Pierre Trudeau

Pierre Elliot Trudeau (1919-1980) was the 15th Canadian prime minister, and a towering figure in Canadian politics even to this day. Trudeau, a Liberal, is best known for repatriating the Canadian constitution, for his anti-American foreign policy, his failed efforts to seize Alberta's oil, and his aggressive defeat of terrorism by the War Measures Act during Québec's October Crisis in 1970.

Career

Trudeau was born October 18, 1919, the son of a wealthy businessman Charles-Emile Trudeau and Grace Elliot. Educated in Jesuit schools, he was a devout Catholic all his life. He attended the University of Montreal, Harvard University, Université de Paris and the London School of Economics. He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1965. Almost immediately the young and charismatic Trudeau was seen as a Liberal Party star and he was made Justice Minister in 1967. The following year in what was dubbed "Trudeaumania", he was elected to be leader of the Liberal Party, and thus the Canadian Prime Minister, taking office on April 19 1968. Being the first Canadian Prime Minister born in the 20th century he was flamboyant and controversial but was also an intellectual. Trudeau and the Liberals would win another majority government, and landslide in 1968 a vindication for the young leader.

FLQ

During his first 4 years in power Trudeau faced several politically volatile situations. The most dramatic was his facing down a home grown terrorist threat of the Front de Liberation du Québec (or the FLQ). For several years separatist thoughts were rising in the French-speaking province, and the FLQ decided to remove Quebec from Canada by force. In October 1970, Trudeau invoked the War Measures Act, for the first and only time in Canadian history. This gave the state broad powers of arrest and detention in a time of crisis. When asked how far and how long he would take the measures, Trudeau famously replied "Just watch me". Although the FLQ kidnappings would end with the death of Quebec cabinet minister Pierre Laporte, the FLQ had its back broken by military presence in the province who arrested only 2 dozen or so radicals. The general public overwhelmingly supported the emergency powers and the presence of the military in Quebec. When the crisis was over, Trudeau revoked the powers of the War Measures Act.

1974 win

Trudeau would win only a minority government in the 1972 election, in part because of a slowing economy. In the 1974 election Trudeau won a majority, after ridiculing Conservative economic policies, which he had to adopt himself a year later. The economy performed poorly through the late 1970s and Trudeau lost his first general election to the Conservatives in 1979 under the young Joe Clark.

1980 win

However this minority was short lived. In 1980 Trudeau won another majority over Conservative Joe Clark. Trudeau reformed the Canadian constitution and entrench a Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In economic policy his goal was to use the riches of Alberta oil to fund national programs, despite the vehemt objections of the Albertans. His National Energy Program caused a bitter dispute over the nationalization of oil companies, to increase Canadian control and generate federal revenues from the energy sector. Petro Canada was founded as a Crown Corporation, although the Canadian government has since sold its stake in the company.

Retirement

Trudeau retired from politics on June 30th, 1984 and was succeeded by John Turner. Trudeau remained active in Law until late in his life and passed away on September 28, 2000 at the age of 80. Trudeau is remembered well in Canada, following his death the highest peak was to be named after him although this was later withdrawn at the protest of Canadian Geographic society. Trudeau was often cited for poor administrative and economic practices, as well as personal arrogance, and not having an understanding of Canada outside Quebec. Trudeau did lead Canada through a time of growth and by the end of his terms Canada was a very different place.

Bibliography

• Bothwell, Robert, Ian Drummond, and John English. Canada since 1945 (2d. ed. 1989). college textbook
• Clarkson, Stephen. Trudeau and Our Times. (2 vol 1990-1994)
• Cohen, Andrew, J. L. Granatstein, eds. Trudeau's shadow: the life and legacy of Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Toronto: Vintage Canada, 1999.
• Couture, Claude, and Vivien Bosley. Paddling with the Current: Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Etienne Parent, Liberalism, and Nationalism in Canada (1998)

Ricci, Nino. Extraordinary Canadians Pierre Elliott Trudeau (2009)