Trudeau31A Essay Research Paper Pierre Trudeau former

Trudeau3(1)(A) Essay, Research Paper

Pierre Trudeau, former Prime Minister of Canada, was once described as”A French Canadian proud of his identity and culture, yet a biting criticof French-Canadian society, determined to destroy its mythology andillusions”. He has also been identified as “A staunch, upholder ofprovincial autonomy holding the justice portfolio in the federalgovernment”. Such cumulative appraisal and observation made by past fellowbureaucrat provides high testimonial for the ex-Democratic Socialist. Thiscritique will establish and dispute the prime directives that Trudeau hadadvocated in his own book written during the years 1965 to 1967. Thecompilation of political essays featured in his book deal with the diversecomplexities of social, cultural and economical issues that werepredominant in Canadian politics during the mid 1960’s. However, throughoutmy readings I was also able to discover the fundamental principles that Trudeau would advocate in order to establish a strong and productiveinfluence in Canadian politics.Born in 1921, Trudeau entered the world in a bilingual/bicultural homelocated in the heart of Montreal, Quebec. His acceptance into theUniversity of Montreal would mark the beginning of his adventures into theCanadian political spectrum. Early in his life, Trudeau had become somewhatanti-clerical and possessed communist ideologies which were consideredradical at the time. Graduating from prestigious institutions such asHarvard and The School of Economics in England, Turdeau returned to Canadain 1949 and resumed his social science endeavors. At this time in Quebec,the province was experiencing tremendous cultural and political differenceswith the rest of the country. The Union Nationale had taken possession ofpolitical matters in Quebec and was steadily dismantling the socialistessence imposed on the province by the Federal government. The currentPrime Minister, Maurice Duplessis, found himself battling a religiousnationalist movement that corrupted the very fabric of political stabilityin Quebec. The Duplessis faction maintained their conservative approachtowards political reform but failed to sway the majority of the populationinto alleviating with the demands of the Canadian government. The citizensof Quebec revered their clerical sector as holding ‘utmost importance’towards preserving French cultural values and this did not correlate withthe Federal government’s policies and ideals. Francophones were under theimpression that their own Federal government had set out to crush andassimilate what had remained of their illustrious heritage in order toaccommodate economic and political tranquility. Trudeau himself had decidedto join the nationalist uprising with his advocation of provincialautonomy. Ultimately, he and other skilled social scientists attempted tobring down the Duplessis party in 1949, but failed miserably in theirefforts. Duplessis buckled underneath the continuous pressure of Frenchpatriotism and was rewarded for his inept idleness by winning his fourthconsecutive election in 1956. Although nothing of significance had beenaccomplished, Quebec has solidified its temporary presence in confederationat such a time. This prompted Trudeau to involve himself in provincialdiplomacy as he would engage in several media projects that would voice hisdispleasure and disapproval with the ongoing cultural predicament in Canada(this included a syndicated newspaper firm, live radio programs). “If, inthe last analysis, we continually identify Catholicism with conservatismand patriotism with immobility, we will lose by default that which is inplay between all cultures…”. By literally encouraging a liberal, left-wing revolution in his province, Trudeau believed that Democracy must comebefore Ideology. Gradually, his disposition would attract many politiciansand advocates of Socialism, and thus it allowed him to radiate his ideologyonto the populace of Quebec. Trudeau makes it clear in his book that duringthe early years of the Duplessis government, he was a staunch admirer ofprovincial autonomy, but with the archaic sequence of events following theconflicts that arouse between Federal and Provincial matters in Quebec, hehad taken a stance on Federalism that involved security, economicprosperity and centralized authority. It wasn’t until 1963 when the newlyappointed Premier of Quebec, Rene Levesque, warned that there must be a newCanada within five years or Quebec will quit confederation. It was notuntil 1965 that a man named Pierre Trudeau entered politics.It is at this point in his anthology that I was able to surmise theradical and unorthodox political convictions that the soon-to-be PrimeMinister would incorporate into Canada. His thesis is focused aroundpertinent issues which demanded attention at the time. After he elaborateson the importance of Federalism and how it is associated with Quebec, thereader begins to interpret the resolutions he offers and then finds himself

comprehending the dilemma that French Canadians face in Canada. In the wakeof a constitutional referendum, such knowledge can be viewed as ironicallysignificant. A defender of civil rights and freedoms, Trudeau, even as ateenager, was adamantly opposed to supporting any political theory based onethnic tendencies; he makes this clear on an essay in the book entitled:”Quebec and the Constitutional Problem”. He was convinced that not only thedivided jurisdiction of a federal state h