Canadian Power: The Canadian Forces as a Major Power
is an Alternate History timeline written by Canadian user "TheMann" on the site AlternateHistory.com. As the title implies, it is a timeline in which the Canadian Forces remain a major military power in the world, starting from the 1970s.
The basis of the timeline begins in 1974 when the British carrier HMS Eagle is purchased by Canada following the urging of Progressive Conservative Opposition Leader Robert Stanfield to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to replace HMCS Bonaventure, what would otherwise become Canada's last aircraft carrier in our timeline. The purchase of the carrier leads to a chain of events that allows the Canadian Forces to be able to throw their weight around when the carrier is commissioned into Canadian service, and Canada not only manages to retain a major military capability, but also remains a premier industrial powerhouse even into the 2010s, as the Canadian aircraft industry is rejuvenated. The Canadian Forces' renown as a force for peacekeeping and good is established after Canadian intervention in ending conflicts in Cyprus and South Africa, culminating in the Canadians taking initiative to end the Rwandan Genocide even after the US declares non-intervention in the conflict.
The timeline extends as far as the 2030s, following many more events that did not happen in our timeline.
It later inspired the creation of two new stories, Rise of the North by Ming 777, and In Defense of Humanity by TheMann himself, which follows an ISOT event of major Canadian military and industrial assets and cities into the 1983: Doomsday timeline.
Provides examples of:
- Alternate History: Obviously.
- The Alliance: NATO, later superseded by the Global Defense Treaty, which includes the NATO countries, Japan, South Korea, Israel and Iran. Yes, the two countries infamous in our timeline for threatening each other with destruction are now voluntary allies under the same alliance!
- Allohistorical Allusion: A possible one. Following the successful raid by Canadian special forces to capture two war criminals in Former Yugoslavia, The Toronto Sun prints a headline reading "Gotcha, Punks", which
TheMann confirmed was a reference to The Sun printing the headline "Gotcha" after the sinking of the ARA General Belgrano. While the Falklands War does still happen, the Point-of-Divergence is before it happens, and it's unknown if The Sun printed the headline in this timeline. - Awesome Personnel Carrier: The Rooikat 105, which Canada purchased from post-Apartheid South Africa.
- Big Damn Heroes:
- The Canadians when they intercede to stop the Rwandan Genocide. In the words of Prime Minister Jean Charest:
"We do not care what President Clinton decides to do. We're going. We have to."- The crew of frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec attempts to assist 9/11 rescue efforts with its CH-148 Cyclone helicopter, at the loss of 45 of its crew, including its XO.
- Bystander Syndrome: Averted by Canadian Prime Minister Jean Charest, as mentioned above. First played straight with, and later also averted by Bill Clinton.
- Cool Boat: The Canadian carriers HMCS Eagle (CV-23), Warrior (CV-24), and the Victorious-class nuclear supercarriers.
- Also, the Eagle-class air defense cruiser, which includes a trimaran hull, SAMPSON radar and massive 155mm guns in addition to a powerful anti-air complement.
- Other nations' ships include the British Queen Elizabeth-class of conventionally powered supercarriers, and the Australian HMAS Australia, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier built outside the United States.
- Cool Plane: The next-generation Canadian version of the venerable F-14 Tomcat, the CF-184 Supercat, and the CF-190 Crossbow fighter-bomber.
- The civilian aviation industry has the Bombardier World Airliner (WA) series, which is based off the scrapped Boeing Sonic Cruiser.
- Elites Are More Glamorous: The Canadian SAS, and the Canadian Marine Corps.
- For Want Of A Nail: Large-scale conflicts break out in Cyprus, South Africa and the Indian Subcontinent which did not happen in our timeline.
- Heroic BSoD: General Romeo Dallaire still faces PTSD even after successfully receiving the help he needs to end the Rwandan Genocide.
- In Spite of a Nail: Certain events like the Rwandan Genocide are not butterflied away. How they play out, on the other hand...
- Our Presidents Are Different: Notable Canadian Prime Ministers that never came to be include Robert Stanfield, Jean Charest, Brian Tobin and Peter MacKay.
- From 2001 onwards the White House is occupied by different figures, first by Al Gore, then Jon Huntsman and Barack Obama.
- Take a Third Option: After the Americans block their attempt to buy nuclear submarines from Britain, Canada turns down an American offer and buys submarines from the French.
- Tank Goodness: The Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks in Canadian Army service.
- What the Hell, Hero?: The Canadian government is not amused when America blocks their attempt to buy new nuclear submarines from Britain... and then allows General Dynamics (an American company) to offer to sell them the American Los Angeles class nuclear submarine.Perrin Beatty:note You make it impossible for us to buy our first choice of submarines from the UK, and then try to sell us one of your own? It's more than a little indignant, is it not?
