Editorial
The passing of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney has sparked discussions surrounding Canada’s involvement within the battle towards South African Apartheid. Many headlines and articles have hailed Canada, with Mulroney taking a starring function, as a number one pressure towards apartheid. From the stories and the reminiscences of bizarre folks (raised to not converse in poor health of the lifeless), you get an image of Mulroney main the cost with the Canadian flag as his normal, using to the rescue of Nelson Mandela, and tilting his lance on the evil apartheid regime. However a more in-depth examination reveals a extra nuanced and fewer flattering actuality.
Whereas some tout Canada’s management within the anti-apartheid motion, the reality paints a special image. Actually, Canada’s historic actions have been principally aligned with assist for apartheid in South Africa. Actually, Canada offered a mannequin for apartheid insurance policies, with South Africa drawing inspiration from Canada’s remedy of First Nations peoples. A lot in order that South African officers visited plenty of “Indian reserves”, and residential faculties to study the secrets and techniques of a “profitable” settler state.
Nonetheless, Canada’s public stance towards apartheid typically contradicted its actions. Whereas there have been moments of symbolic opposition, corresponding to John Diefenbaker’s name for South Africa’s expulsion from the British Commonwealth in 1961, these gestures have been extra about political expediency than ethical conviction. Diefenbaker’s motives have been primarily to salvage the Commonwealth, fearing the departure of different former British colonies if South Africa remained. This lack of principled opposition was evident in Canada’s refusal to cancel commerce agreements with South Africa, courting again to 1932.
Throughout Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment within the Nineteen Sixties, Canadian political leaders didn’t advocate strongly for his launch. NDP chief Tommy Douglas raised the difficulty within the Home of Commons, however Prime Minister Lester Pearson remained largely silent on Mandela’s plight. This indifference mirrored Canada’s broader sympathy in direction of the apartheid regime over the Black liberation motion.
Pierre Trudeau’s authorities, typically seen as progressive internationally, maintained a realistic method that favored financial pursuits over human rights. Canadian firms continued to spend money on South Africa, benefiting from low-cost black labor. Trudeau’s authorities even supported South Africa’s software for a billion-dollar IMF credit score in 1982, regardless of widespread opposition from different nations and inside the IMF itself.
Whereas formally endorsing the worldwide arms embargo towards South Africa, Canada’s enforcement was lax. Canadian-made weapons discovered their option to the apartheid regime, with Crown firm Canadair promoting amphibious water bombers used for inner safety operations. Moreover, the RCMP offered coaching to South African police, elevating questions on Canada’s complicity in apartheid-era repression.
Regardless of mounting strain from numerous sectors, together with unions, church buildings, and college students, it wasn’t till Brian Mulroney’s Conservative authorities in 1986 that Canada lastly carried out financial sanctions towards South Africa. Nonetheless, Mulroney, who was prime minister from 1984 to 1993, was hardly on the courageous knight main the cost. The actual fact is that nations like Norway, Denmark, New Zealand, Brazil, and Argentina had already severed ties with South Africa, and the US had enacted stricter sanctions. Moreover, from October 1986 to September 1993, Canada’s bilateral commerce with South Africa totaled $1.6 billion; not a lot of a change from the earlier six-year interval.
Canada’s relationship with the African Nationwide Congress (ANC), the main anti-apartheid group, was ambivalent to say the least. Ottawa initially resisted recognizing the ANC and sought to affect its route in direction of extra reasonable insurance policies, aligned with worldwide capital and the curiosity of White South African elites. Sure, apartheid should finish, however the “Black communists” should not get their palms on the financial levers of a “New South Africa”.
General, Canada’s function in opposing apartheid in South Africa was removed from exemplary. Whereas there have been moments of symbolic condemnation and eventual financial sanctions, these actions typically got here late and have been overshadowed by ongoing financial ties and political pragmatism.
Canada’s legacy within the battle towards apartheid is certainly one of blended motives and tepid dedication, with the true champions of change rising from grassroots solidarity actions fairly than governmental initiatives.
Former Prime Minister Mulroney didn’t make historical past, he simply occurred to in the proper place on the proper time.
