So, the challenge is to create the most globally significant (by whatever standard you like) Canada in a plausible (doesn't have to be likely, but no ASB, ISOTs or the like) timeline. I've stuck this in post 1900, and while it doesn't particularly bother me if the POD ends up in the 19th century I'd rather not have a completely different country, which I guess means that Confederation has to remain more or less as OTL, ruling out things like reconquering the US in 1812 or Illinois/Michigan, etc ending up north of the border.
AHC: Canada-Wank
- Thread starter Bureaucromancer
- Start date
To create a physically larger Canada isn't difficult per se, but to create a Canada with more population, clout, manufacturing capacity, etc, requires a little more.
First, the most basic part is to understand why there is a Canada in the first place. Well, the only reason is that there is a US. Without a US being a threat to the British colonies to the north, there is no reason to confederate.
That understood, what needs to happen is for the US threat to become more realized and immediate than it was. The best POD I can come up with is one where the US stays out of WW1. The Allies defeat Germany, much along the same lines as before, but Canadian roles are much more expanded.
The resulting drive within Canada to produce more war material and combat troops for Empire service creates an interesting side effect: Canada becomes not only highly militarized, but adopts a strategic position within the Empire: As the leading supplier of ace pilots, Canada becomes essentially the wings of the Empire: Post war, they almost completely exclude their land and naval forces and focus exclusively on developing a large and credible air arm for the Empire. It also fits neatly into the domestic needs of the confederation, in that air travel is easier to use when you need to cover the great distances involved in moving about the confederation. From a strategic perspective, it also makes the US pause and consider the airborne firepower that the Canadian air force could bring to bear in any possible conflict.
Now, just as the Royal Navy had the coaling stations around the world, in the infancy of air travel, the Canadians are going to want to develop a network of flight statations to allow them to fly the Empire forces around the globe. Obviously, some of the coaling stations would also do double duty as airbases, but it is this need for transit strips that would make Canada acquire off shore territories from the Empire.
Interestingly, if examined objectively, this wasn't too different from how Canada did develop: The builders of the Arrow didn't just spring into existence in the 50s: Canada had always been a major player in the air business, largely because of the WW1 experience. When the biggest war heroes that came from North America were guys like Barker, Bishop and Collishaw, it would have been easy to simply tell the Empire to maintain the naval capabilities, as well as the bulk of the ground forces, while Canada would be the air component.
First, the most basic part is to understand why there is a Canada in the first place. Well, the only reason is that there is a US. Without a US being a threat to the British colonies to the north, there is no reason to confederate.
That understood, what needs to happen is for the US threat to become more realized and immediate than it was. The best POD I can come up with is one where the US stays out of WW1. The Allies defeat Germany, much along the same lines as before, but Canadian roles are much more expanded.
The resulting drive within Canada to produce more war material and combat troops for Empire service creates an interesting side effect: Canada becomes not only highly militarized, but adopts a strategic position within the Empire: As the leading supplier of ace pilots, Canada becomes essentially the wings of the Empire: Post war, they almost completely exclude their land and naval forces and focus exclusively on developing a large and credible air arm for the Empire. It also fits neatly into the domestic needs of the confederation, in that air travel is easier to use when you need to cover the great distances involved in moving about the confederation. From a strategic perspective, it also makes the US pause and consider the airborne firepower that the Canadian air force could bring to bear in any possible conflict.
Now, just as the Royal Navy had the coaling stations around the world, in the infancy of air travel, the Canadians are going to want to develop a network of flight statations to allow them to fly the Empire forces around the globe. Obviously, some of the coaling stations would also do double duty as airbases, but it is this need for transit strips that would make Canada acquire off shore territories from the Empire.
Interestingly, if examined objectively, this wasn't too different from how Canada did develop: The builders of the Arrow didn't just spring into existence in the 50s: Canada had always been a major player in the air business, largely because of the WW1 experience. When the biggest war heroes that came from North America were guys like Barker, Bishop and Collishaw, it would have been easy to simply tell the Empire to maintain the naval capabilities, as well as the bulk of the ground forces, while Canada would be the air component.
Eh, I'll give it a shot.
First, before it can have its civil war, Mexico has a mostly peaceful military coup that ousts Díaz, and manages to win much of the populace over with promises of... erm... of not being Díaz, I suppose. This launches an era of prosperity, as the new president/emperor/what have you is actually a capable ruler.
When the Zimmerman telegram comes, they see it as an opportunity to reclaim parts of the US that were once Mexican and declare war on the US. The Mexicans manage some quick victories and take some territory but suffers badly towards the end of the war. Ante-bellum borders are agreed upon.
Meanwhile, the US declines to enter WW1; the second battle of the Marne turns into a bloodbath; the Germans are defeated but only just. The war turns into another stalemate and the conscription crisis leads to widespread revolts The workers are marginalized as more and more of the factories there are made to fuel the British war effort. Socialism becomes very, very popular in western Canada. Quebec declares independence from Britain and asks to be reunited with France, but the rebellion is crushed by Britain. France is upset that Britain would divert troops from the European theater at a critical stage to protect its own interests abroad; this is the beginning of a souring in anglo-french relations.
France suffers widespread revolts and a failed coup in 1922 as a result of the war; many factions were at work in the coup, but the communists were the ones blamed. There is a mass exodus of communist sympathizers after the war, who mainly travel to Quebec.
At the London Peace Conference (Paris being deemed "too unstable" due to the revolts at the time), Britain is wary of France over the Quebec issue. It makes an effort to improve Anglo-German relations by undermining France offering a much better deal for Germany; the US uses this opportunity to negotiate to make Mexico pay reparations for their own war.
After the war, increasing mistreatment of workers and the influx of immigrants (particularly asians) leads to widespread protests. Socialist uprisings result in a coup and Canada declares itself independent from Britain in 1927.
This triggers a massive red scare in the US. Fears of both external and internal conflict fuel mass hysteria and riots. The fears of factory strikes and turmoil leads to a collapse in the stock market in 1928, an election year, which leads to actual radical uprisings. In the aftermath, a far right-wing president is elected; he soon assumes emergency powers to deal with the situation. What follows is a campaign of repression and severe curtailing of freedoms, which is lauded as a "victory against anarchism and radicalism."
The US now has a destabilizing element to the north, a hostile enemy to the south, and perceived radical elements within. They attempt to seed a rebellion in Mexico, which is botched and leads to the US declaring war pre-emptively in 1933.
Much of the international community condemns this as an act of unprovoked aggression; Canada, after lengthy discussions with its allies, decides to show the world its goolies by declaring war on the US; Russia and France soon follow. Britain, sensing that the Americans are in deep shit, decides not to intervene on their behalf.
The Canadian invasion of America goes about as well as expected, even with massive foreign help. The US eventually finishes up in Mexico and establishes it as a puppet state; after a game of tug-of-war in the Great Lakes region and immense losses on both sides, an armistice is declared in 1935. The "Second world war" as Americans call it (the rest of the world calls it the War of American Aggression) turns out to be much smaller than the first.
The United States is now in a unique position. It is so powerful, yet in such a relatively remote geographic position, that it can't be seriously threatened.
In the next few years, most of the world tries to prop up Canada as a powerful counterbalance to the United States. With The US having become xenophobic, anti-immigration sentiment begins to crop up, and immigrants typically headed for the US instead go to Canada. Russia and France both send massive amounts of money and arms to bolster its defenses. Canada's population, military, and economy all boom fantastically.
The USA carries itself with an air of arrogance during this time, but the war had seriously damaged it. Hundreds of thousands of men had perished, by far the largest number of Americans in any war in its history. The government tightened its grip on the populace, which was increasingly anti-establishment, and as much as it likes to bare its teeth at its northern neighbor, it doesn't dare attack.
Britain, however, is on the warpath. There was considerable turmoil over seemingly betraying their American allies, and the ruling party's perceived soft stance towards the French and communism struck a sour note among the population. Britain and the US begin to send out diplomatic feelers to China and Japan, respectively, using the common threat of the red bogeyman.
By 1943, cross-channel tensions have reached an all-time high. Denmark, an ostensibly neutral country, is allowing French warships into the Baltic Sea, which essentially allows them to blockade most of Germany, which has become more or less Britain's pet. There was little recourse other than As a result, Britain threatens Denmark to refuse the French access. Denmark tells France and the resulting international incident triggers the real second world war. Britain, Germany, USA, and Japan versus France, Italy, Russia, and Canada. Britain believes that it can win such a war quickly.
As it turns out, they were mistaken. The United States was on the brink of serious collapse. The population had vivid memories of the bloody war with Canada eight years prior. Canada makes significant gains until the US pushes them back. After many, many casualties, the American people simply cannot take it any more. Massive protests erupt. The army is called in to suppress the rebellion, which sparks even more massive protests. Army units defect and the US collapses into civil war, with Canada there to sweep up the remains.
With its most important ally now in turmoil, Britain's axis is completely ruined. A major rundown of the aftermath of the war:
The French are disillusioned with some of the socialist government's practices and its conduct during the war. After the war, France, for the first time since before WW1, elects a non-socialist government. This is the first domino in a long string which ultimately leads to the famous Franco-Soviet Split of the late 1950s. Canada joins France, while most of the European nations and soviet satellites, obviously, join Russia. China is split between North and South, Germany between East and West, the former Raj is split up, and Japan becomes lodged firmly in Russia's sphere.
France, however, is plagued by revolts in its African and Indochinese colonies; the government mismanages the affair and ends up thoroughly humiliated, and all of a sudden Canada finds itself as the leader of a sizeable chunk of the world. In the coming years, the United States would be forbidden from producing nuclear weapons, while Canada develops its own native nuclear capability, with French help of course. Canada has officially risen to become, to use an antiquated term, a Great Power.
GOD DAMMIT BRAIN I NEEDED THAT TIME TO SLEEP!
Well, anyways, I don't have any idea how borderline (or past-borderline)-ASB this timeline is; I stopped caring about research around 1940.
First, before it can have its civil war, Mexico has a mostly peaceful military coup that ousts Díaz, and manages to win much of the populace over with promises of... erm... of not being Díaz, I suppose. This launches an era of prosperity, as the new president/emperor/what have you is actually a capable ruler.
When the Zimmerman telegram comes, they see it as an opportunity to reclaim parts of the US that were once Mexican and declare war on the US. The Mexicans manage some quick victories and take some territory but suffers badly towards the end of the war. Ante-bellum borders are agreed upon.
Meanwhile, the US declines to enter WW1; the second battle of the Marne turns into a bloodbath; the Germans are defeated but only just. The war turns into another stalemate and the conscription crisis leads to widespread revolts The workers are marginalized as more and more of the factories there are made to fuel the British war effort. Socialism becomes very, very popular in western Canada. Quebec declares independence from Britain and asks to be reunited with France, but the rebellion is crushed by Britain. France is upset that Britain would divert troops from the European theater at a critical stage to protect its own interests abroad; this is the beginning of a souring in anglo-french relations.
France suffers widespread revolts and a failed coup in 1922 as a result of the war; many factions were at work in the coup, but the communists were the ones blamed. There is a mass exodus of communist sympathizers after the war, who mainly travel to Quebec.
At the London Peace Conference (Paris being deemed "too unstable" due to the revolts at the time), Britain is wary of France over the Quebec issue. It makes an effort to improve Anglo-German relations by undermining France offering a much better deal for Germany; the US uses this opportunity to negotiate to make Mexico pay reparations for their own war.
After the war, increasing mistreatment of workers and the influx of immigrants (particularly asians) leads to widespread protests. Socialist uprisings result in a coup and Canada declares itself independent from Britain in 1927.
This triggers a massive red scare in the US. Fears of both external and internal conflict fuel mass hysteria and riots. The fears of factory strikes and turmoil leads to a collapse in the stock market in 1928, an election year, which leads to actual radical uprisings. In the aftermath, a far right-wing president is elected; he soon assumes emergency powers to deal with the situation. What follows is a campaign of repression and severe curtailing of freedoms, which is lauded as a "victory against anarchism and radicalism."
The US now has a destabilizing element to the north, a hostile enemy to the south, and perceived radical elements within. They attempt to seed a rebellion in Mexico, which is botched and leads to the US declaring war pre-emptively in 1933.
Much of the international community condemns this as an act of unprovoked aggression; Canada, after lengthy discussions with its allies, decides to show the world its goolies by declaring war on the US; Russia and France soon follow. Britain, sensing that the Americans are in deep shit, decides not to intervene on their behalf.
The Canadian invasion of America goes about as well as expected, even with massive foreign help. The US eventually finishes up in Mexico and establishes it as a puppet state; after a game of tug-of-war in the Great Lakes region and immense losses on both sides, an armistice is declared in 1935. The "Second world war" as Americans call it (the rest of the world calls it the War of American Aggression) turns out to be much smaller than the first.
The United States is now in a unique position. It is so powerful, yet in such a relatively remote geographic position, that it can't be seriously threatened.
In the next few years, most of the world tries to prop up Canada as a powerful counterbalance to the United States. With The US having become xenophobic, anti-immigration sentiment begins to crop up, and immigrants typically headed for the US instead go to Canada. Russia and France both send massive amounts of money and arms to bolster its defenses. Canada's population, military, and economy all boom fantastically.
The USA carries itself with an air of arrogance during this time, but the war had seriously damaged it. Hundreds of thousands of men had perished, by far the largest number of Americans in any war in its history. The government tightened its grip on the populace, which was increasingly anti-establishment, and as much as it likes to bare its teeth at its northern neighbor, it doesn't dare attack.
Britain, however, is on the warpath. There was considerable turmoil over seemingly betraying their American allies, and the ruling party's perceived soft stance towards the French and communism struck a sour note among the population. Britain and the US begin to send out diplomatic feelers to China and Japan, respectively, using the common threat of the red bogeyman.
By 1943, cross-channel tensions have reached an all-time high. Denmark, an ostensibly neutral country, is allowing French warships into the Baltic Sea, which essentially allows them to blockade most of Germany, which has become more or less Britain's pet. There was little recourse other than As a result, Britain threatens Denmark to refuse the French access. Denmark tells France and the resulting international incident triggers the real second world war. Britain, Germany, USA, and Japan versus France, Italy, Russia, and Canada. Britain believes that it can win such a war quickly.
As it turns out, they were mistaken. The United States was on the brink of serious collapse. The population had vivid memories of the bloody war with Canada eight years prior. Canada makes significant gains until the US pushes them back. After many, many casualties, the American people simply cannot take it any more. Massive protests erupt. The army is called in to suppress the rebellion, which sparks even more massive protests. Army units defect and the US collapses into civil war, with Canada there to sweep up the remains.
With its most important ally now in turmoil, Britain's axis is completely ruined. A major rundown of the aftermath of the war:
- Several American states wish to be incorporated into Canada: New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Alaska and Washington,
- The British empire is dismantled. Scotland is made independent, Northern Ireland is given to the Republic of Ireland, and Britain's colonies are either granted independence or given to one of the victorious powers,
- The war ends with the first hostile use of a nuclear weapon against Sapporo and Sendai by the USSR,
- Britain and the USA are forbidden from expanding their military, from seeking colonial expansionism, and from obtaining nuclear weapons.
The French are disillusioned with some of the socialist government's practices and its conduct during the war. After the war, France, for the first time since before WW1, elects a non-socialist government. This is the first domino in a long string which ultimately leads to the famous Franco-Soviet Split of the late 1950s. Canada joins France, while most of the European nations and soviet satellites, obviously, join Russia. China is split between North and South, Germany between East and West, the former Raj is split up, and Japan becomes lodged firmly in Russia's sphere.
France, however, is plagued by revolts in its African and Indochinese colonies; the government mismanages the affair and ends up thoroughly humiliated, and all of a sudden Canada finds itself as the leader of a sizeable chunk of the world. In the coming years, the United States would be forbidden from producing nuclear weapons, while Canada develops its own native nuclear capability, with French help of course. Canada has officially risen to become, to use an antiquated term, a Great Power.
GOD DAMMIT BRAIN I NEEDED THAT TIME TO SLEEP!
Well, anyways, I don't have any idea how borderline (or past-borderline)-ASB this timeline is; I stopped caring about research around 1940.
Note this is almost the Canadian plan for WW2 where due to losses in Canadian Army in WW1 the focus was on the RCAF and RCN...this in turn lead to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan after the outbreak of the war and eventually huge numbers of allied aircrew being trained.
The biggest issues for Canada at this time are a lack of infrastructre, a lack of people and a lack of money.
Immigration to Canada was dominated by a mix of Canadian and British officials with a preferance for white europeanm, preferabaly protestant farmers in order to take advantage of the newly opened west. Based upon the success of this program certain ethnic groups were targeted for additional industries..northern scandinavians for the logging industries for example. A country, not yet a nation with space and resources Canada starts a program of expanding a fleet of merchant ships to ensure the raw resources can be exported to European markets and re-invests the shipping profits into subsidizing immigrant fares to Canada. Cheaper fares than those available to the US And Australia have success as much larger numbers of settlers come to Canada and start to build new lives...the big difference is that Canada as part of the shipping program extends the offer to all major ports and cities instead of OTL selective provincies/countries and as a result achieves a more diversified cultural base.
WW1 I will leave alone as OTL results are very tough to improve upon and frankly served to help unify the country in many regards. I still can't belive the 100 Day battles, casualties (1 in 3), and results.
After WW1 returning veterns share horror stories of the challanges of dealing with imperial officers in the early years and nationalism increases. In additon notice is made is increasingly published accounts about how the "common" canadian didn't care about ethnic backgrounds and served as an individual united by a maple leaf. This combined with increasing photo distribution of native canadians, afro-americans and asian men serving along side of european troops creates conditions that leads to a 1920 ruling that all men, iregardless of race, have equal rights. (this is earlier than in OTL when native canadians gave up native status in many cases to serve..something that wasn't reversed until recently).
Labour shortages from "traditional" immigration sources such as England forces leads to increased immigration from India especially for workers in British Columbia sawmills while increased industrialization in Asia increases shipments to India, Japan and China. Canada...short tens of thousands of men due to WW1 casualities increases immigration rates from former opponents and allies alike and German and Russian immigration rates soar.
While still a resource dominated economy access to US and European markets is strong and a small class of mill manufactures begin to expand to producing higher quality products creating a second tier manufacturing industry producing motors, tools and high value trade products. This industrialization is extremely successfull and leads to number of successful manufacturing plants concentrated mostly in eastern canada but increasing in the west along with refinery capacity for resources.
Industrial expansion is so rampant and inflation so high that the Canadian governments in conjuntion with the provinces enacts a series of reforms in 1928 that requires all companies with over 200 employees to be incorperated and dictate a higher standard of finanical backing. This in turn leads to a major market correction as many highly leveraged companies end up folding or merging to meet the new standards but the surviving corporations in turn have higher pricing power and finanicial institutions are more stable.
The depression of the 1930's does not affect Canada to near the extreme OTL due to the 1928 financial changes and few companies fail. The financial reforms allow to Canadian companies to buy US bankrupt companies at bargin prices while Canada actively advertises job oportunities to out of work US citizens. The open door policies continue around the world and while climate works against many applicants the unoccupied areas of Canada expand much faster than OTL and by the mid 1930's over 15 million people are counted with over half the population under 18.
The unrest around the world in Spain, Ethiopia and elsewhere leads to a re-evaluation of Canada's defense and obligations should another war break out. There is a strong desire to avoid the slaughter of trench warfare but conflict seems to be on the horizon and the government begins to re-evaluate its' supplies and positon. The merchant shipping fleet is expanded in part to it's ability to generate revenue for the government and shipyeards expand to match...in addition a program of building destroyers is looked at with 6 ordered for delivery in 1939.
Aircraft...a new military tool in WW1 have become more common as improvements to designs have improved performance and utility in developing Canada's north. De Havaliand and Avro are both offered loans to establish factories by the federal government due to increased demand for hig quality aircraft while the Depart of National Defense begins a series of airport improvements to handle newer, heavier aircraft accross the nation. In all 50 locations are selected scattered from sea to sea for upgrading and/or construction with a minimum standard of gravel based tarmacs to be completed by an ambitious 1937. Improved airstrips in turn reduce accidents with civilian flying schools and the increased safety leads to larger number of pilots being trained.
Militia units are examined and audited and in a damning report on the state of Canada's armed forces most units are found defective in either a) equipment or b) training. Canada after frusteration in trying to purchase arms from England finally funds an gun factory in Montreal to produce Lee Enflield rifles under license. Additional contracts are let to produce parts for larger calibar arms after negotiations with British arms manufactures where parts are exchanges for machine guns, anti-aircraft guns and small cannon. Canada's background in manufacturing farm machinery is well used to start producing additional trucks, trailers and tank engines through a mix of Canadian, British and American designs. Army regiments are re-trained to a common standard and approval is given to raise additonal milita units newer communities if the local community can raise the following : funds for an armoury, funds to pay a 5 man training staff from the Canadian army, and 500 men. With no limits on location severl unique units are formed based upon Asian and eastern European traditions while several of the larger First Nations re-form historical units disbanded in past years. By the time of the outbreak of WW2 50,000 men are already in semi-trained militia units.
WW2
With the outbreak of WW2 Canada quickly steps the fore mobilizing Militia units and creating a war production board. Allied with England Canada offers a much high population than OTL but more importantly has an industrial base several times larger and is already producing common equipment. The RCN quickly takes over the patrol duties of the western Atlantic while the government shipping fleet quickly starts exporting large amounts of war materials from canadian factories. The RCAF, with a large number of quality flying schools upgraded, a decent civilian pilot population quickly starts sending pilots by the dozen to England while aircraft production ramps up. The army quickly sends 2 divisions of infantry to England with 2 more in the process of forming.
With the increased Canadian presence in England Canada quickly becomes an invaluable ally as its troops help gaurd England following the fall of France. With the shorter end to the Battle of Britian the newly formed Canadian Army is sent to Eygpt to help against Italian forces allowing ANZAC troops to be deployed to the Asian theater. Quickly finding common ground with Indian Army units in the Middle East the Canadians help route Italian troops back to Libiya months faster than thought possible and capture the advance party of German support staff sent to help (aka no Rommel in N. Africa). With the security of the Suez Canal safe the stalemate continues while nations continue to expand factories and armed forces until Japan declared war in part due to a shortage of resources. ANZAC troops are quickly deployed to key bases such as Singapore while isolated, undefendable posts such as Hong Kong are evacuated while possible. With Japanese Canadian troops already having seen combat there is no relocation of Japanese Nensi (sp) and instead become of Canada's most decorated troops by war end. The Allied plan of holding on key bases and concentrating troops and resources pays dividends when a invasion fleet off of Singapore is detected and large, formed and equiped ANZAC divisions meet the Japanses at the beaches forcing them back. In addition this allows increased support to flow to Chinese troops as the shorter allied logisitcs chain allows for more effective Chinese oposition to the Japanese Army.
Sicily is taken in a raid gone wrong when Canadian Generals hear of talk of testing European mainland defenses they lobby and recieve approval to lauch a large scale raid upon Scility to test tactics. Light opposition is recieved and soon a full division is on the shore going "now what". Sensing the oportunity Canadian generals quickly fortify the beachhead with the troops and send boats for the rest of the Canadian army while the oportunity presents. Over the next two months the Canadian Army captures Scily due to stong RN/RCN and RCAF cover against re-inforcing Italian troops. This is helped by the shipping of the newly formed Canadian 5 and 6th divisions and the British adding in Indian Army elements from Egypt.
With Sicily under control strategic bombing against German infrastructure takes place by the 6th bombing group RCAF leading to a critical fuel shortage just prior to the several Russian offenses. With tanks out of gas Germany loses the equalivant to an army and much of it's armour eliminating offensive options in the East and forcing it to draw down untis in France to defend against the russian offensive. With less troops available for defense the allies land at Normandy with Canadian troops capturing Caen the first day. This allows for large scale supply shipments direct to the beach head with german troops quickly being isolated and surrending in large numbers. With both the west and eastern war theaters german generals undertake operation Valkerie which eliminates hitler and Germany sues for peace. Japan, short of resources due to being unable to capture Dutch oil fields and starving surrenders shortly thereafter at the cost of huge numbers of Japanese citizens who starved to death due to all resources going to the Army/Navy.
Afterwar:
Canada had performed well and had more importantly stepped up with large number of trained personnel in the critical early years of the war and is rewarded with a permanent seat at the the newly formed UN security council. Observers confirming the end of WW2 report upon the devestation of Germany and especially Japanese citizens and offer an immigration component to the Marshal plan where "clean" citizens would be allowed to imigrate to Canada while food supplies were rushed to the countries. This results in a major population boom followed 9 months later as returning personal from Europe do their bit.
Population at end of WW2 - 25 million.
With this base even considering Canada's current limit on immigration you should end up with a population close to 100 million by today which means that economically, internationally and militarily we should be much more powerful.
Anyways...a few thoughts on this but back to work.
foresterab
Immigration to Canada was dominated by a mix of Canadian and British officials with a preferance for white europeanm, preferabaly protestant farmers in order to take advantage of the newly opened west. Based upon the success of this program certain ethnic groups were targeted for additional industries..northern scandinavians for the logging industries for example. A country, not yet a nation with space and resources Canada starts a program of expanding a fleet of merchant ships to ensure the raw resources can be exported to European markets and re-invests the shipping profits into subsidizing immigrant fares to Canada. Cheaper fares than those available to the US And Australia have success as much larger numbers of settlers come to Canada and start to build new lives...the big difference is that Canada as part of the shipping program extends the offer to all major ports and cities instead of OTL selective provincies/countries and as a result achieves a more diversified cultural base.
WW1 I will leave alone as OTL results are very tough to improve upon and frankly served to help unify the country in many regards. I still can't belive the 100 Day battles, casualties (1 in 3), and results.
After WW1 returning veterns share horror stories of the challanges of dealing with imperial officers in the early years and nationalism increases. In additon notice is made is increasingly published accounts about how the "common" canadian didn't care about ethnic backgrounds and served as an individual united by a maple leaf. This combined with increasing photo distribution of native canadians, afro-americans and asian men serving along side of european troops creates conditions that leads to a 1920 ruling that all men, iregardless of race, have equal rights. (this is earlier than in OTL when native canadians gave up native status in many cases to serve..something that wasn't reversed until recently).
Labour shortages from "traditional" immigration sources such as England forces leads to increased immigration from India especially for workers in British Columbia sawmills while increased industrialization in Asia increases shipments to India, Japan and China. Canada...short tens of thousands of men due to WW1 casualities increases immigration rates from former opponents and allies alike and German and Russian immigration rates soar.
While still a resource dominated economy access to US and European markets is strong and a small class of mill manufactures begin to expand to producing higher quality products creating a second tier manufacturing industry producing motors, tools and high value trade products. This industrialization is extremely successfull and leads to number of successful manufacturing plants concentrated mostly in eastern canada but increasing in the west along with refinery capacity for resources.
Industrial expansion is so rampant and inflation so high that the Canadian governments in conjuntion with the provinces enacts a series of reforms in 1928 that requires all companies with over 200 employees to be incorperated and dictate a higher standard of finanical backing. This in turn leads to a major market correction as many highly leveraged companies end up folding or merging to meet the new standards but the surviving corporations in turn have higher pricing power and finanicial institutions are more stable.
The depression of the 1930's does not affect Canada to near the extreme OTL due to the 1928 financial changes and few companies fail. The financial reforms allow to Canadian companies to buy US bankrupt companies at bargin prices while Canada actively advertises job oportunities to out of work US citizens. The open door policies continue around the world and while climate works against many applicants the unoccupied areas of Canada expand much faster than OTL and by the mid 1930's over 15 million people are counted with over half the population under 18.
The unrest around the world in Spain, Ethiopia and elsewhere leads to a re-evaluation of Canada's defense and obligations should another war break out. There is a strong desire to avoid the slaughter of trench warfare but conflict seems to be on the horizon and the government begins to re-evaluate its' supplies and positon. The merchant shipping fleet is expanded in part to it's ability to generate revenue for the government and shipyeards expand to match...in addition a program of building destroyers is looked at with 6 ordered for delivery in 1939.
Aircraft...a new military tool in WW1 have become more common as improvements to designs have improved performance and utility in developing Canada's north. De Havaliand and Avro are both offered loans to establish factories by the federal government due to increased demand for hig quality aircraft while the Depart of National Defense begins a series of airport improvements to handle newer, heavier aircraft accross the nation. In all 50 locations are selected scattered from sea to sea for upgrading and/or construction with a minimum standard of gravel based tarmacs to be completed by an ambitious 1937. Improved airstrips in turn reduce accidents with civilian flying schools and the increased safety leads to larger number of pilots being trained.
Militia units are examined and audited and in a damning report on the state of Canada's armed forces most units are found defective in either a) equipment or b) training. Canada after frusteration in trying to purchase arms from England finally funds an gun factory in Montreal to produce Lee Enflield rifles under license. Additional contracts are let to produce parts for larger calibar arms after negotiations with British arms manufactures where parts are exchanges for machine guns, anti-aircraft guns and small cannon. Canada's background in manufacturing farm machinery is well used to start producing additional trucks, trailers and tank engines through a mix of Canadian, British and American designs. Army regiments are re-trained to a common standard and approval is given to raise additonal milita units newer communities if the local community can raise the following : funds for an armoury, funds to pay a 5 man training staff from the Canadian army, and 500 men. With no limits on location severl unique units are formed based upon Asian and eastern European traditions while several of the larger First Nations re-form historical units disbanded in past years. By the time of the outbreak of WW2 50,000 men are already in semi-trained militia units.
WW2
With the outbreak of WW2 Canada quickly steps the fore mobilizing Militia units and creating a war production board. Allied with England Canada offers a much high population than OTL but more importantly has an industrial base several times larger and is already producing common equipment. The RCN quickly takes over the patrol duties of the western Atlantic while the government shipping fleet quickly starts exporting large amounts of war materials from canadian factories. The RCAF, with a large number of quality flying schools upgraded, a decent civilian pilot population quickly starts sending pilots by the dozen to England while aircraft production ramps up. The army quickly sends 2 divisions of infantry to England with 2 more in the process of forming.
With the increased Canadian presence in England Canada quickly becomes an invaluable ally as its troops help gaurd England following the fall of France. With the shorter end to the Battle of Britian the newly formed Canadian Army is sent to Eygpt to help against Italian forces allowing ANZAC troops to be deployed to the Asian theater. Quickly finding common ground with Indian Army units in the Middle East the Canadians help route Italian troops back to Libiya months faster than thought possible and capture the advance party of German support staff sent to help (aka no Rommel in N. Africa). With the security of the Suez Canal safe the stalemate continues while nations continue to expand factories and armed forces until Japan declared war in part due to a shortage of resources. ANZAC troops are quickly deployed to key bases such as Singapore while isolated, undefendable posts such as Hong Kong are evacuated while possible. With Japanese Canadian troops already having seen combat there is no relocation of Japanese Nensi (sp) and instead become of Canada's most decorated troops by war end. The Allied plan of holding on key bases and concentrating troops and resources pays dividends when a invasion fleet off of Singapore is detected and large, formed and equiped ANZAC divisions meet the Japanses at the beaches forcing them back. In addition this allows increased support to flow to Chinese troops as the shorter allied logisitcs chain allows for more effective Chinese oposition to the Japanese Army.
Sicily is taken in a raid gone wrong when Canadian Generals hear of talk of testing European mainland defenses they lobby and recieve approval to lauch a large scale raid upon Scility to test tactics. Light opposition is recieved and soon a full division is on the shore going "now what". Sensing the oportunity Canadian generals quickly fortify the beachhead with the troops and send boats for the rest of the Canadian army while the oportunity presents. Over the next two months the Canadian Army captures Scily due to stong RN/RCN and RCAF cover against re-inforcing Italian troops. This is helped by the shipping of the newly formed Canadian 5 and 6th divisions and the British adding in Indian Army elements from Egypt.
With Sicily under control strategic bombing against German infrastructure takes place by the 6th bombing group RCAF leading to a critical fuel shortage just prior to the several Russian offenses. With tanks out of gas Germany loses the equalivant to an army and much of it's armour eliminating offensive options in the East and forcing it to draw down untis in France to defend against the russian offensive. With less troops available for defense the allies land at Normandy with Canadian troops capturing Caen the first day. This allows for large scale supply shipments direct to the beach head with german troops quickly being isolated and surrending in large numbers. With both the west and eastern war theaters german generals undertake operation Valkerie which eliminates hitler and Germany sues for peace. Japan, short of resources due to being unable to capture Dutch oil fields and starving surrenders shortly thereafter at the cost of huge numbers of Japanese citizens who starved to death due to all resources going to the Army/Navy.
Afterwar:
Canada had performed well and had more importantly stepped up with large number of trained personnel in the critical early years of the war and is rewarded with a permanent seat at the the newly formed UN security council. Observers confirming the end of WW2 report upon the devestation of Germany and especially Japanese citizens and offer an immigration component to the Marshal plan where "clean" citizens would be allowed to imigrate to Canada while food supplies were rushed to the countries. This results in a major population boom followed 9 months later as returning personal from Europe do their bit.
Population at end of WW2 - 25 million.
With this base even considering Canada's current limit on immigration you should end up with a population close to 100 million by today which means that economically, internationally and militarily we should be much more powerful.
Anyways...a few thoughts on this but back to work.
foresterab
foresterb, would you mind if I do some work on yours with a view to fleshing it into a full TL? Something about it just left me with the feeling that "damnit, THATS the country I want to live in"
Knock yourself out...
I often wonder what the effects would have been if immigration selection was more open like the United States and the government continued to directly promote immigration in many areas. Southern Europeans were a definate minorty for early 1900's immigration and eastern Indians/asians were restricted to quota despite the work ethic of those who showed up. During WW1 you had Canadian oddities such as chinese troops in Calgary regiments and afro american troops in many maritime regiments so visible minorities were accepted as peers by the troops.
Large areas of the west were homesteaded after WW2 and my thought was to maintain the immigration rates + add in folks from the troubled areas of the world so that the majority of the land is homesteaded prior to WW2. Add in some financial reforms and increase Canada's industry base and you've got a very different story.
Let me know if you need more details.
foresterab
I often wonder what the effects would have been if immigration selection was more open like the United States and the government continued to directly promote immigration in many areas. Southern Europeans were a definate minorty for early 1900's immigration and eastern Indians/asians were restricted to quota despite the work ethic of those who showed up. During WW1 you had Canadian oddities such as chinese troops in Calgary regiments and afro american troops in many maritime regiments so visible minorities were accepted as peers by the troops.
Large areas of the west were homesteaded after WW2 and my thought was to maintain the immigration rates + add in folks from the troubled areas of the world so that the majority of the land is homesteaded prior to WW2. Add in some financial reforms and increase Canada's industry base and you've got a very different story.
Let me know if you need more details.
foresterab
Giysqun Wilde
Banned
Have the the administration and protection of the British Carribbean be placed in Canadian hands, and Greenland be occupied by extremely reasonable Canadian troops so that they natives either are annexed or made a sattelite. A Canadian company could win the bid for drilling Iran's petrol fields. Orange Irish and French colonials could settle in Canada. The United States could sell parts of Alaska in exchange for something from the British.
Maybe a mixture of both what foresterab and Boydfish proposed. Have them happen somewhat simultaneously, which would make it both more realistic and more acceptable to the Americans.
One must always remember the people in Washington DC would always be wary of a potentially hostile power on their northern borders, especially so close to the traditionally industrialised states like New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan (who all border Ontario). So, as long as the Dominion maintains peaceful trade with the Union -- perhaps go as far as offering an earlier version of the Ogdensburg Agreement (1940 in OTL) given that both William L. Mackenzie King and Franklin D. Roosevelt had been in office simultaneously since October 1935 (the former had been elected back as Prime Minister in a landslide in 1935) -- it could encourage the American government to better invest in Canada (and allow same vice-versa into America), thus pulling America out of the Depression much earlier than OTL.
One must always remember the people in Washington DC would always be wary of a potentially hostile power on their northern borders, especially so close to the traditionally industrialised states like New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan (who all border Ontario). So, as long as the Dominion maintains peaceful trade with the Union -- perhaps go as far as offering an earlier version of the Ogdensburg Agreement (1940 in OTL) given that both William L. Mackenzie King and Franklin D. Roosevelt had been in office simultaneously since October 1935 (the former had been elected back as Prime Minister in a landslide in 1935) -- it could encourage the American government to better invest in Canada (and allow same vice-versa into America), thus pulling America out of the Depression much earlier than OTL.
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