetres below its June 2006 level. In September the lake actually reached its lowest level for that month for the past 100 years. The flow of water out of the lake through the St. Mary’s River dropped to a level so low that it would have to rise by 50 per cent to reach the average level of the last century. The long-term average outflow for September is 2 350 cubic metres per second. In September 2007 the rate was only 1 560 cubic metres per second.

Heavy rains in late September and October raised the lake level considerably, but few observers expect the relief to be long-lived.

A Possible CauseMost experts are blaming a multi-year drought for many of Superior’s current woes and point out that beginning in 2006 the drought has been especially severe. Precipitation in summer 2006 was the lowest since the mid-1920s—80 per cent less than normal.

But there is increasing evidence that global warming is playing a part:• Winter ice cover on the lake has

decreased. Less ice cover means less reflection and more absorption of sunlight by the lake. This means more evaporation (most evaporation actually happens in the winter, when cold, dry air blows over the warmer lake waters).

• Lake Superior historically freezes over completely about once every 20 years. If it continues to warm it could be routinely ice-free by 2040.

• Summer warming of the waters now begins one half-day earlier each year. The “summer season” now begins a full two weeks earlier than it did in 1980.

• Lake Superior itself is now warming at a rate even faster than the climate around it. Summer surface temperatures have risen 2.5 degrees Celsius since 1979. Air temperatures are up about 1.5 degrees.

Since 1978, the decline in lake levels has been about 10 millimetres (mm) per year. During that period, evaporation has risen by 4-6 mm/year, and precipitation has decreased by 4.1 mm/year.

Not all scientists agree that global warming is to blame. Many point out that that there is a historical ebb-and-flow pattern to water levels in the Great Lakes. All the lakes have experienced cycles of high and low readings ranging over periods as long as 30 years. For unknown reasons, water levels have varied by a metre or even more over those periods. This particular down cycle, however, seems more extreme than previous ones on record.

A Big Leak?More than one observer jokingly has suggested that perhaps Superior—and some of the other Great Lakes—have sprung a leak. This theory has recently received some serious consideration thanks to the work of the Georgian Bay Association. Alarmed by the declining water levels in Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay, this group of concerned Canadian citizens hired an engineering firm to study water flow through the St. Clair River from Lake Huron to Lake Erie.

The association members suspect that erosion in the St. Clair River at Sarnia has led to massive water losses in the

Further ResearchA chart detailing actual versus average levels in Lake Superior for 2007 is available online at www.lre.usace.army.mil/_kd/Items/actions.cfm?action =Show&item_id =3886& destination= ShowItem. Additional information is available from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at www.glerl.noaa.gov/ pubs/brochures/ lakelevels/lakelevels.pdf.

Quote“It’s been a long time since we’ve been this low, but it has happened,” says Tim Calappi, a hydraulic engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers, which tracks water levels. “We still think this is within the range of what’s normal, but we have to wait and see” (www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2007-06-13-lake-superior_N.htm).


Upper Great Lakes. They believe that dredging by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that took place in the early 1960s led to the erosion. At the time this dredging was being done, there were plans to reinforce the river bottom to reduce erosion risks. The dredging was completed but the reinforcement was never carried out. Ironically, the reason the engineers felt the reinforcement was unnecessary was that, when the dredging was completed, the water levels were very high in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

The study commissioned by the Georgian Bay Association said that a combination of dredging, gravel mining, and shoreline protection programs had eroded the river bottom at Sarnia to a depth of 18 metres. This was like opening a drain hole in a bathtub, causing huge amounts of water to pour through the channel into Lake Erie—up to 3.2 billion litres extra per day. An update completed in August 2007 suggests that the extra outflow is actually closer to 10 billion litres per day and that it has lowered the lake levels in Huron and Michigan by 60 centimetres.

Further ResearchThe Georgian Bay Association Web site is at www.georgianbay.ca/index.html.

Analysis 1. Briefly identify the major theories that explain why the water level of Lake

Superior appears to be declining so quickly.

2. Which theory are you most inclined to support? Why?

http://www.georgianbay.ca/index.html




LAKE SUPERIOR: WHERE DID THE WATER GO?Can Anything Be Done?While all three of the Upper Great Lakes—Superior, Michigan, and Huron—have been experiencing lower water levels over the past few years, there likely is no one solution to the problem. Superior is part of the Great Lakes system and does feed the other lakes, but it is also somewhat independent of any pressures that might be caused by erosion in the St. Clair River.

Water does flow out of Lake Superior, through the St. Mary’s River into Lake Huron. And Superior is the largest source of water to replenish the other Great Lakes. However, as the water level in Lake Superior has dropped, it has actually lost less water through the river than in normal years. The flow would need to increase by about 50 per cent to match that of an average year.

Thus, if the St. Clair River is draining Huron and Michigan at an excessive rate, it is not pulling more water than usual from Superior. Something else is causing its problems.

The IJC StudyThe International Joint Commission (IJC), which oversees the Great Lakes, has put together a team of experts from Canada and the U.S. to explore all of the factors contributing to water loss on the Upper Great Lakes. The five-year study is estimated to cost $17.5-million and will examine causes ranging from climate change to erosion. The journal Northern Ontario Business (January 2007) notes that another IJC report, “Protection of Water of the Great Lakes,” discusses the causes of water level decline: “. . . the primary factors are climatic conditions, which control precipitation, runoff and direct supply

to the lakes, and rate of evaporation. However, diversions, consumptive use, dredging, and water-level regulation also play a role.”

The IJC has given priority to the St. Clair River question. In early November it released a preliminary report saying that its investigations to date do not support the erosion theory. Extensive videotaping indicates that the river bottom is stable, with large rocks and gravel preventing the washing away of the riverbed.

The IJC has not yet checked the river’s flow across its entire depth. But because it appears stable at its deepest parts (where the current is strongest), this is a good sign. However, there remains a possibility that dredging did lead to outflows that are greater than they would otherwise be—even though the riverbed is stable. The IJC is installing sophisticated hydraulic flow meters to monitor the outflow. Biometric (3-D) models are also being constructed.

If erosion or dredging is causing a problem with outflows in the St. Clair River, there is a (somewhat expensive) solution available. Large boulders and aggregate could be brought in to shore up the vulnerable areas. Such work would not begin until the IJC’s final report on the area, expected by February 2009.

Climate ChangeEnvironment Canada has modelled the effects of global warming on the Great Lakes and, specifically, Lake Superior. Its model indicates that water levels could drop by as much as 1.2 metres by 2050. The model also indicates that some of this water loss may be offset by increased precipitation. This is not yet the case. Other climate change

Quote“There has been a 24-centimetre increase in water levels in Superior the last two months, but overall levels reached record lows this year, and the concern remains that such a large body of water could lose that much water over a short period of time. Public interest on Superior and Huron levels is as high as the water is low” — Sault Ste. Marie MP Tony Martinwww.sootoday.com/content/news/ full_story.asp? StoryNumber= 28627.

Further ResearchA brochure describing the International Upper Great Lakes Study is available at www.iugls.org/en/IUGLS%20 Brochure.pdf. IJC videos are available online at www.iugls.org/ en/news/StClair/ IJCPresentation.htm.

http://www.iugls.org/en/IUGLS%20Brochure.pdf




models predict a decline in water levels throughout the Great Lakes of 0.5 to 2.5 metres.

One of the more pessimistic predictions came from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF – www.wwf.ca) in November 2006. Its study indicated that an anticipated two-degree rise in global temperatures will drastically affect the Great Lakes Basin sometime between 2026 and 2060. Increased evaporation, changes in rainfall patterns, and

alterations in glacial melting will result in Great Lakes water levels dropping by up to 1.2 metres.

The WWF argues that Great Lakes Basin residents should begin planning now for this event. As one example of what to expect, the WWF suggest that they should anticipate at least a 17 per cent reduction in hydro production at plants that are on the Great Lakes system.

Inquiry 1. What does the IJC appear to think may be the reason for the drop in Great

Lakes water levels?

2. What does the work of Environment Canada suggest is the cause for the decline in water levels?

3. What do you think might be the result of the continued drop in water levels? How should Canadians respond to this possibility?


LAKE SUPERIOR: WHERE DID THE WATER GO?Activity: Who Pulled the Plug?At present, there is anything but consensus on why the Upper Great Lakes water levels are so low. Is this merely something that happens to them every 30 years or so? Is climate change due to global warming already causing irreversible changes? Is erosion in the St. Clair River the real culprit? Is some combination of these or other factors the explanation?

Your Task: Come up with an answer as to who—or what—seems to have pulled the plug on the Great Lakes. You may complete this task individually, in pairs, or even small research teams.

Your Report: Brief—no more than one or two pages—but detailed in the factors that your research indicates are the reasons behind the low water levels in Superior and the other lakes. When your report is completed, present it to your peers.

Your Research: May include information from the video and other portions of this guide, as well as other sources that you locate.

Here are some Internet sites that are good starting points:

• USA Today: “The Case of the Disappearing Great Lake,” www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2007-06-13-lake-superior_N.htm

• globeandmail.com: “The Mystery of Lake Superior’s Low Levels, Surging Temperatures,” www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070728.wsuperior0728/BNStory/Science/home

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: “Water Levels of the Great Lakes,” www.glerl.noaa.gov/pubs/brochures/lakelevels/lakelevels.pdf

• cbc.ca: “Who Pulled the Plug on Lake Superior?” www.cbc.ca/national/blog/video/environmentscience/who_pulled_the_plug_on_lake_su_1.html

• International Joint Commission: “International Upper Great Lakes Study,” www.iugls.org/en/IUGLS%20Brochure.pdf

• National Wildlife Federation: “Climate Change and Great Lakes Water Resources, November 2007,” http://online.nwf.org/site/DocServer/Climate_ Change_and_Great_Lakes_Water_Resources_Report_FI.pdf?docID=2442

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: “The Great Lakes: An Environmental Atlas and Resource Book,” www.epa.gov/glnpo/atlas/index.html

• Georgian Bay Association: “Large Permanent Drop Discovered in Huron and Michigan Lake Levels,” www.georgianbay.ca/press_release_Jan24.htm

Further ResearchYou probably know that low water levels are not just a Canadian problem but, in fact, appear to be part of a global crisis. Recently, Council of Canadians (www.canadians.org) chair, Maude Barlow, authored a book on the topic, entitled Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water (McClelland & Stewart, 2007).


SEPTEMBER 2006Lebanon War: Israel Battles HezbollahToronto Arrests: 18 Face Terror ChargesLondon Bombers: Alienation and TerrorThe Big Melt: Canada’s Changing Arctic

OCTOBER 2006A Gunman Attacks Students in MontrealA Canadian Rides the Shuttle into SpaceCanada Hosts World AIDS Conference 9/11: The Day that Changed the World

NOVEMBER 2006Canada’s Bloody War in AfghanistanTrying to Stop the Killing in DarfurMichaëlle Jean: Our Governor GeneralCanada’s Famous Dinosaur Hunter

DECEMBER 2006The Liberals Choose a New LeaderThe North Korean Nuclear CrisisTeaching Children How to CareRestoring the Parliamentary Library

FEBRUARY 2007The U.S. Sends More Troops to IraqAfghanistan: The Dead and the WoundedTaking The Right To Play to EthiopiaVisiting Second Life’s Virtual World

MARCH 2007A Call for Action on Climate ChangeThe Trial of Robert PicktonThe Forgotten War in BurmaRepression and Fear in Russia

APRIL 2007The Budget: Countdown to an Election?Quebecers Vote in a Provincial ElectionArrest in a 1964 Mississippi Cold CaseFashion and the Dangerously Thin

MAY 2007Remembering Vimy RidgeIran Seizes British SailorsThe Dangers of Global WarmingLiving as a Homeless Person

News in Review IndexA list of the stories covered last season and to date in the current season is provided below.

The complete chronological index for all 17 seasons of News in Review, and a subject-oriented index listing News in Review stories appropriate for various subject areas can be accessed through our Web site at www.cbc.ca/newsinreview. Hard copies of these indexes can also be obtained by contacting CBC Learning.

CBC LearningP.O. Box 500, Station AToronto, Ontario, Canada M5W 1E6Tel: (416) 205-6384Fax: (416) 205-2376E-mail: [email protected]

SEPTEMBER 2007The Trial of Conrad BlackThe Seven Wonders of CanadaTony Blair’s Ten Years in PowerOmar Khadr: Canadian in Guantanamo

OCTOBER 2007The Van Doos Head for AfghanistanThe Trials of Stephen TruscottThe Act that Made Us CanadianGoing Green to Fight Global Warming

NOVEMBER 2007Taking Off: Canada’s Soaring DollarDefending Our Sovereignty in the ArcticSelling Canada’s Military to CanadiansHelping The Mentally Ill Homeless

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