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Election IssuesThe 1988 campaign was unique in that it was largely a single-issue campaign. Free trade with the United States dominated almost all of the election speeches and debates. Although the leaders may not have wanted to focus on such a controversial issue, there was no denying that it became the dominant concern for most Canadians. Free TradeIn October of 1987, Brian Mulroney and USA President Ronald Reagan initialed the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement. The Agreement was scheduled to be implemented on January 1, 1989, but it needed Parliamentary approval for this to happen. The House of Commons had passed the agreement and it only needed to be passed by the Senate to become law. In July 1988, Liberal leader John Turner asked Liberal senators to delay passing the bill until after the people of Canada had the opportunity to express their views on the agreement through a general election. Mulroney called the election in the Autumn, giving voters their chance. The free trade agreement was popular for the critical components of the Conservatives’ electoral coalition. It was attractive to westerners who were anxious for new markets for their natural resources at world prices, and who had historically opposed the protection of central Canadian industry. It was also attractive for certain Ontario ridings and for Quebec . Premier Robert Bourassa of Quebec was a supporter of free trade because it meant that Canada was moving away from national government control of the economy. The Conservatives also enjoyed the support of most of the business community, who supported the government financially and with significant advertising in support of the accord. Indeed, the 1988 campaign saw significant advertising by “third parties” (non-political parties), some supporting and some opposing the agreement. Although the agreement was lengthy, complex, and technical, it quickly emerged as the defining issue of the campaign. Debates about free trade became much more than legal arguments and jurisdictional questions. Emotional debates about American domination of Canadian culture and loss of Canadian identity became the main focus of speeches. Those who supported free trade were accused of being unpatriotic and of submitting to American domination. Those who were against free trade were accused of exaggerating the effects of the deal and of not having confidence in Canada. Canadians were deeply divided over this issue. The Meech Lake AccordAlthough free trade dominated the election, the Meech Lake Accord was used as a tool to garner support, especially in Quebec. The Accord had not yet reached the level of public awareness that it would later on, but it was important because it went along with the decentralizing theme of the 1980s. Meech Lake was another alternative to Trudeau’s strong national government. It was also a very important issue in Quebec. Their acceptance of the Canada Act 1982 relied on the federal government meeting certain demands. Recognition of their distinctness and independence was important to Quebec. The fact that all three major parties supported the agreement, and the complexity of its provisions, however, limited the importance of Meech Lake as an election issue. Next >>
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