Canada formally launched its metrication programme in 1970 with the Weights and Measures Act, beginning a decade-long transition from imperial to metric units. The change affected everyday language in weather forecasts, road signs, food labelling, and trade. The shift in how Canadians measured and described their world had subtle resonances for writers working with the precise language of everyday life.

The metrication process in Canada during the 1970s reflected bilingual and modern themes in Canadian literature. Poets like Anne Carson engaged with the cultural implications of this transition, weaving together language, identity, and the evolving landscape of Canadian society.