Quebec's referendum on sovereignty dominated politics and public affairs in Canada in 1995. While it seemed like everything else was eclipsed in importance, many other matters of consequence occurred. The economy was generally in a state of recovery, but there was not as much new employment as hoped. Governments at the federal and provincial level continued to grapple with budget deficits. Controversial new gun control legislation was introduced. Trade and peacekeeping dominated the foreign and defence policy agendas, with public confidence in peacekeeping and the Canadian military eroded...

The year 1991 found Canada at a crossroads. The nation faced the aftermath of the Oka crisis and failure of the Meech Lake Accord; the Bloc Qu?b?cois sought official party status in the House of Commons and the Reform Party decided to become a national party; talks began for a North American free trade agreement. On the international front, Canada went to war in the Persian Gulf and responded to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Featuring essays on Parliament and politics, Ottawa and the provinces, and external affairs, the Canadian Annual Review of Politics and Public...

The year 1992 witnessed a slow recovery from recession, widespread reductions in government spending, and changes in social policy. Dominating the political agenda was constitutional reform. The federal and provincial governments achieved agreement on the Charlottetown Accord, a complex package of constitutional reforms. The Accord received the support of almost all political parties as well as the Canadian media and political elite, only to be overwhelming rejected by the public in a national referendum. On the international front this was the year that Canada signed the North American...

The year 1993 marked the changing of the political guard at both federal and provincial levels. While the cast of characters changed, however, the agendas remained much the same. Public policy was dominated by concerns about deficit and debt. Provincial governments faced declining tax revenues, which was exacerbated by reduced federal equalization payments and transfers. On the international front 1993 was the year that Parliament approved the North American Free Trade Agreement. Peacekeeping remained an important aspect of Canada's contribution to international security, but that...

After the federal election in late 1993, which returned the Liberal Party under Jean Chretian to power after two terms of Progressive Conservative government, 1994 was mainly characterized by the review and definition of policy directions. The federal Liberal government embarked in fundamental policy reviews, most prominently concerning social policy, foreign policy, defence policy, and the role of the CBC. Deficit reduction drove many policy decisions, at both federal and provincial levels.

In the international arena, the major foreign policy issue was trade policy, as the North...