31 dez 1963 ano - Bomarc Missiles Delivered to Canada

Descrição:

Bomarc Missiles were long-range missiles containing nuclear heads. Under the new defense policy, as a participant of NORAD, Canada was asked by the US to house a number of these missiles for security purposes. This was a very controversial idea. Many thought Canada should remain a non-nuclear nation, and comply with the UN's efforts to achieve nuclear disarmament. Others, however, thought the weapons were imperative for Canada's national safety. This dispute among Canadians was an influence in the 1963 federal election, and consequently won Lester Pearson the vote; he proposed to accept the arms if certain conditions were met, and considering the nuclear threat of the Cuban Missile Crisis was very recent, this played well with many Canadians. The Bomarc missiles were soon accepted by Canada, delivered to their sites on December 31, 1963

In 1969, under Pierre Trudeau's leadership, the new Liberal government decided to dismantle these nuclear arms to make Canada non-nuclear once again. They were phased out by 1971, following the signing of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1970.

Image: several stationed Bomarc missiles

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