1998 in Canada

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See also:	History of Canada Timeline of Canadian history List of years in Canada

Events from the year1998 in Canada.

Incumbents

Main article:1998 Canadian incumbents

Crown

• Monarch–Elizabeth II

Federal government

• Governor General–Roméo LeBlanc
• Prime Minister–Jean Chrétien
• Chief Justice–Antonio Lamer(Quebec)
• Parliament–36th

Provincial governments

Lieutenant governors

• Lieutenant Governor of Alberta–Bud Olson
• Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia–Garde Gardom
• Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba–Yvon Dumont
• Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick–Marilyn Trenholme Counsell
• Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland–Arthur Maxwell House
• Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia–James Kinley
• Lieutenant Governor of Ontario–Hillary Weston
• Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island–Gilbert Clements
• Lieutenant Governor of Quebec–Lise Thibault
• Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan–Jack Wiebe

Premiers

• Premier of Alberta–Ralph Klein
• Premier of British Columbia–Glen Clark
• Premier of Manitoba–Gary Filmon
• Premier of New Brunswick–Raymond Frenette(until May 14) thenCamille Thériault
• Premier of Newfoundland–Brian Tobin
• Premier of Nova Scotia–Russell MacLellan
• Premier of Ontario–Mike Harris
• Premier of Prince Edward Island–Pat Binns
• Premier of Quebec–Lucien Bouchard
• Premier of Saskatchewan–Roy Romanow

Territorial governments

Commissioners

• Commissioner of Yukon–Judy Gingell
• Commissioner of Northwest Territories–Helen Maksagak

Premiers

• Premier of the Northwest Territories–Don Morin(until November 26) thenGoo Arlooktoo(November 26 to December 10) thenJim Antoine
• Premier of Yukon–Piers McDonald

Events

January to March

• January 1 –Torontoand six other communities are merged to form a new megacity.Mel Lastmanwas sworn in as its first mayor.Three other Ontario cities were similarly merged on the same date in2001.
• January 2 – Three separate avalanches inBritish Columbiakill a total of nine people.
• January 5 – TheIce Storm of 1998,caused byEl Niño,strikes southernOntarioandQuebec,resulting in widespread power failures, severe damage to forests, and a number of deaths.
• January 6 –Alan Eaglesonpleads guilty to fraud.
• January 7 – The federal government formally apologizes for the past mistreatment ofFirst Nations.
• January 23 – TheRoyal Bankand theBank of Montrealannounce plans to merge, which are later scuttled by the federal government.
• February 6 – TheHudson's Bay Companytakes overKmart Canada,folding it into itsZellerschain.
• February 10 –Canadian National Railwaymerges with theIllinois Central.
• February 13 – Three girls, all under 18 years of age, are found guilty inVictoria, British Columbia,of killing 14-year-oldReena Virk.Three others plead guilty of assault.
• February 16 –Reference Re Secession of Quebec:The Supreme Court is asked to rule on the legality of unilateral Quebec secession.
• February 18 – Controversial plans to include aHolocaustmemorial in theCanadian War Museumare scrapped.
• February 24 – In the federal budget, Finance MinisterPaul Martindelivers a balanced budget.
• March 2 –Daniel Johnson,leader of theQuebec Liberal Party,announces his resignation.
• March 6 – TheDionne Quintupletsare given money and an apology by the Ontario government.
• March 6 –British Columbiadoctors begin the first of a series of protests against funding shortages.
• March 12 –QuebecandNewfoundlandresolve the long-runningChurchill Fallsdispute.
• March 12 –Mutual Life of CanadaacquiresMetLifeto become Canada's second-largest insurance company.
• March 23 – SenatorAndy Thompsonis forced to resign hisSenateseat after not attending for two years.
• March 24 – TheNova Scotia electionleaves theLiberalsandNDPtied for the most seats.
• March 27 –Jean Charestannounces that he will seek the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party.
• March 27 – The federal government agrees to compensatehepatitis Cvictims of tainted blood.

April to June

• April 1 – Floods in theSaguenay-Lac-Saint-Jeanregion of Quebec force 2000 from their homes.
• April 2 – In the final appeal of theDelwin Vriendcase, theSupreme Court of Canadastrikes down anAlberta Court of Appealruling that barredLGBTpersons from protection under the province's human rights code.
• April 3 – Members of theRoyal Newfoundland Constabularyare permitted side arms for the first time.
• April 17 –Dafydd Rhys Williamsflies aboard theSpace ShuttleColumbia,becoming the first non-American to serve as medical officer.
• April 17 – TheToronto Dominion Bankand theCanadian Imperial Bank of Commerceannounce plans to merge; however, the merger is later blocked by the government.
• April 25 – The United States announces large tariffs on Canadiansoftwood lumber.
• April 26–28 – Prime Minister Chrétien pays an official visit toCuba.
• May 1 – Separatist David Levine is named head of the newly amalgamatedOttawahospital sparking great controversy.
• Early May – Wildfires burning in Alberta force the evacuation of a number of communities.
• May 14 –Camille Thériaultbecomes premier of New Brunswick, replacingRaymond Frenette.
• May 21 – TheFederal Department of Fisheries and Oceansshuts down the B.C.cohofishery.
• May 29 – The Supreme Court strikes down a ban on pre-election opinion polls.
• June 9 – Three are killed in a gas explosion inMontreal,Quebec.
• June 10 – One person is killed by an explosion at anIrving Oilrefinery.
• June 11 – Eleven are killed in a plane crash atMirabel Airport.
• June 24 –Macmillan Bloedelsays that it will endclear cuttingofold growthforests.

July to September

Canadian Coast Guard ShipHenry Hudsonsearches forSwissair Flight 111debris following a crash off the coast ofPeggys Cove,Nova Scotia.

• July 15 – The B.C. government and theNisga'aFirst Nation sign a historic, and controversial, land claims agreement.
• July 20 – TheSouthamchain buys theFinancial PostfromSun Media.
• August – TheCanadian dollarplunges all month.
• August 11 – 8,000 people are evacuated asforest firesthreatenSalmon Arm, British Columbia.
• August 20 – TheSupreme Court of CanadastatesQuebeccan not legally secede from Canada without the federal government's approval.
• August 28 – The dollar reaches 64.02 US cents.
• September 2 – Pilots forAir Canadalaunch the first strike in company's history.
• September 2 – Crash ofSwissair Flight 111offPeggys CoveinNova Scotia.
• September 3 – A three-week lockout begins in Ontario's Catholic school system.
• September 22 – 20,000 protest Canada's new gun registry on Parliament Hill.

October to December

• October 8 – Canada is elected to a seat on theUnited Nations Security Council.
• October 14 – Canada's firstdiamondmine opens in theNorthwest Territories.
• October 27 –Conrad Black'sNational Postpublishes its first issue.
• November 14 – Former Prime MinisterJoe Clarkis selected as the new leader of theProgressive Conservative Party of Canada.
• November 26 –Don Morinis forced to resign aspremier of the Northwest Territories.
• November 30 – In theQuebec electiontheParti Québécoisis re-elected despite narrowly losing the popular vote.
• December 1 – Work on Canada's newgun registrybegins.
• December 10 –Jim Antoinebecomes premier of the Northwest Territories, replacingDon Morin.
• December 14 – Minister of Finance Paul Martin prohibits Canada's banks from merging.
• December – TheMilitary Police Complaints Commissionis established.

Arts and literature

New books

• The Bay of Love and Sorrows:David Adams Richards
• Greater Than Angels:Carol Matas
• The Love of a Good Woman:Alice Munro
• Prières d'un adolescent très très sage:Roch Carrier
• Broken Entries: Race Subjectivity Writing:Roy Miki
• Isaiah Berlin: A Life:Michael Ignatieff
• Coyotes Sing to the Moon:Thomas King
• Toronto Discovered:Robert Fulford
• Body Music:Dennis Lee
• The Colony of Unrequited Dreams:Wayne Johnston
• The Wise and Foolish Virgins:Don Hannah
• Kiss of the Fur Queen:Tomson Highway

Awards

• Carol Shields'sLarry's Partywins theOrange Prize for Fiction
• Giller Prize for Canadian Fiction:Alice Munro:The Love of a Good Woman
• See1998 Governor General's Awardsfor a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards.
• Books in Canada First Novel Award:Margaret Gibson,Opium Dreams
• Geoffrey Bilson Award:Irene N. Watts,Good-Bye Marianne
• Gerald Lampert Award:Mark Sinnett,The Landing
• Marian Engel Award:Sharon Butala
• Pat Lowther Award:Barbara Nickel,The Gladys Elegies
• Stephen Leacock Award:Mordecai Richler,Barney's Version
• Trillium Book AwardEnglish:André Alexis,ChildhoodandAlice Munro,The Love of a Good Woman
• Trillium Book AwardFrench:Daniel Poliquin,L'homme de pailleandStefan Psenak,Du chaos et de l'ordre des choses
• Vicky Metcalf Award:Kit Pearson

Music

• Shania Twain'sCome on Overis one of the year's top selling albums in North America
• Les Chansons en orbyCéline Dionis released
• Supposed Former Infatuation JunkiebyAlanis Morissette

Film

• Titanic,directed by CanadianJames Cameron,wins 11 Oscars.

Television

• Canada'sSesame Streetswitches to showing exclusively Canadian content, renaming itselfSesame Park,as it no longer uses any American made segments fromSesame Street
• Canadian children's television showRolie Polie Oliedebuts.

Dance

• The French government namesKaren Kainas anOfficer of the Order of Arts and Letters

Sport

• February 7 – February 22 –Nagano OlympicsCanada wins the fourth-most medals, but is embarrassed when their star-filled hockey team fails to win a medal.
• February 12 – TheToronto Maple Leafsbuy theToronto Raptors
• May 17 –Portland Winter Hawkswon their SecondMemorial Cupby defeating theGuelph Storm4 to 3.
• June 16 –Cranbrook, British Columbia'sSteve Yzermanof theDetroit Red Wingsis awarded theConn Smythe Trophy
• November 22 –Calgary Stampederswon their FifthGrey Cupby the defeating theHamilton Tiger-Cats26 to 24 in the86th Grey Cupplayed atWinnipeg Stadium.Vancouver'sVince Danielsenwas awarded the game'sMost Valuable Canadian
• November 28 –Saskatchewan Huskieswon their ThirdVanier Cupby defeating theConcordia Stingers24 to 17 in the34th Vanier Cupplayed atSkydomeinToronto

Births

• January 9 –Sean Day,Belgium-born ice hockey player
• January 13 –Gabrielle Daleman,figure skater
• January 19 –Ella Shelton,ice hockey player
• February 3 –Michael McLeod,ice hockey player
• February 6 –Aviva Mongillo,singer and actress
• February 26 –Isaac Durnford,actor
• March 12 –Annaleise Carr,swimmer
• April 27 –Drake Batherson,ice hockey player
• May 20 –Nam Nguyen,figure skater
• July 23 –Houdini,rapper (died2020)
• August 8 –Shawn Mendes,singer/songwriter
• August 13 –Carter Hart,ice hockey goaltender
• September 17 –Richard Wang,chess player
• October 26 –Mattea Roach,tutor andJeopardy!contestant
• October 29 –Lance Stroll,race car driver
• November 13 –Melissa "Charlie" Storwick,singer-songwriter
• December 6 – Micah Berry, actor
• December 8 –Anastasia Rizikov,pianist
• December 30 –Zachary Brault-Guillard,Haiti-born Canadian soccer player

Full date unknown

• Regan Oey,actor

Deaths

January to March

• January 1 –Arthur Gelber,philanthropist (born1915)
• January 12 –Mark MacGuigan,academic and politician (born1931)
• January 23 –Donald Davis,actor (born1928)
• January 28 –Eddie Sargent,politician (born1915)
• February 1 –Sheila Watson,novelist, critic and teacher (born1909)
• February 20 –Bob McBride,singer (born1946)
• February 25 –W. O. Mitchell,writer (born1914)
• March 13 –Bill Reid,artist (born1920)
• March 16 –Yves Landry,president ofChrysler Canada

April to June

• April 3 –Elmer Iseler,choir conductor and choral editor (born1927)
• April 7 –Nick Auf der Maur,journalist and politician (born1942)
• April 16 –Marie-Louise Meilleur,supercentenarian, the oldest validated Canadian ever (born1880)
• April 27 –John Bassett,publisher and media baron (born1915)
• May 28 –Phil Hartman,actor, comedian, screenwriter and graphic artist (born1948)
• June 4
  • William Cecil Ross,politician (born1911)
  • David Walsh,businessman, disgraced head ofBre-X(born1945)
• June 20 –Bobby Gimby,orchestra leader, trumpeter and singer-songwriter (born1918)
• June 27 –Joyce Wieland,experimental filmmaker and mixed media artist (born1931)

July to September

• July 1
  • Emery Barnes,Canadian football player and politician (born1929)
  • Florence Doane,Olympic athlete
• July 6 –Loris Russell,paleontologist
• July 16 –Lucien Lamoureux,politician andSpeaker of the House of Commons of Canada(born1920)
• August 23 –Harold E. Johns,medical physicist (born1915)
• September 15 –Louis Rasminsky,third Governor of theBank of Canada(born1908)
• September 28 –Eric Malling,television journalist (born1946)

October to December

• October 1 –Pauline Julien,singer, songwriter, actress and feminist activist (born1928)
• October 13 –Gérard Charles Édouard Thériault,general andChief of the Defence Staff(born1932)
• October 17
  • Brian Dickson,Supreme Court justice
  • Mary O'Brien,feminist
• November 9 –Roland Hewgill,actor
• November 13 –Michel Trudeau,student (born1975)
• November 22 –Jack Shadbolt,painter (born1909)
• December 9 –Shaughnessy Cohen,politician (born1948)
• December 16 –John Gallagher,geologist and businessman (born1916)
• December 23
  • David Manners,actor (born1900)
  • Pierre Vallières,journalist and writer (born1938)
• December 24 –Syl Apps,pole vaulter and ice hockey player (born1915)

Full date unknown

• John Hayes,harness racing driver, trainer and owner (born1917)
• Stanley Bréhaut Ryerson,historian, educator and political activist (born1911)

See also

• 1998 in Canadian television
• List of Canadian films of 1998