How did the government use its power to create and define the idea of Canadian - Essay Example

HOW THE GOVERNMENT USED ITS POWERS TO CREATE AND DEFINE “CANADIAN” DISCUSSION One of the methods that were used by the Canadian government to create and define the idea of the “Canadian”, involved enacting laws that provided certain rights to its citizens. In 1911, Alberta passed an act that was referred as Powers Act, which provided women with the rights to have a third of their husband’s wealth. In 1927, five famous women from the Alberta region signed up a petition bringing together the Prime Minister as well as the Federal Department of Justice leading to a ruling that declared women as persons eligible to sit and make major decisions in Supreme Court of Canada.

1On the other hand, the government also applied the concept of suppressing radical ideas majorly through banning and prohibiting public meeting as well as rallies that are held by key activists. In the early 1900s, the government of Canada, specifically the Vancouver Trade and Labor Council, Socialist Party of Canada and other political elites, engaged in a competition to gain the complete trust of workers. That is, those that frequently engaged in public rallies to fight for freedom of speech.

Their solidarity was seen as a threat to the prosperity of the elite political class and the federal government. 2The government of Canada also applied a strategy that basically focused on forming collaboration with business owners to oppose strikes. In the year 1919, during the Winnipeg strike, the three levels of Canadian government opposed a strike, which has been defined as one of the most influential historical strikes in Canada by reducing the supply of basic necessities such as: Food, water and communication as well as replacing the striking Canadian workers with immigrants, who were then referred as aliens.

3Moreover, the government of Canada has also been on the forefront of opposing any act of racism and ideologies directed towards discrimination. Philip Jensen is one person that has been on the frontline; making attempts to ensure that government of Canada legalize racial discrimination in the sense that business owners and other service providers deny services to people based on their races and even ethnic backgrounds.4 REFLEXIVESome of the strategies discussed above are still applied by the government of Canada.

Most governments currently oppose discrimination and have even implemented laws that hinder discrimination in relation to race, religion et cetera, and an idea that is also greatly applied by the Canadian government. In addition, the government in some cases can also oppose strikes, especially those that are perceived to distort peace within the society. Consequently, the government has continued to use laws as well as acts that provide rights to members of the society to behave in a certain manner.

BibliographyBumsted, J. M.. The Winnipeg General Strike of 1919: an illustrated history. Winnipeg: Watson & Dwyer, 1994, pp. 104-136.Jensen, Joan M.. Passage from India: Asian Indian immigrants in North America. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1988, pp. 120-336."Persons case: a struggle for legal definition & personhood ." Persons case: a struggle for legal definition. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|A30340652&v=2.1&u=king56371&it=r&p=CPI&sw=w&asid=baa4533ee79d37d7ccda3ee2abafe214 (accessed July 2, 2014).

"Solidarity in Occasion: The Vancouver Free Speech Fights of 1909 and 1912." The Vancouver Free Speech Fights of 1909 and 1912. http://journals.hil.unb.ca/index.php/LLT/article/download/4712/5585 (accessed July 2, 2014).