Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Trudeaumania Philosophy Early Reforms Economic Policies Constitutional Reform

Background

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Born in Montreal

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French-Canadian

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Lawyer and Businessman

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Educated at the Universite de Montreal and the London School of Economics

Background

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Throughout 1950’s and 1960’s Trudeau opposed the Conservative Policies of Quebec Premier Maurice Duplessis

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Asbestos Strike

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Quiet Revolution

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Flirted with Marxism

As Justice Minister

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Decriminalised homosexuality

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Liberalised Divorce Laws

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Legalised Abortion in certain cases

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Lotteries, Gun Control, Breathalyser tests

There's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation

Trudeaumania

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Flamboyant

– joked with reporters – – slid down banisters pirouetted behind the Queen  

People treated him like a rock star A man for the ‘60s!

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PM in 1968

Trudeaumania

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Dated Stars John Lennon: “If all politicians were like Mr. Trudeau, there would be world peace.”

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Was chased across parliament hill by tearful young girls.

Philosophy

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The Just Society

– government should...

 protect rights and freedoms for all individuals  foster social and economic well-being of all people  not interfere in individual lifestyle choices

Early Reforms

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Bilingualism

 Official Languages Act  1969  French and English recognized as two official languages  government services must be provided in both languages

Early Reforms

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Bilingualism

 English civil servants had to take French language courses  more French-Canadians were appointed to government

Mixed Reactions

 many Canadians embraced inclusive value  Western Canadians resented policy  Francophones unimpressed - they wanted ‘special status’

Early Reforms

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Multiculturalism

 The Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism – new immigrants told the commission: that immigrants and their children had endured the Great Depression side-by-side with other Canadians; they had sacrificed sons and daughters to the national war effort, and they now reaped the benefits of Canada's economic revival and their own hard work.

– they preferred the idea of a cultural mosaic--unique parts fitting together into a unified whole. Ethnicity, they argued, did not undermine Canadian identity. It was Canadian identity.

Early Reforms

 1971 federal government adopted the policy  encouraged Canadians to embrace cultural pluralism  rejected prior policy of assimilation of immigrants

Early Reforms

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English-speaking Canadians worried that multiculturalism would divide Canadians rather than unite them Others feared that multiculturalism would erode the rich British heritage of English-speaking Canada Many in Quebec protested that multiculturalism was designed to undermine Quebec nationalism.

Trudeau on Multiculturalism

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I wish to emphasize the view of the government that a policy of multiculturalism within a bilingual framework is basically the conscious support of individual freedom of choice. We are free to be ourselves. But this cannot be left to chance. It must be fostered and pursued actively. If freedom of choice is in danger for some ethnic groups, it is in danger for all. It is the policy of this government to eliminate any such danger and to "safeguard" this freedom.

Early Reforms

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Over time, new immigrants looked to the policy less for recognition of heritage than for protection against discrimination in the workplace and elsewhere.

Terrorism

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17 Terrorists were arrested in Toronto in early June 2006 - they had purchased 3 tonnes of ammonia hydroxide this material was used to blow up the federal building in Oklahoma City killing 168 including 19 children and wounding 800 others

Terrorism

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How should Canada deal with terrorists?

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Should the government change how it operates to reduce the threat of terrorism? How should the government change?

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How do you think Trudeau would have dealt with the terrorists?

The FLQ Crisis

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Front de Liberation du Quebec

– – founded in 1963 goal: the separation of Quebec from Canada and the creation of the nation of Quebec – Methods: violence and terrorism

FLQ

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Between 1963 and 1970 committed over 200 violent acts

– bombings, bank hold-ups and at least 3 killings – by 1970 23 FLQ members are in prison

FLQ Crisis

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AKA the October Crisis

– Oct. 5, 1970 FLQ kidnap James Cross, British Trade Commisioner – Oct. 10, kidnap Pierre Laporte, Vice Premier of Quebec and Labour Minister

FLQ Crisis

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Oct. 13

– In an interview, Trudeau is asked how far he will go to get control of the situation - his reply: 

“Just watch me.”

FLQ Crisis

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There’s a lot of bleeding hearts around who just don’t like to see people with helmets and guns - all I can say is go on and bleed. But it’s more important to keep law and order in society than be worried about weak kneed people… How far would you extend that?

Just Watch Me

Invocation of War Measures Act

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For

– mayor of Montreal and Premier of Quebec can’t be ignored - they asked for War Measures (Turner) – how would exchanging prisoners for victims of kidnappings stop FLQ bombings / robberies? (Turner) – search and arrest rights must be suspended in order to catch the terrorists and soon - element of surprise is essential (Turner)

Invocation of War Measures Act

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For

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democracy is fragile if democracy is not prepared to defend itself

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more terrorists will come if we don’t defend ourselves

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they are going to destroy the basis of our freedom

Invocation of War Measures Act

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For

Invocation of War Measures Act

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Against

 in crisis, governments must maintain the virtue of openness to be legitimate (Claude Ryan)  they should have continued to negotiate with the terrorists for a longer period until things got worse (Ryan)  Quebec should have dealt with this matter itself - to show independence from the federal government (Ryan)  War Measures Act is way more than is needed to deal with a couple of kidnappings - we gave up all democratic rights over 2 kidnappings (Ryan)

Invocation of War Measures Act

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Against

Invocation of War Measures Act

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Against

FLQ Crisis

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Oct. 15

– the Quebec government requests that the Canadian Army be involved 

Oct. 16

– Trudeau invokes the War Measures Act 

Oct. 17

– Laporte is killed

FLQ Crisis

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Oct. 17 FLQ releases 7 demands 1. the release of 23 "political prisoners" 2. $500,000 in gold 3. the broadcast and publication of the FLQ Manifesto 4. the publication of the names of the police informants for terrorist activities 5. an aircraft to take the kidnappers to Cuba or Algeria 6. the rehiring of about 450 Lapalme postal workers who had been laid off 7. the cessation of all police search activities

FLQ Crisis

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Nov. 6

 hiding place of Laporte’s killers is found by police  3 of 4 FLQ escape  Bernard Lortie is arrested and charged with kidnapping and murder of Laporte

FLQ Crisis

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Dec. 3

 after 60 days, James Cross is released  in return, 5 known terrorists are granted safe passage to Cuba  all later returned - serving short jail terms 

Dec. 27

 remaining killers of Laporte are found and charged 

Aftermath: 497 people were arrested. Of these, 435 were released, 62 were charged, 32 without bail.

How do you see Trudeau?

Economic Policy

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The 1970’s were marked by a long and severe recession

– massive inflation – – –  oil crisis – high levels of unemployment strikes regional disparity foreign ownership

Economic Policy

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Inflation

Economic Policy

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Unemployment and Strikes

Economic Policy

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Regional Disparity

Economic Policy

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Foreign Ownership

Foreign Policy

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Canada as a Middle Power

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The Cold War

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Canada and the USA

– Arctic Sovereignty – – China and Cuba Vietnam

Foreign Policy

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Canada as a Middle Power

Foreign Policy

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The Cold War

Canada and the USA

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Arctic Sovereignty

Canada and the USA

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China and Cuba

Canada and the USA

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Vietnam

Social Policy

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