History Classes 4 June 2008

Current Events

The following headlines made up the current events portion of today’s classes:

• CAW members are picketing outside of General Motors offices in Oshawa after yesterday’s announcement that the truck plant there would close. Union leaders want face to face meetings with GM officials to discuss the plant’s closure and the loss of 1,000 jobs.
• Barak Obama won the Montana Democratic primary. The victory gives him enough delegates to secure the nomination for the November Presidential election.
• John McCain attacked Obama as a politcal novice and that his brand of change is not the change needed by America. McCain also criticized his stance on Iraq and US involvement in that country.
• Canadian Captain Steve Leary was the 84th Canadian killed in Afghanistan. He was killed when the Taliban ambushed his foot patrol south of Kandahar. His body will return to Canada on Friday.
• Thomas Svekla was convicted of murdering Edmonton sex worker, Theressa Innes. However, he was acquitted of killing, Rachel Quinney. Svekla once described himself as the Robert Picton of Alberta, and was caught after a task force looked into the disappearance of 18 sex trade workers.
• Air France is suing the Greater Toronto Airport Authority and the Canadian government after the crash of a jet in 2005 during a thunderstorm. All 309 people survived, but 31 were taken to hospital. The suit alleges that the runway was not long enough and Air France wants $180 million in compensation.
• Astronauts from the space shuttle Disvocery will spoend their first day in the new Japanese Lab that was attached to the International Space Station. The $1 billion lab is the largest module attached to the station and was guided into place by the stations robotic arm.

Period One: History 30

The class began by writing and correcting the Battle for Quebec Jigsaw review quiz. The day’s current events were then watched and discussed, after which notes were taken on the Battle for Universal Medicare. The class ended with an assignment on Canada-US economic Relations, from Ferguson pp. 373-374, 388-390, and 413-414:

1. How has the Canada-US trade relationship changed since World War II?
2. How did many Canadians view growing US investment in the 1960 and 1970s? What three options were open to Trudeau and Canada?
3. Explain how each of the following attempted to increase Canadian control of the economy:
   1. Foreign Investment Review Agency (FIRA):
   2. Petro-Canada:

c. National Energy Policy (NEP):

1. How did Trudeau’s economic policies impact the relationship between the provinces and the Federal government and Canada and the USA?
2. Explain how Mulroney changed Canada’s attitude toward US economic involvement with investment Canada.
3. What motivated Mulroney’s desire to negotiate a Free trade agreement with the United States? What concerns were raised by those who opposed free trade with America?
4. Explain the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on Canadian business. How has the trade relationship changed since 1994?

Period Two: History 20

Following current events there was a home work check on the first page of the Detnet and Resistance jigsaw. The class then moved into expert groups to share, compare and create the best possible answers. Following the expert groups the class was broken up in heterogeneous groups for sharing. The three people absent yesterday wrote their unit three exam.

Period Four: History 30

The class began by writing and correcting the Battle for Quebec Jigsaw review quiz. The day’s current events were then watched and discussed, after which notes were taken on the Battle for Universal Medicare. The class ended with an assignment on Canada-US economic Relations.

Period Five: History 10

Following current events the class took notes on 19th century motives for imperialism arising out of the Industrial Revolution. The class had time to complete their assignment Britain and Its Empire, which is due at the start of tomorrow’s class.