Defending North America

1. The Avro Arrow

1.1. Canadian built delta winged long range interceptor plane in 1949.

1.2. Intention was to stop Soviet invasion from the North.

1.3. John Diefenbaker, Conservative Prime Minister used the excuse that it was too expensive for taxpayers.

1.4. At the same time the Soviet Union had built the Sputnik.

1.5. The Americans had invented SAMs (Surface to Air Missiles).

1.6. The Avro Arrow had been designed and built with advanced technology

2. Nuclear Weapons in 1963

2.1. Diefenbaker and John Kennedy were not very friendly.

2.2. Canada was apart of NORAD.

2.3. Diefenbaker was reluctant to have nuclear weapons in Canada.

2.4. Eventually missiles could be placed along the DEW (Distant Early Warning) Line in Northern Ontario and Quebec.

2.5. They were to act as interceptors, for the protection of cities, should the Russians attack.

2.6. Lester Pearson was the Prime Minister of a Liberal Government who agreed to the nuclear war heads being added to the missiles

3. Cuban Missile Crisis 1962.

3.1. An American Spy plane discovered missile sites when flying over Cuba.

3.2. These sites were not identified by an independent review.

3.3. Diefenbaker wanted a review done by the UN.

3.4. The sites were developed by the Russians and were a big threat to Canada and the United States.

3.5. The Canadian Government wanted to retain independence, resented being told what to do by the Kennedy government.

3.6. A Naval blockade was put into place. NATO agreed.

3.7. Ultimately, the Russian Government led by Khrushchev, dismantled the missile sites.