Reciprocity

Reciprocity is the lifeguard who is ready to save the "common people" drowning in a sea of "high tariffs". Unfortunately, he is held back by "greed", "moneyed interests", and "special interests". Then there is globalization saying "shake 'em off they're only barnacles".

Of course, conservative governments in Canada always acted in the interests of business and maintained high tariffs. However, due to globalization business interests have now changed.. Conservatives now are all about free trade, and only labour groups oppose it.

Many of the cartoons that I use in class were taken from this book by Charles Hou (former Socials 10 teacher in BC):

Great Canadian political cartoons, 1820 to 1914

Reciprocity

THE FISCAL TUG-OF-WAR

Farmers' association vs. manufacturers' association

This debate is still ongoing. It is great for consumers to buy cheap things made in China at the dollar store. Not so good for Canadian businesses that employ people here at home. 

A hundred years ago, Conservatives would've been opposed to free trade (ex. National Policy) because that was a pro-business position. Liberals would've been supportive of free trade because because that was free-market economics. 

I guess once the Canadian businesses are owned by foreigners and move their factories overseas, then nobody cares much about protecting Canadian jobs anymore. So both the Conservatives (pro-business) and the Liberal (pro-free market) now support free trade. Consumers like it because they can buy cheaper things. So everyone is happy... O, except the unemployed I guess.. and maybe the NDP?

Anyhow, this issue that was debated in Laurier's time connects well to current issues that even grade 10 students can explore.

For example:

Ever shopped at amazon.COM instead of amazon.CA? Why?

Many of the cartoons that I use in class were taken from this book by Charles Hou (former Socials 10 teacher in BC):

Great Canadian political cartoons, 1820 to 1914

Diamond Jubilee Stamps

  

The stamps from my album pictured here (catalogue values of $155, $13, $21, $4, $51, $172) are part of a series of sixteen stamps (catalogue numbers 50-65) that were all issued in the year 1897.  Denominations included 1/2 cent, 1 cent, 2 cents, 3 cents, 5 cents, 6 cents, 8 cents, 10 cents, 15 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 dollar, 2 dollars, 3 dollars, 4 dollars, and 5 dollars. (A mint 2,3,4 or 5 dollar stamp from this series all have a catalogue value over $6000)


These are the first commemorative stamps that Canada ever issued. A commemorative stamp is typically larger, and "commemorates" some sort of event, in this case the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. These types of stamps are much more interesting historically, but also somewhat annoying for collectors because they weren't really necessary. In one year (1897), Canada produced almost as many stamps as in the previous 30 years combined. 


1897 was one year after Wilfred Laurier and liberals were elected to office in Canada, and the contract for these stamps was given to a U.S. company called the American Bank Note Company. The company built an office in Ottawa, and this picture was taken in 1897.

Of course, it is also telling that the first event Canada decided to "commemorate" was the 50th year of Queen Victoria's reign. The creativity of these stamps extended to having two pictures of the Queen on the stamp instead of just one. Of course 1897 also coincided with 30 years since Confederation, but Confederation and John A MacDonald would have to wait 50 years to be commemorated on our postal history.