Economy and Labour

1600

Economy and Society  Trade 

Trade

The fur trade involved the trapping of beavers for fur. How did Indigenous peoples contribute to the fur trade? (See also Indigenous Perspectives on the Fur Trade.)

January 01, 1600

Economy and Society  Trade 

Trade Alliances Between Indigenous Peoples and Europeans Form

Indigenous technology and knowledge of hunting, trapping, guiding, food, and disease prove crucial to the survival of Europeans and early colonial economy and society, particularly in the supply of beaver pelts and other furs. The establishment of alliances gives Indigenous peoples access to European weaponry and other goods.

January 01, 1600

Trade 

Fur Trade Becomes a Vast Commercial Enterprise

From the early 17th to the mid-19th centuries, the fur trade is a vast commercial enterprise across what is now Canada. Indigenous technology and knowledge are crucial to the competitive trade and to the survival of Europeans.

February 04, 1623

Economy and Society 

Seigneurial System Instituted

The feudal seigneurial system was instituted in New France, when Louis Hébert was granted the fief of Sault-au-Matelot, near Québec. The system was not abolished until 1854.

April 29, 1627

Companies 

Compagnie des Cent-Associés

The Compagnie des Cent-Associés was granted New France from Florida to the Arctic. The Company was given full seigneurial ownership of New France.

April 29, 1628

Economy and Society 

First Use of Plow

Guillaume Couillard-Lespinay, Louis Hébert's son-in-law, was the first person in Canada to use a plow.

August 18, 1634

Economy and Society  People 

Champlain's Last Words

Champlain wrote to Richelieu, his last words on record, reporting that he had rebuilt the ruins of Québec and had built an armed trading post at Trois-Rivières. He also noted that several new families had arrived in the area, giving him renewed hope for the survival of settlement in the area.

1645

Companies 

Companies

The fur trade was a competitive commercial enterprise. How did trading companies, like the Hudson’s Bay Company, influence economic growth and settlement? (See also Fur Trade in Canada.)

May 01, 1664

Companies 

Compagnie des Indes occidentales

The Compagnie des Indes occidentales, which replaced the Compagnie des Cents-Associés, was established in May 1664 by Jean-Baptiste Colbert to drive Dutch traders from French colonies in the West Indies and the Americas, and to emulate Dutch and English commercial success. Permanent residents of New France could trade for furs with Indigenous people but had to sell the beaver and moose hides to the company at fixed prices.

September 29, 1668

Economy and Society 

Nonsuch Reaches James Bay

Groseilliers and Zachariah Gillam sailed the ship Nonsuch into James Bay and built Fort Charles at the mouth of the Rupert River.

May 02, 1670

Companies 

Hudson's Bay Company Founded

King Charles II of England granted a charter to Prince Rupert and his "Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay." The charter granted the company a monopoly of trade in the Bay and ownership of all lands drained by rivers flowing into the Bay. The HBC established an English presence in the Northwest and a competitive route to the fur trade centred on Montréal.

January 24, 1672

Companies 

HBC’s First Fur Sale

The Hudson’s Bay Company’s first fur sale (an auction) took place, at Garraway’s Coffee House in London. Many of the city’s rich and influential citizens socialized at Garraway’s, and the auction became something of a gala evening, drawing London’s elite to bid on the 27 lots of furs.

December 01, 1674

Companies 

Colbert Dissolves Compagnie des indes occidentales

Jean-Baptiste Colbert dissolved the Compagnie des indes occidentales after it failed to emulate Dutch and British commercial success in the Americas. Colbert initiated the regime of direct governmental administration of colonies.

January 01, 1699

Companies 

Compagnie de la Colonie

The Compagnie de la Colonie was created in 1699 and gave Canadiens a monopoly over the fur trade. Until 1705, roughly 60 young men travelled as voyageurs on behalf of the Compagnie de la Colonie, reaching as far as the post of Detroit. They earned a modest wage for their efforts. Established during a period of decline in the French beaver pelt market, the Compagnie eventually dissolved in 1706 and the French Crown enjoyed a monopoly once again.

January 01, 1715

Trade 

Fur Trade Revives

The surplus of beaver fur in French warehouses was found to be destroyed by rodents and insects, reviving the fur trade market's demand for beaver pelts

September 23, 1750

Economy and Society 

First Wage Fixing

A decree enacted at Halifax was the first instance of government wage fixing in Canada; labourers were to receive 18 pence per day and provisions.

April 24, 1779

Companies 

North West Company Formed

The North West Company was formed in Montreal, with 16 shares.

January 01, 1798

Companies 

XY Company Founding

The XY Company was founded in 1789 after conflicts arose between North West Company agents, led by Simon McTavish, and North West Company winterers (who then split from McTavish and the company) following the North West Company’s reorganization in 1795. In 1800, Alexander Mackenzie joined the new company, which then became popularly known as “Alexander Mackenzie & Co.”

October 05, 1804

Companies 

XY Company and North West Company Unite

The fur trading companies XY, popularly known as “Alexander Mackenzie & Co.,” and the North West Company amalgamated.

November 05, 1804

Economy and Society  Companies 

XY and NWC Unite

The fur-trading XY and North West companies amalgamated.

August 24, 1807

Trade 

Trade Suspended

Trade between British North America and the United States was suspended. However, Saint John, Halifax and Shelburne were designated free ports in which American shipping was welcome.

March 01, 1809

Trade 

Resumption of Trade

President Thomas Jefferson authorized the Non-Intercourse Act, effectively repealing the Embargo Act and allowing the resumption of all trade except that with Britain and France.

June 23, 1810

Companies 

Pacific Fur Company

The Pacific Fur Company was established to trade furs in the Northwest and on the Pacific Coast. The company was headed by New York fur dealer John Jacob Astor.

June 23, 1810

Companies 

Pacific Fur Company

The Pacific Fur Company, headed by New York fur dealer John Jacob Astor, was established to trade furs in the Northwest and on the Pacific Coast.

November 03, 1817

Companies  Finance 

Bank of Montreal Founded

The first permanent bank in British North America, the Bank of Montreal, was founded. It became a source of commercial loans and credit for the growing Canadian economy.

March 25, 1820

Companies  Finance 

Bank of New Brunswick

The Bank of New Brunswick was incorporated, and was the first in the colony.

March 21, 1821

Economy and Society  Companies 

Fur Empires Merge

Agreement was reached to merge the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company as of June 1, effectively ending the fur trade out of Montréal and creating a near monopoly of the fur trade in British North America.

March 21, 1821

Companies 

Fur Empires Merge

An agreement was reached to merge the North West Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company as of June 1, effectively ending the fur trade out of Montreal and creating a near monopoly of the fur trade in British North America.

April 21, 1821

Companies  Finance 

Bank of Upper Canada

The Bank of Upper Canada was incorporated at York (Toronto).

January 01, 1823

Money 

NS Issues Coinage

Nova Scotia became the first colony to issue coinage.

January 28, 1832

Companies  Finance 

Commercial Bank Incorporated

The Commercial Bank was incorporated in Upper Canada.

March 30, 1832

Companies  Finance 

Bank of Nova Scotia Incorporated

The Bank of Nova Scotia was incorporated.

June 27, 1844

Companies  Finance 

Banque du Peuple Incorporated

Le Banque du Peuple was incorporated at Montréal.

January 13, 1849

Economy and Society  Companies 

HBC Leases Vancouver Island

A British lease gave the Hudson's Bay Company exclusive trading rights on Vancouver Island. The company leased the island for 7 shillings a year.

June 26, 1849

Economy and Society 

British Navigation Acts

The British Navigation Acts were repealed by Britain in a move towards free trade. The acts were considered a burden in Canada.

October 24, 1852

Economy and Society 

Toronto Stock Exchange

The Toronto Stock Exchange opened.

1853

Companies  Unions and Labour 

Labour

The construction of railways required many workers. Who built the railways? What were their working conditions? (See also Railway History in Canada.)

April 16, 1853

Economy and Society 

First Locomotive Built in Canada

The Toronto Locomotive Works completed the "Toronto", the first locomotive built in Canada.

June 06, 1854

Trade 

Reciprocity Treaty Signed

A Reciprocity Treaty established the mutual abolition or reduction of customs duties between the US and Canada; it came into effect on October 18. The treaty helped produce a considerable increase in trade between the two countries.

February 28, 1857

Economy and Society 

First Oil Production

The world's first commercial oil production began at Petrolia, Ont, 2 years before the first well in the US.

December 28, 1857

Economy and Society 

Crown Controls Mineral Rights

Governor James Douglas of Vancouver Island proclaimed the Crown's control of mineral rights on the mainland to ensure it remained under British control after American gold seekers began to descend upon the Fraser River.

1858

Money 

Money

Money is a medium of exchange. (See also Coins and Tokens.) What was exchanged prior to the introduction of Canadian currency?

July 01, 1858

Money 

First Coins Minted

A law required that the accounts of the Province of Canada be kept in dollars; the first Canadian coins were minted: silver 5-cent, 10-cent and 20-cent pieces and bronze pennies.

August 17, 1862

Economy and Society 

Largest Strike of Cariboo Gold Rush

The largest gold strike of the Cariboo Gold Rush was discovered on Williams Creek in the Cariboo region of BC.

January 01, 1863

Companies 

International Financial Society Buys the Hudson’s Bay Company

In 1863, the International Financial Society bought controlling interest in the Hudson’s Bay Company, marking the beginning of the end of the historic fur trade. This signalled a shift in the company’s outlook, as most of the new shareholders were less interested in the fur trade than in real estate speculation and economic development in the West.

March 17, 1866

Economy and Society  Trade 

US Ends Reciprocity

The US ended reciprocity (free trade) with Canada.

October 01, 1867

Economy and Society 

Incorporation of the Moosehead Brewery

Moosehead Brewery was incorporated on 1 October 1867, in Nova Scotia. On paper, John Oland was manager of the business, but in reality, his wife Susannah Oland oversaw virtually every aspect of the operations. She supervised the brewing process, undertaken with the help of her three sons. It all started when Susannah supplemented the family income by making beer in their shed, using an old family recipe.

December 01, 1869

Companies 

HBC Surrenders Rupert's Land

The Hudson's Bay Company surrendered Rupert's Land to the Canadian government.

December 08, 1869

Economy and Society  People 

Timothy Eaton Opened His First Store

Timothy Eaton opened his first store on 178 Yonge Street, Toronto. A dry-goods and men’s clothing boutique, the shop distinguished itself with a "satisfaction guaranteed" refund policy. Eaton’s was also one of the first in town to snub credit, preferring cash-only sales and a no-haggling policy.

January 01, 1872

Unions and Labour 

Nine-Hour Movement

A wave of labour unrest known as the Nine-Hour Movement swept the country. Grievances included for the institution of a nine hour work day and the right to associate in trade unions.

May 15, 1872

Economy and Society  Unions and Labour 

Nine-hour Day March

Demand for a 9-hour day began on a march in Hamilton, Ont, and spread across Canada, the first unified labour protest in Canada.

October 01, 1876

Economy and Society 

First Wheat Shipped

The first western Canadian wheat was shipped to Ontario.

March 14, 1879

Economy and Society 

National Policy Takes Effect

Sir John A. Macdonald's National Policy of protective tariffs came into effect with Tilley's Tariff, averaging 25 per cent on US goods.

September 01, 1879

Economy and Society  Unions and Labour 

First Trade Union

The first trade union to be legalized in Canadian coal mines was the Provincial Workmen's Association, organized at Springhill, NS.

February 16, 1881

Companies 

CPR Incorporated

The Canadian Pacific Railway Company was incorporated.

September 01, 1882

Economy and Society  People 

John Ware Comes North

Black cowboy John Ware helped to bring 3,000 head of cattle to the foothills southwest of Calgary. He remained and worked for several of the large cattle companies before starting his own ranch.

January 01, 1885

Economy and Society  Unions and Labour 

Chinese Labourers and the CPR

Some 15,000 Chinese labourers completed the British Columbia section of the CPR, with more than 600 of them perishing under adverse working conditions during this essential construction. Largely because of the trans-Canada railway, Chinese communities developed across the nation.

March 25, 1886

Economy and Society  Unions and Labour 

Workman's Compensation Act

The first Workman's Compensation Act was passed in Ontario.

August 08, 1887

Economy and Society 

Vancouver Lights Up

The Vancouver Electric Illumination Society (later, BC Hydro) started up its steam-powered generating plant - and 300 streetlights went on.

February 07, 1888

Economy and Society  Unions and Labour 

Vancouver's Oldest Union Founded

Vancouver's oldest union, Local 226 (Vancouver) of the International Typographical Union, received its charter.

September 03, 1894

Economy and Society  Unions and Labour 

Labour Day Celebrated

Labour Day was celebrated nationally for the first time in Canada. The international celebration was inspired by yearly festivities held in Toronto.

September 06, 1897

Economy and Society 

Crow's Nest Pass Agreement

By the Crow's Nest Pass Agreement, the CPR was given a cash subsidy of $3.3 million, in exchange for reducing rates on grain and flour.

May 04, 1898

Economy and Society 

Prospectors Arrive in Portland Canal, BC

The first prospectors arrived in Portland Canal, from Seattle. The first gold stakes were claimed the following year, which ultimately led to the establishment of the town of Stewart, BC.

January 26, 1900

Economy and Society  Companies 

Niagara Hydro Approved

The Niagara Parks Commission approved a plan to build a massive hydro-electric generating station on the Canadian side of the Niagara River.

October 27, 1900

Unions and Labour 

Québec Shoe Workers' Strike

The Québec Shoe Workers' Strike marked the first direct intervention in a labour conflict by Québec Catholic clergy and the first step toward the creation of Catholic unions.

December 06, 1900

Economy and Society  People 

Desjardins Founds Credit Union

Alphonse Desjardins founded the first credit union in North America at Lévis, Quebec.

August 14, 1903

Economy and Society 

World's Richest Vein of Silver

A claim was filed for what turned out to be the richest silver vein in the world, at Cobalt, Ont, by railway workers. By 1906 there were thousands of prospectors working the area but the boom subsided only 3 years later.

October 10, 1904

Companies 

Ford Motor Company of Canada

The new Ford Motor Company of Canada started producing cars in Walkerville (now Windsor), Ontario. The company started as Walkerville Wagon Works, but officially teamed up with Henry Ford in August of 1904, and grew quickly. By 1913, the original 17 employees had grown to 1,400.

May 14, 1906

Economy and Society  Companies 

Ontario Hydro Created

The Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario was created, with Adam Beck as chairman. It was the first publicly owned electric utility in the world.

January 01, 1907

Economy and Society 

Charles Saunders Develops Marquis Wheat

Charles Edward Saunders completed the development of Marquis wheat, a fast-maturing variety suited to the Prairies. It was first distributed to farmers in 1909 and greatly extended the area in which wheat could be grown. By 1920 it comprised 90% of the wheat grown on the Prairies.

September 06, 1910

Economy and Society 

Newfoundland Regulates Fishery

An international tribunal ruled that Newfoundland may regulate fisheries used not only by Newfoundland fishermen, but also by Americans and Canadians.

October 11, 1910

Economy and Society 

First Long-distance Transmission

An Ontario Hydro transmission line brought Niagara Falls-generated electricity to Berlin (Kitchener), Ont, the first long-distance transmission of electricity in Canada.

March 12, 1912

Unions and Labour 

Fraser River Railway Strikes

Railway workers organized by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) walked out of construction camps on the Canadian Northern line to protest conditions.

October 31, 1913

Economy and Society  Unions and Labour 

Meredith Report

Beginning in 1910, Sir William Ralph Meredith headed a commission to study workers’ compensation. His final report, which was submitted on 31 October 1913, featured what became known as the “Meredith Principles.” These principles have served as the foundation for workers’ compensation legislation in Canada.

May 14, 1914

Economy and Society 

Oil Discovery at Turner Valley

A major oil discovery at Turner Valley, southwest of Calgary, ushered in the oil age in Alberta.

January 23, 1915

Companies 

Canadian Northern Railway

The last spike was driven on the Canadian Northern Railway at Basque, BC.

January 01, 1917

Economy and Society 

Income Tax Introduced

The Income War Tax Act introduced the first income tax in Canada.

January 01, 1919

Unions and Labour 

Order of the Sleeping Car Porters Is Recognized

In January 1919, the Order of Sleeping Car Porters (OSCP), the first Black railway union in North America, was finally recognized. Close to 90 per cent of all Black men in Canada worked in railway jobs, which were severely underpaid and had abysmal working conditions.

March 13, 1919

Economy and Society  Unions and Labour 

One Big Union

The Western Labour Conference of four western provinces agreed to form the One Big Union.

May 01, 1919

Unions and Labour 

Sympathy Strike In Alberta

Two thousand workers in Edmonton and Calgary went on strike in support of the strikers in the Winnipeg General Strike.

May 15, 1919

Unions and Labour 

Winnipeg General Strike Begins

The Winnipeg General Strike, the largest strike in Canadian history, occurs. Between May 15 and June 25, more than 30,000 workers leave their jobs. The strike does not immediately improve job conditions, but it unites Canada’s working class.

June 06, 1919

Economy and Society  Companies 

Canadian National Railways Incorporated

Canadian National Railways was incorporated. It became the longest railway system in North America, controlling more than 50 000 km of track in Canada and the US.

August 17, 1923

Companies  Finance 

Bank Fails

The Home Bank of Montreal failed, the first chartered bank to do so since the Farmer's Bank in 1911.

October 08, 1923

Unions and Labour 

Longshore Strikes

The 1400 members of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) in Vancouver struck for higher wages.

June 26, 1925

Unions and Labour 

Drumheller Strike

A violent confrontation between police and strikers effectively ended the strike of the miners in Drumheller, Alta.

November 28, 1925

Economy and Society  Companies 

Eaton's Parade (Montreal)

Eaton's held its first Christmas parade in Montreal, with 1,100 children participating. The parade route ran from Saint Joseph Blvd to the store on Sainte Catherine Street. It became an annual event and was held on the third Saturday of November until 1968.

January 19, 1926

Economy and Society  People 

Death of Charles Johnson

Charles Gardiner Johnson, known as "the father of Vancouver's shipping industry," died at Vancouver. He arrived in Vancouver broke in 1885 and worked as a labourer.

July 01, 1926

Economy and Society  Finance  Money 

Canada Back on Gold Standard

Canada was restored to the gold standard.

October 29, 1926

People 

Birth of Trade Unionist Don Garcia

Don Garcia was a prominent figure in the labour movement. He served multiple terms as president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canadian Area. He was also an executive of both the BC Federation of Labour and the Vancouver Port Corporation (National Harbours Board), and a founding member of the Western Transportation Advisory Council (WESTAC). He was involved in union work for 45 years.

October 24, 1929

Economy and Society 

The Stock Market Crash of 1929

The collapse of the American stock market begins the Great Depression, which ravages the Canadian economy during the “Dirty Thirties.” Life is especially harsh in the Prairies, where drought worsens conditions. The crisis inspires the creation of social welfare programs.

October 29, 1929

Economy and Society 

Black Tuesday

On Wall Street, over 16 million shares were sold, up almost four million from Black Thursday's unprecedented totals just five days before. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted, eliminating a strong year's gains, and the investment giant Goldman Sachs was reduced to barely 50 per cent of its worth the night before. The Great Depression of the 1930s followed.

1930

Economy and Society 

Economy and Society

How did the government respond to the economic hardships of the Great Depression?

May 16, 1930

Economy and Society 

LaBine Finds Uranium

Prospector Gilbert LaBine discovered pitchblende, the chief source of uranium and radium, at Great Bear Lake, NWT.

September 08, 1931

Unions and Labour 

Estevan Strike

Coal miners at Estevan, Sask, went on strike for union recognition. On September 29 three strikers were killed in a clash with the RCMP.

September 14, 1933

Unions and Labour 

Strike in Stratford, Ont

Furniture workers and meat packers went on strike in Stratford, Ont. Troops and armoured cars were moved into the town on September 27.

June 11, 1934

Unions and Labour 

Strike in Flin Flon

Miners in Flin Flon, Man, went on strike.

July 03, 1934

Finance 

Bank of Canada Act

The Bank of Canada Act created the Bank of Canada in response to the 1933 Royal Commission on Banking and Currency.

January 02, 1935

Economy and Society 

Bennett Outlines New Deal

With Canadians suffering from coast to coast, Conservative prime minister R.B. Bennett made the first of five radio broadcasts to address the state of the nation, which was deep in the Great Depression. Called The Premier Speaks to the People, Bennett’s address was broadcast across 38 stations. The legislation he proposed became known as Canada’s “New Deal.” It was reported that Bennett paid for the airtime, approximately $10,000, out of his own pocket.

March 11, 1935

Companies  Finance 

Bank of Canada Opens

The Bank of Canada began operations.

April 04, 1935

Economy and Society 

First Silver Dollar

Canada's first silver dollar coin was minted, to be released to the public on May 1.

April 23, 1935

Economy and Society  Unions and Labour 

Riot Act Read in Victory Square

Vancouver's mayor Gerry McGeer read the Riot Act in Victory Square to disperse a large crowd of protesting unemployed.

June 05, 1935

Unions and Labour 

On to Ottawa Trek

About 1000 unemployed men boarded freight cars in Vancouver to begin the "On to Ottawa" trek. The strikers commandeered freight trains and made stops in Calgary, Medicine Hat, Swift Current and Moose Jaw before arriving in Regina June 14.

June 18, 1935

Economy and Society  Unions and Labour 

Battle of the Ballantyne Pier

Mounted police charged 1000 longshoremen in Vancouver during a strike lockout in the "Battle of the Ballantyne Pier."

August 31, 1935

Economy and Society 

Closure of Anyox Mill

The mill at Anyox on the north coast closed. The silver, gold and copper mine had ceased operations a month earlier and Anyox became a ghost town.

April 08, 1937

Unions and Labour 

Oshawa Strike

More than 4000 workers of the huge General Motors plant in Oshawa, Ont, struck. GM accepted many of the union's demands, without recognizing the union.

August 20, 1937

Unions and Labour 

Miramichi Strike

1500 millworkers and longshoremen along the Miramichi River in northern New Brunswick struck at 14 lumber firms for increased wages.

May 20, 1938

Unions and Labour 

Relief Workers' Strike in BC

Unemployed members of the Relief Project Worker's Union in Vancouver occupied the Hotel Georgia, the Vancouver Art Gallery and the central post office and began a sit-down strike.

June 19, 1938

Unions and Labour 

Bloody Sunday

A violent confrontation between protesters and the RCMP and city police erupted in Vancouver. Estimates indicate that 42 people were hospitalized, including five police officers, after a brutal fight between law enforcement and those protesting government cuts to unemployment relief camps earlier that year.

September 03, 1939

Economy and Society  Trade 

Wartime Prices and Trade Board

The Wartime Prices and Trade Board was established to control inflation and to ensure that social unrest did not interfere with the upcoming war effort.

August 07, 1940

Economy and Society 

National Unemployment Insurance Program

The first compulsory national unemployment insurance program was instituted on 7 August 1940 after a constitutional amendment gave the federal government legislative power over unemployment insurance. The Unemployment Insurance Act came into effect on 1 July 1941. In 1996, the Unemployment Insurance system was renamed Employment Insurance (EI).

August 07, 1940

Economy and Society 

Unemployment Insurance Act

The federal Unemployment Insurance Act was given royal assent. Canada became the last western industrialized nation to have unemployment insurance. The Act underwent major revisions in 1955 and 1971.

July 24, 1941

Unions and Labour 

Arvida Strike

Some 700 workers in the Aluminium Company of Canada (Alcan) in Arvida, Qué, spontaneously walked off the job. The next day the strike spread to 4500 workers.

July 20, 1942

Economy and Society 

Veterans' Land Act

The Veterans' Land Act made provision for returning veterans to obtain loans in order to buy land.

June 02, 1944

Economy and Society  Unions and Labour 

Local 480 Certified

At Trail, Local 480 of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers was certified.

1945

Unions and Labour 

Labour

How did the First World War and Second World War impact workers in Canada? (See also Wartime Home Front.)

January 01, 1945

Economy and Society 

Immigration and Labour Demand

At war's end, Canadian immigration regulations remained unchanged from the restrictive prewar years. But with a great demand for labour, Canada gradually re-opened its doors to European immigration; first to immigrants Canada traditionally preferred — those from the United Kingdom and Western Europe — but eventually to the rest of Europe as well. Immigration from Eastern Europe came to a halt, however, as borders to the west were closed by the Soviet Union and its Cold War allies.

May 18, 1945

Economy and Society  Unions and Labour 

Black Labourers Gain Protection from Arbitrary Dismissal

After nearly seven decades of unionization efforts, Black porters won a collective agreement that, for the first time, protected Black labourers from arbitrary dismissal. As a result of increased salaries and paid vacations, many porters became financially secure for the first time.

September 12, 1945

Unions and Labour 

Windsor Strike

The walkout of some 17 000 workers at the Ford Motor Co in Windsor was the first and most significant of the many strikes occurring immediately after WWII.

January 29, 1946

Economy and Society  Unions and Labour 

Rand Formula

Mr Justice Ivan Rand of the Supreme Court of Canada handed down a decision based on the assumption that a union is essential for all workers and must be responsible for them.

May 15, 1946

Unions and Labour 

BC Woodworkers' Strike

The International Woodworkers of America initiated a nationwide, postwar strike wave of Canadian Congress of Labour (CCL) affiliates. Twenty-seven thousand workers in both the coast and interior regions of BC went on strike.

February 13, 1947

People 

Hunter Strikes Oil at Leduc

Vern "Dry Hole" Hunter struck oil near Leduc, Alberta. The discovery ended a long decline in the Alberta oil industry, began an era of prosperity for the province and spared Canada dependence on foreign oil.

January 01, 1948

Trade 

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Goes into Force

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was an international trade agreement. It was signed by 23 nations, including Canada in 1947. The agreement went into effect on 1 January 1948. The World Trade Organization (WTO) replaced the GATT on 1 January 1995.

February 14, 1949

Unions and Labour 

Asbestos Strike

Some 5000 miners paralysed major asbestos mines in Québec for 4 months. The brutality of the police repression brought a wave of solidarity, supported by the Catholic Church, that showed that the labour movement could confront Duplessis.

August 22, 1950

Unions and Labour 

National Rail Strike

A national rail strike caused one of the most serious transport crises in Canadian history.

April 24, 1952

Economy and Society 

First Alberta Oil in Ontario

The first shipment of oil from Alberta arrived in Ontario via pipeline and freighter.

December 07, 1953

Companies 

First Foreign Bank

The Mercantile Bank of Canada began operations; it was the first foreign-owned bank to be incorporated in Canada.

September 19, 1955

Unions and Labour 

General Motors Strike Begins

Some 17 000 General Motors auto workers in Ontario began a lengthy strike that did not end until 14 February 1956.

February 14, 1956

Unions and Labour 

GM Strike Ends

A 148-day strike by 17 000 General Motors employees ended.

April 23, 1956

Economy and Society 

Canadian Labour Congress

At a Toronto convention, the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada merged with the Canadian Congress of Labour to form the Canadian Labour Congress, as of May 1.

May 08, 1956

Economy and Society 

Pipeline Debate

A bill to provide an $80 million loan to TransCanada PipeLines was introduced in the House of Commons. The government invoked closure at each stage of the Pipeline Debate, the first time it had been used in this way.

March 10, 1957

Unions and Labour 

Murdochville Strike

Workers of Gaspé Copper Mines in Murdochville, Qué, struck for the right to unionize. The conflict lasted 7 months.

December 31, 1958

Unions and Labour 

Newfoundland Loggers Strike

Hundreds of loggers employed by the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Co. at Grand Falls struck for wage increases and for improvements in living conditions at wood camps. Premier Joseph Smallwood intervened on 12 February 1959.

November 02, 1959

Economy and Society 

National Energy Board Act

The National Energy Board Act established the National Energy Board (NEB), an independent federal agency. From between 1959 to 2019, the NEB regulated international and inter-provincial pipelines, powerlines and the import and export of energy (see Electric-Power Transmission). In 2019, the NEB was replaced by he Canada Energy Regulator (CER). 

February 03, 1961

Companies  Finance 

Formation of the CIBC

The government approved the merger of the Canadian Bank of Commerce and the Imperial Bank of Canada, forming the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

May 08, 1961

Economy and Society  People 

Pattison Opens Car Dealership

Jim Pattison opened his first car dealership, Jim Pattison Ltd, located on Cambie Street in Vancouver. In 1987 Pattison was awarded the Order of Canada, and in 1990, the Order of British Columbia.

July 13, 1961

Economy and Society  People 

Coyne Forced to Resign

The governor of the Bank of Canada, James Elliott Coyne, was forced to resign by the Diefenbaker government over fiscal and monetary policy disagreements.

September 01, 1961

Economy and Society 

Drilling Begins in the Arctic

The first oil-drilling rig in the Arctic was unloaded in preparation for drilling on Melville Island.

May 02, 1962

Economy and Society 

Canadian Dollar Pegged

The Canadian dollar was officially pegged at 92.5¢ US, creating the perception of an economic crisis.

July 06, 1962

Economy and Society 

Société Générale de Financement

The Québec government formed Société générale de financement (SGF) to facilitate industrial development in Québec.

June 03, 1963

Economy and Society 

Fisheries Zone Established

The government decided to establish a 22.2 km (12 nautical miles) exclusive fisheries zone off the Canadian coast, to begin in May 1964.

July 22, 1963

Economy and Society 

B&B Commission Formed

The Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism was announced, to be chaired by André Laurendeau and Arnold Davidson Dunton.

August 02, 1963

Economy and Society 

Economic Council Established

The Economic Council of Canada was established, with John J. Deutsch appointed chairman.

July 16, 1964

Economy and Society 

Fishing Limit Extended

A bill extending Canada's fishing limits to 22.2 km (12 nautical miles) received royal assent.

November 18, 1964

Economy and Society 

Lead-zinc Shipped from NWT

The first shipment of lead-zinc ore left Pine Point, NWT, destined for smelters in Trail and Kimberley, BC, over the recently completed Great Slave Lake Railway.

January 16, 1965

Economy and Society 

Canada-US Automotive Agreement

Prime Minister Pearson and President Johnson signed the Canada-US Automotive Agreement, a conditional free-trade agreement to create a single North American market for passenger cars, trucks, buses, tires and automotive parts.

February 25, 1965

Economy and Society 

Preliminary B&B Report

The preliminary report of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism was tabled in the House of Commons.

July 01, 1965

Economy and Society 

Canadian Labour Code Effective

The Canadian Labour Code came into effect for all government employees.

July 15, 1965

Finance 

Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec

The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec was formed. Originally modeled on the Canada Pension Plan, it manages funds deposited by the Régie des rentes du Québec, the province's pension board.

July 22, 1965

Unions and Labour 

Postal Strike

About 10 000 postal workers in Ontario, Québec and BC struck for higher wages.

January 14, 1967

Unions and Labour 

Teachers' Strike in Québec

Hundreds of schools in Montréal and Trois-Rivières were closed when Catholic elementary and secondary teachers went on strike. The strike ended with the passage of the Québec government's controversial Bill 25 on February 17.

December 05, 1967

Economy and Society 

B&B Report Released

The first volume of the report of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism was released.

May 14, 1968

Companies 

TD Centre Opens

The tallest building in Canada to that date, the 56-storey Toronto Dominion Centre in Toronto, was opened. It was designed by Mies van der Rohe.

July 18, 1968

Unions and Labour 

Nationwide Postal Strike

A nationwide postal strike involved 24 000 workers.

September 28, 1968

Economy and Society  Companies 

Powerhouse Unveiled

BC premier W.A.C. Bennett opened the Dr Gordon M. Shrum Powerhouse of the $485 million Peace River hydro-electric project at Hudson's Hope, BC.

December 09, 1968

Economy and Society 

Second B&B Report Released

The second report of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism recommended that all children in Canadian schools be required to study the second official language.

February 19, 1969

Unions and Labour 

18-Month Strike Ends

The 18-month-old rotating strikes of 70 000 Québec teachers ended when Montréal judge René Lippé was appointed mediator in the dispute.

May 29, 1970

Companies 

Hudson's Bay Co Moved

The Hudson's Bay Company head office moved from London, England, to Winnipeg.

October 04, 1971

Economy and Society 

Oil Discovered on Sable Island

Oil and natural gas were discovered on Sable Island.

October 27, 1971

Unions and Labour 

La Presse Strike

Strikers forced La Presse to close down. Two days later, the unions defied a municipal ban to organize a huge march in solidarity with the newspaper workers. More than 12 000 people clashed with 100 Montréal policemen.

January 01, 1972

Economy and Society 

Capital Gains Tax in Effect

The Capital Gains Tax came into effect.

January 30, 1972

Economy and Society 

Bloody Sunday Riots

In Londonderry, Northern Ireland, British soldiers shot 13 civilians during riots that followed an illegal march - known as "Bloody Sunday."

February 24, 1972

Economy and Society 

Oil Discovered on Ellesmere Island

Panarctic Oils Ltd announced the first discovery of oil in the Arctic, on Ellesmere Island.

February 25, 1972

Economy and Society  Companies 

Pickering Station Opened

The Pickering nuclear power plant officially opened, the largest single electricity producer in the world.

February 27, 1972

Economy and Society 

Fisheries Agreement

France, Britain, Portugal and Denmark agreed by treaty to gradually eliminate their traditional and treaty fishing rights in eastern Canadian waters.

April 11, 1972

Unions and Labour 

Public Service Strike

More than 200 000 Québec public service employees went on strike, the largest strike in Canadian history.

April 24, 1972

Economy and Society 

Fishing Ban

The federal government banned fishing off the New Brunswick coast and the area around Port aux Basques, Nfld, to conserve dwindling fish stocks.

May 29, 1972

Economy and Society 

Ban on Fishing off Gaspé

Québec banned fishing off the Gaspé Peninsula due to low fish stocks.

June 01, 1972

People 

Sylvia Ostry Appointed Chief Statistician of Canada

Sylvia Ostry was an economist and public servant. She was the first female chief statistician of Canada, a position that she held until 1975. (See also Statistics Canada; Economics.)

June 16, 1972

Economy and Society 

Churchill Falls Opens

The Churchill Falls power project opened, the largest single-site hydro-electric project in the world.

July 14, 1972

Economy and Society  People 

Donald Macdonald Heads Union

Donald Macdonald, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, was elected president of the 91-nation International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, the first non-European to hold the position.

November 23, 1972

Economy and Society 

Access to Credit Agency

Ontario introduced legislation to allow individuals access to credit agency information banks.

February 01, 1973

Economy and Society  People 

Bouey Succeeds Rasminsky

Gerald Bouey succeeded Louis Rasminsky as Governor of the Bank of Canada.

October 10, 1973

Economy and Society  Companies 

Come by Chance Refinery Opens

The $120 million oil refinery at Come by Chance, Nfld, opened.It included a CNR spur track, and a deep-water oil terminal.

October 17, 1973

Economy and Society  Companies 

OPEC Raises Price of Oil

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries raised the price of oil by 70%.

December 07, 1973

Economy and Society 

CANDU Deal with South Korea

Canada sold a CANDU reactor to South Korea.

January 01, 1974

Economy and Society 

Stock Exchanges Merge

The Canadian Stock Exchange merged with the Montréal Stock Exchange.

May 22, 1974

Economy and Society 

Canada Suspends Nuclear Exports

The Canadian government suspended shipments of all nuclear equipment and materials to India, after India's detonation of a nuclear device.

February 04, 1975

Economy and Society 

Oil Sands Development

The Alberta, Ontario and federal governments agreed to invest $600 million in the Syncrude Canada project to develop the Athabasca oil sands near Fort McMurray, Alberta.

February 18, 1975

People 

Sylvia Ostry Becomes First DM

Sylvia Ostry became the first woman to hold Deputy Minister rank in Canada.

July 30, 1975

Companies 

Petro-Canada Formed

Ottawa established Petro-Canada, a Crown corporation.

October 03, 1975

Economy and Society 

Wage and Price Controls

Ottawa implemented wage and price controls in response to the exceptionally high inflation rates of 1974-75.

October 07, 1975

Unions and Labour 

BC Government Enacts Back-to-work Legislation

David Barrett's NDP government enacted sweeping back-to-work legislation, ending a series of labour disputes in BC's forestry, pulp, food and propane industries.

January 14, 1976

Economy and Society  Companies 

Eaton's Disbands Catalogue

Eaton's shut down its catalogue sales operations.

January 28, 1976

Economy and Society 

Saskatchewan Takes Over Potash

Saskatchewan passed legislation to take over the potash industry.

March 12, 1976

Companies 

Come by Chance Bankrupt

The Come by Chance, Nfld, refinery declared bankruptcy. It was sold to Petro-Canada and then in 1986 to the province for $1.

April 15, 1976

Economy and Society 

Dome Gets Drilling Approval

Cabinet gave Dome Petroleum final approval to drill for oil in the Beaufort Sea.

August 30, 1976

Economy and Society 

Manitoba Liquor Commission Fined

The Manitoba Liquor Commission was fined $300 000 for violating wage and price controls, the first provincial agency fined for this.

October 14, 1976

Economy and Society  Unions and Labour 

Day of Protest

On the "Day of Protest," over one million Canadian Labour Congress members staged a one-day strike against wage and price controls.

April 11, 1977

Economy and Society 

Berger Issues Mackenzie Report

Justice Thomas Berger issued his final report of the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry and recommended a 10-year moratorium for the project.

September 06, 1979

Economy and Society  Money 

First Gold Coin on Sale

Canada's first gold bullion coin went on sale.

October 27, 1979

Economy and Society 

First Power From James Bay

The first hydro-electric power was generated at James Bay.

1980

Trade 

Trade

Since the 1980s, Canada has signed several free trade agreements with different countries. (See also International Trade.) What are the possible advantages of entering into free trade agreements? Are there any disadvantages related to free trade?

October 06, 1980

Economy and Society 

Québec-Newfoundland Power Deal

The Québec government approved the signing of a 40-year agreement between Hydro-Québec and the British Newfoundland Corp that allowed Québec to buy power from the Churchill Falls hydro-electric project in Labrador.

October 28, 1980

Economy and Society 

National Energy Program

The Liberal government of Pierre Trudeau introduced the National Energy Program, aimed at increasing energy self-sufficiency.

September 01, 1981

Economy and Society 

Energy Pricing Deal

Alberta premier Peter Lougheed and PM Pierre Trudeau signed an energy-pricing agreement.

October 16, 1981

Economy and Society 

Canada Post Corporation Created

The Canada Post Corporation was created as a Crown corporation and successor to the embattled Post Office Department, which had faced criticism over service and fiscal performance.

January 15, 1982

Unions and Labour 

Strikers Forced Back to Work

The Québec National Assembly passed a law to force striking transit workers back to work.

November 17, 1983

Economy and Society  Trade 

Western Grain Transportation Act

The Western Grain Transportation Act was passed (effective 1 January 1984). It allowed grain-shipping costs to increase gradually, but never to exceed 10% of the world price for grain.

March 07, 1984

Companies 

Research In Motion (RIM) Founded

Research in Motion (RIM) was launched as a software and computer science consulting business, but it grew into a mobile communications company. The company was rebranded as BlackBerry in 2013.

December 19, 1984

Economy and Society 

Hong Kong Invests in Vancouver

The signing of the Chinese-British Joint Declaration mandating the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997 began to cause a flow of Hong Kong capital and immigration into Vancouver.

January 30, 1985

Economy and Society 

New Metric Policy

The federal government unveiled a new metric policy under which businesses would be allowed to sell and advertise food, gasoline and home furnishings in imperial measurements in addition to the mandatory metric units.

February 11, 1985

Economy and Society 

Atlantic Accord Signed

Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Newfoundland premier Brian Peckford signed the Atlantic Accord, an offshore energy agreement to develop the province's offshore petroleum resources.

September 29, 1985

Finance 

Bank Inquiry Announced

The federal government announced an inquiry, headed by Supreme Court Justice Willard Estey, to investigate the failures of the Calgary-based Northland Bank and Edmonton's Canadian Commercial Bank.

May 01, 1986

Economy and Society  People 

Shirley Carr Becomes President

Shirley Carr replaced Dennis McDermott as president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the first woman to hold the position.

June 26, 1986

Economy and Society  Trade 

Softwood Lumber Dispute

The International Trade Commission determined that Canadian policies had injured US producers in the softwood lumber dispute.

January 01, 1989

Trade 

Free Trade Goes Into Effect

The Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the US went into effect. The pact, later expanded through NAFTA, would profoundly alter the economic relationship between Canada and the United States.

January 05, 1990

Economy and Society 

Fish Plants Closed

Fishery Products International announced plans to close three Newfoundland fish plants, thereby eliminating 1,300 jobs.

January 24, 1990

Economy and Society 

GST Introduced

In the House of Commons, the federal government introduced legislation to impose its controversial Goods and Services Tax (GST).

July 02, 1992

Economy and Society 

Cod Moratorium

To help restore cod stocks that had been depleted from overfishing, the federal government banned cod fishing along Canada’s east coast. (See also Cod Moratorium of 1992.) The moratorium led to the largest layoff in Canadian history. (See also Unemployment in Canada.) Approximately 30,000 people (fishers and related workers) lost their jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador.

January 01, 1995

Trade 

World Trade Organization Begins Operations

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organization that regulates global trade (see International Trade). The WTO is a successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Canada has been a member of the WTO since its establishment in 1995.

March 27, 1995

Unions and Labour 

Rail Strike Ends

Parliament passed back-to-work legislation, forcing some 30 000 rail workers to return to their jobs. The strike had begun on March 18 and was having severe economic repercussions.

March 27, 1995

Economy and Society  Companies 

Bell Announces Cuts

Bell Canada announced that it would cut 10 000 jobs, 22% of its total workforce.

June 06, 1995

Economy and Society  Companies 

Labatt Sold to Belgians

John Labatt Ltd, Canada's second-largest brewery, was sold to SA of Belgium for $2.7 billion.

September 06, 1995

Economy and Society  Companies 

Sell-off of Petro-Canada

The federal government announced that it would sell off most of its holdings in Petro-Canada.

December 19, 1995

Economy and Society 

Happy Chickens

Alberta chicken producer Rod Chernos was honoured by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He believed "a happy chicken is a tasty one."

January 15, 1996

Economy and Society  Companies 

Bre-X Gold Increases Claims

Bre-X announced that its deposits of gold at Busang, Indonesia, contained 30 million ounces of gold.

January 22, 1996

Economy and Society  Companies 

Molson Sells Diversity

Molson, Canada's largest brewery, announced the sale of its chemical unit, Diversity Corp, to Unilever for $780 million.

January 29, 1996

Economy and Society  Finance 

Ontario Gains Fiscal Controls

The province of Ontario passed a Bill giving the government sweeping powers to overhaul fiscal policy and social services programs.

February 19, 1996

Economy and Society  Money 

New $2 Coin

The new two-dollar coin was introduced by the Royal Canadian Mint to replace the two-dollar bank note. The name "toonie" became so popular that the mint trademarked it.

July 25, 1996

Economy and Society 

Potato Fungus Hits Crops

A new strain of the potato fungus responsible for the Irish potato famine of the mid-19th century destroyed potato crops across eastern Canada.

October 13, 1996

Economy and Society  Companies 

New Bombardier Jet Flies

Bombardier's new Global express business jet made its first test flight.

January 27, 1997

Economy and Society 

Wage Gap Still Evident

StatsCan reported that the wage gap between women and men had narrowed to an average of 73%.

February 14, 1997

Economy and Society  Companies 

Paper Giants Unite

Abitibi-Price and Stone-Consolidated announced a $2.3 billion merger, creating the world's largest newsprint producer.

February 18, 1997

Economy and Society  Finance 

Martin's 1997 Budget

Paul Martin's federal budget continued the course to balance the federal budget but also included modest increases in spending on social programs.

March 19, 1997

Economy and Society  People 

Bre-X Geologist Dies

Bre-X Geologist Michael de Guzman died in mysterious circumstances in Indonesia, either jumping or being pushed from a helicopter.

May 30, 1997

Economy and Society  Companies 

Bombardier Sells Jets

Ohio-based Comair agreed to purchase 30 Canadair Regional Jets from Bombardier for $600 million with an option for a further $600 million.

June 02, 1997

Economy and Society  Companies 

Trading of Bre-X Halted

The Ontario Securities Commission halted the sale of Bre-X shares.

July 19, 1997

Economy and Society  Unions and Labour 

Fishermen Blockade Ferry

A group of disgruntled Canadian fishermen blockaded an Alaskan ferry to protest the overfishing of Pacific salmon by Alaskan fishermen.

August 12, 1997

Economy and Society  Companies 

Nuclear Reactors Shut Down

Ontario Hydro, North America's largest electric utility, announced that it would shut down the 7 oldest of its 19 nuclear reactors: 3 at the Bruce facility on lake Huron and 4 at Pickering on lake Ontario.

October 27, 1997

Unions and Labour 

Teachers Strike in Ontario

Five unions representing 126 000 teachers went on strike in Ontario, the largest teacher strike ever in north America. The teachers protested reforms put forward by the Mike Harris government. The strike ended Nov 7.

November 17, 1997

Economy and Society  Companies 

Hibernia Produces First Barrel

Newfoundland's Hibernia offshore drilling platform pumped its first barrel of oil.

January 26, 1998

Economy and Society  Companies 

Energy Merger

TransCanada Pipelines and NOVA Corp announced plans to merge, the largest merger in Canada's energy sector, amounting to $14 billion.

February 06, 1998

Companies 

HBC Buys Kmart

The Hudson's Bay Company announced that it plans to buy the Canadian division of Kmart for $240 million.

February 10, 1998

Companies 

CN Buys US Railway Company

Canadian National announced plans to acquire US rail company Illinois Central Corp for $2.4 billion, making CN the 5th largest railway company in North America with 30 000 km of track.

February 24, 1998

Economy and Society  Finance 

Martin Balances Budget

Finance Minister Paul Martin introduced the government's first balanced budget in 30 years. The $151 billion budget included a new $2.5 billion education fund.

May 11, 1999

Economy and Society  Companies 

Chevron Announces Gas Find

Chevron Canada of Calgary announced that explorers had found one of the largest natural gas deposits in Canada near the town of Fort Liard, NWT.

August 20, 1999

Companies 

T. Eaton Co Files for Bankruptcy

The T. Eaton Company filed for bankruptcy, terminating all 13,000 employees.

October 14, 1999

Economy and Society  People 

Mundell Wins Nobel Prize

Canadian-born US resident Robert Mundell won the Nobel Prize for Economics for his work on monetary dynamics and optimum currency areas.

December 31, 1999

Economy and Society 

Sable Island Gas Flows

The construction of three offshore platforms off Sable Island was completed and the first natural gas began to flow through a submarine pipeline to mainland Nova Scotia.

June 17, 2000

Economy and Society  Companies 

Seagram Merges With Vivendi

Seagram announced that it would merge with France's Vivendi, creating a global media giant to compete with the American company AOL. The merger ended the Bonfmans' control over Seagram.

August 15, 2000

Economy and Society  People 

Cowpland Resigns

Michael Cowpland resigned from Corel, the company he founded in 1985, to work with new companies developing programs to run on the Linux operating system. He remained the primary shareholder of Corel.

July 09, 2001

Companies 

Bombardier Wins Contract

Bombardier announced that it had won a $2.6 billion contract to supply 75 regional jets to Northwest Airlines in the US.

August 10, 2001

Trade 

Softwood Lumber Duty Imposed

The United States Commerce Department announced that it would impose a 19.3% duty on Canadian softwood lumber. Canadians vowed to fight the unfair measure.

April 12, 2005

Economy and Society  Companies 

Chinese Begin Investing in Alberta’s Oil Sands

China National Offshore Oil Corp (or CNOOC) is the first Chinese company to invest in Alberta’s oil sands with the purchase of a 16.7 per cent share of MEG Energy Corp. China's two other state-controlled oil companies, PetroChina and Sinopec, would also purchase shares in other oil sand companies by 2009.

January 27, 2009

Economy and Society  Finance 

Conservative Budget Released

Finance minister Jim Flaherty formally announced the terms of the new Conservative budget, promising tax cuts and savings and increased spending on infrastructure to assist Canadians through the economic recession.

April 12, 2010

Economy and Society  Companies 

Chinese Oil Producer Buys Shares in Syncrude

Sinopec Corp, China's second-largest oil producer, paid $4.65 billion for a 9.03 per cent share of Syncrude. The purchase more than doubled that country’s presence in Alberta's oil sands since its companies began investing there in 2005.

February 05, 2013

Economy and Society 

Small Hydropower Plant Program in Québec Ends

The PQ government under Pauline Marois announced the end of the Small Hydropower Plant Program created by the former Liberal government.

July 15, 2013

Companies 

Loblaw Buys Shoppers Drug Mart

In a massive, $12.4-billion deal, Loblaw, the largest Canadian grocery chain, purchased Shoppers Drug Mart, the nation's largest chain of pharmacies.

March 11, 2014

Trade 

Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement Announced

Following several rounds of negotiations, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Korean President Park Geun-hye announced the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA). CKFTA is Canada’s first free trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific region. The agreement went into force in 2015. (See also International Trade.)

January 30, 2015

Economy and Society 

Right to Strike Upheld by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of Canada decided that the right to strike was constitutionally protected under the freedom of association clause of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The ruling struck down a Saskatchewan law that allowed government to prevent workers in essential services from striking.

April 15, 2015

Economy and Society 

Wheat Board Sold

The Canadian Wheat Board was privatized in a federal-government sale to US and Saudi interests for $250 million.

February 03, 2017

People 

Death of Roy Heenan

Roy Heenan, founding partner of the law firm Heenan Blaikie and an Officer of the Order of Canada, died at the age of 81.

February 06, 2017

People 

Death of David Culver

Former Alcan CEO David Culver, a Companion of the Order of Canada and Officer of l'Ordre national du Québec, died at the age of 92.

February 19, 2017

People 

Death of Bob White

Labour leader Bob White died in Kincardine, Ontario. Among his many achievements as a union organizer, White was the founding president of the Canadian Auto Workers union. In 1990, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.

April 20, 2017

People 

Death of Craufurd Goodwin

Craufurd Goodwin, a historian and professor of economics who graduated from McGill University, died at the age of 82.

June 12, 2017

People 

Death of Robert Campeau

Franco-Ontarian entrepreneur Robert Campeau, a real estate mogul who once controlled US department stores Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, died in Ottawa at the age of 93.

October 01, 2017

Companies 

Moosehead Brewery celebrates 150 years

Moosehead Brewery celebrates 150 years in 2017. It is the oldest family-owned brewing company in Canada. At the time of its incorporation on 1 october 1867, Susannah Oland spearheads the company, overseeing virtually every aspect of the operation, supervising the brewing process (an old family recipe) with the help of her three sons.

November 15, 2017

People 

2017 Canada's Walk of Fame inductees

The 2017 inductees of Canada's Walk of Fame are Donovan Bailey, Stompin' Tom Connors, Viola Desmond, Anna Paquin, Ted Rogers and David Suzuki.

September 30, 2018

Trade 

Canada Agrees to Join Trade Accord with US and Mexico

After more than a year of negotiations with the United States and Mexico, Canada reached a last-minute agreement to sign a new NAFTA deal. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will retain the Chapter 19 dispute resolution clause but will also allow greater access to Canada’s dairy market. The USMCA was set to be signed at the end of November 2018 and then sent to the three national legislative bodies for ratification.

February 12, 2019

People 

Ontario Police Free 43 People from Human Trafficking Ring

Forty-three Mexican men aged 20 to 46, who had paid traffickers to bring them to Canada so they could seek education and employment opportunities, were forced to work as hotel cleaners in Collingwood, Innisfil, Oro-Medonte and Cornwallfor less than $50 a month. The traffickers were not arrested or charged with any crimes. The victims were all offered employment and lodging at a local resort.

August 28, 2019

Economy and Society 

Canadian Energy Regulator Act

When the Canadian Energy Regulator Act came into effect, the National Energy Board (NEB) was replaced by the Canada Energy Regulator (CER). Like the former NEB, the CER is an independent federal agency that regulates pipelines that cross inter-provincial and international boundaries. It also regulates international and inter-provincial power lines. (See also Energy; Electric-Power Transmission.)

July 01, 2020

Trade 

CUSMA Goes Into Effect

The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is a free trade agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico. CUSMA is a revised and renamed version of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

October 11, 2021

People 

David Card Wins Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences

David Card was awarded one half of the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel for his use of natural experiments to study minimum wage, immigration and education. The other half of the prize was jointly awarded to Joshua Angrist and Guido Imbens. (See also Nobel Prizes and Canada.)

December 09, 2021

Economy and Society  People 

Food Prices to Increase 5–7 Per Cent, Study Finds

Canada’s Food Price Report, compiled by researchers at several Canadian universities, predicted that food prices in Canada would increase by 5–7 per cent in 2022. The report also projected that prices at restaurants would rise by 6–8 per cent and that the average family of four would spend up to $14,767 on food.

December 15, 2021

Economy and Society  Finance 

Inflation Indicator at 18-Year High

Statistics Canada announced that Canada’s inflation rate in November was 4.7 per cent. This was the second month in a row that the inflation rate was the highest since 2003. The increase was consistent with a global trend. The United States, for example, had an inflation rate of 6.8 per cent — the highest in almost 40 years.

July 26, 2024

Economy and Society 

End of Northern Cod Moratorium

In 1992, the federal government banned cod fishing along Canada’s east coast. (See also Cod Moratorium of 1992.) The ban was meant to help restore cod stocks that had been overfished. The ban led to the largest layoff in Canadian history. (See also Unemployment in Canada.) In 2024, after 32 years, the federal government announced the return of the commercial cod fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador.

2024

Economy and Society 

Economy and Society

Natural resources are a key component of Canada’s economy. How can Canada’s industries operate sustainably?

March 07, 2025

Companies 

The Hudson’s Bay Company Files for Creditor Protection

Citing economic and industry pressures, the Hudson’s Bay Company filed for creditor protection and began liquidating its stores.

May 15, 2025

Companies 

Canadian Tire Announces Plan to Purchase Brand Assets and Intellectual Property of the Hudson’s Bay Company

The Canadian Tire Corporation Ltd. is a Canadian retail chain. In May 2025, the company announced that it entered into a definitive agreement to purchase the brand assets and intellectual property of the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC). The HBC had filed for creditor protection earlier in March. By June 2025, a court approved the purchase.

October 13, 2025

People 

Peter Howitt Awarded Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences

Peter Howitt was jointly awarded half of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences with French economist Philippe Aghion. (See also Nobel Prizes and Canada.) They received a share of the prize for their work on economic growth through creative destruction. The other half of the prize was awarded to the American-Israeli economist and historian Joel Mokyr.