In 1961, the CCF is officially renamed the New Democratic Party or NDP.

In 1962, the Saskatchewan NDP government introduces the first Canadian medicare plan. Also in that year, Canada becomes the third nation in space with the launch of the Alouette satellite.

In 1963, John Diefenbaker's Conservative government is defeated by Lester B. Pearson and the Liberal Party. Under Pearson, in 1965, the new Canadian Maple Leaf flag is introduced. Pierre Trudeau takes over as Liberal Party leader in 1968 and wins a majority government in the federal election that year. The Liberals under Trudeau will remain in power until 1979.

Margaret Atwood, who becomes one of Canada's most noted authors in the last half of the 20th century, publishes The Circle Game in 1966. Quebec writer, Roch Carrier, publishes La Querre, Yes Sir! in 1968.

The FLQ crisis of 1970 sees the kidnapping and murder of Pierre Laporte, a cabinet minister in the Trudeau government, by FLQ terrorists. Trudeau imposes the War Measures Act, which effectively suspends most democratic rights in Canada for the duration of the emergency.

In 1975, the world's tallest free standing structure, the CN Tower, is completed in Toronto.

In 1976, Quebec elects its first separatist or independentiste government, the Parti Quebecois under Rene Levesque.