1991 in Canada

Table of contents

1 Incumbents
2 Events
3 Arts and Literature
4 Births
5 Deaths

Incumbents

Events

January 1 - The Goods and Services Tax comes into effect
January 15 - Canadian Forces begin their participation in the Persian Gulf War
January 29 - The Allaire Committee releases its report on Canada's constitution - it recommends sweeping changes such as the abolition of the Senate.
January 30 - Gulf War: A Canadian CF-18 Hornet attacks and causes irreparable damage to an Iraqi warship.
February 9 - Donald Cameron becomes premier of Nova Scotia, replacing Roger Bacon
February 27 - Gulf War: Iraq agrees to a cease-fire ending the conflict
April 2 - Rita Johnston becomes premier of British Columbia, replacing Bill Vander Zalm
April 22 - Joe Clark is appointed Minister of Constitutional Affairs
May - George Erasmus, leader of the Assembly of First Nations, resigns and is succeeded by Ovide Mercredi
May 14 MP John Nunziata alleges the RCMP know who bombed the Air-India flight 182 but didn't have evidence needed for prosecution.
June 15 - Paul Bernardo kidnaps, rapes, and murders Leslie Mahaffy
June 19 The Dobbie-Castonguay Commission is created to look into changes to the constitution.
July 3 - The process leading to the privatization of Petro-Canada is begun
September 24 - Dobbie-Castonguay Commission recommends an elected Senate, and recognizing Quebec as a distinct society.
October 21 - The Saskatchewan election: Roy Romanow's NDP win a majority, defeating Grant Devine's PCs
November 1 - Roy Romanow becomes premier of Saskatchewan, replacing Grant Devine
November 5 - Michael Harcourt becomes premier of British Columbia, replacing Rita Johnston
November 14 - Nellie Cournoyea becomes government leader of the Northwest Territories, replacing Dennis Patterson
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the President of Haiti, who was visits Canada and is warmly welcomed by the large Haitian community in Montreal, where he had studied at the University of Montreal.
Julius Alexander Isaac is named Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Canada. He becomes the first Black Chief Justice in Canada
David Schindler of the University of Alberta wins the first international Stockholm Water Prize for environmental rsearch.
Ferguson Jenkins becomes the first Canadian ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
Canadian peacekeepers begin a five year deployment to El Salvador
Canadian observers are sent to Western Sahara

Arts and Literature

New Works

Rohinton Mistry - Such a Long Journey
Douglas Coupland -
Margaret Atwood - Wilderness Tips
Dave Duncan - Faery Lands Forlorn
Hume Cronyn - A Terrible Liar
Spider Robinson - Starseed

Awards

See 1991 Governor General's Awards for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards.
Books in Canada First Novel Award: Nino Ricci, Lives of the Saints
Gerald Lampert Award: Diana Brebner, Radiant Life Forms
Geoffrey Bilson Award: Marianne Brandis, The Sign of the Scales
Marian Engel Award: Joan Clark
Pat Lowther Award: Karen Connelly, The Small Words in My Body
Stephen Leacock Award: Howard White, Waiting in the Rain
Trillium Book Award: Margaret Atwood, Wilderness Tips
Vicky Metcalf Award: Brian Doyle

Film

Atom Egoyan's The Adjuster is released
James Cameron's is released. It is the year's highest grossing film

Music

Trevor Pinnock becomes director of the National Arts Centre Orchesta

Births

Deaths

Jean-Paul Mousseau, muralist
Maryon Pearson, wife of Lester B. Pearson