Pierre Trudeau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pierre Trudeau
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Trudeau in 1975
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| 15th Prime Minister of Canada | |
| In office March 3, 1980 – June 30, 1984 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor General | |
| Deputy | Allan MacEachen |
| Preceded by | Joe Clark |
| Succeeded by | John Turner |
| In office April 20, 1968 – June 4, 1979 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor General |
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| Deputy | Allan MacEachen (1977–1979) |
| Preceded by | Lester B. Pearson |
| Succeeded by | Joe Clark |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office June 4, 1979 – March 3, 1980 |
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| Preceded by | Joe Clark |
| Succeeded by | Joe Clark |
| Leader of the Liberal Party | |
| In office April 6, 1968 – June 16, 1984 |
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| Preceded by | Lester B. Pearson |
| Succeeded by | John Turner |
| Minister of Justice Attorney General of Canada |
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| In office April 4, 1967 – July 5, 1968 |
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| Prime Minister | Lester B. Pearson |
| Preceded by | Louis Cardin |
| Succeeded by | John Turner |
| Member of Parliament for Mount Royal |
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| In office November 8, 1965 – June 30, 1984 |
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| Preceded by | Alan Macnaughton |
| Succeeded by | Sheila Finestone |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau
October 18, 1919 Outremont, Quebec, Canada |
| Died | September 28, 2000 (aged 80) Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Resting place | Saint-Rémi Cemetery, Saint-Rémi, Quebec |
| Political party | Liberal (1965–2000) |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouse |
Margaret Sinclair
(m. 1971; div. 1984) |
| Children | 4, including Justin, Alexandre, and Michel |
| Parents |
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| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Branch/service | Canadian Army |
| Years of service | 1943–1945 |
| Rank | Officer Cadet |
| Unit | Canadian Officers' Training Corps |
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau (October 18, 1919 – September 28, 2000) was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada. He served from 1968 to 1979, and again from 1980 to 1984. Many Canadians see him as one of the greatest prime ministers. His son, Justin Trudeau, is the 23rd and current Prime Minister of Canada.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Pierre Trudeau was born in Outremont, Montreal, Quebec. His birthday was October 18, 1919. His father, Charles-Émile Trudeau, was a French-Canadian businessman and lawyer. His mother, Grace Elliott, had both Scottish and French-Canadian roots. Pierre had an older sister, Suzette, and a younger brother, Charles Jr. He stayed close to both of them throughout his life.
When Pierre was 15, his father passed away. Pierre and his siblings each inherited $5,000. This was a lot of money back then, making him financially secure. His mother, Grace, was very fond of Pierre. She spent her time helping the Roman Catholic Church and charities.
From age six to twelve, Pierre went to Académie Querbes. This was an exclusive school for both English and French Catholics. He was very good at math and religion. From a young age, Pierre could speak both French and English fluently. This skill later helped him a lot as a politician in Canada.
As a teenager, he attended Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf. This was a respected French-language school run by Jesuits. It was known for educating important French-speaking families in Quebec. Pierre graduated from there in 1940.
After college, Trudeau studied law at the Université de Montréal. He graduated in 1943. Later, he continued his studies in political economy at Harvard University in the United States. He also studied in Paris and London.
In 1948, Trudeau traveled the world. He visited many countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Japan. He often used a British passport and wore local clothes to fit in. When he returned to Canada in 1949, his travels had broadened his mind. He was concerned about the strong nationalism in Quebec and the government's strict rule.
Political Career
In the 1950s, Trudeau became well-known in Quebec. He was a lawyer and a professor at the Université de Montréal. He spoke out against the conservative government of the time.
Trudeau first joined the New Democratic Party. But he felt they couldn't win power. So, in 1965, he joined the Liberal Party. That same year, he was elected to the House of Commons of Canada. He quickly became a special assistant to Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson.
In 1967, he became the Minister of Justice. In this role, Trudeau brought in new ideas. He made divorce laws more flexible. He also made it less of a crime for people to be homosexual. Trudeau's lively personality and charm caught the media's attention. This led to "Trudeaumania", a wave of excitement about him. This helped him win the leadership of the Liberal Party in 1968. He then became the Prime Minister of Canada.
From the late 1960s to the mid-1980s, Trudeau's personality was a big part of Canadian politics.
As Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau is the most recent prime minister to win four elections. He served two terms that were not back-to-back. His time in office lasted over 15 years. This makes him Canada's third-longest-serving prime minister. Only John A. Macdonald and William Lyon Mackenzie King served longer.
Trudeau's personal motto was "Reason before passion." But his actions and decisions often caused strong feelings across Canada. Some people thought he was too proud or managed the economy poorly. They also felt he made too many decisions from Ottawa. This, they believed, hurt Quebec's culture and the economy of the Prairies. However, his supporters admired his intelligence and political skills. They believed he kept Canada united during the Quebec sovereignty movement.
In 1970, Quebec faced a serious crisis with terrorist acts. Trudeau used a special law called the War Measures Act to deal with it. This was only the third and last time this law was used in Canada. Later, in 1980, Quebec held a vote to decide if it should separate from Canada. Trudeau strongly opposed this, and the idea was rejected.
Trudeau's government also created Petro-Canada, a national oil company. They also launched the National Energy Program. This program angered people in Western Canada, especially in oil-rich Alberta. This led to what some called "Western alienation".
On the other hand, Trudeau brought in official bilingualism. This made French and English the official languages of the federal government. He also promoted multiculturalism. These ideas helped create a shared Canadian identity. Trudeau also made Canada more independent. He brought the Constitution home to Canada. He also created the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. These actions gave Canada full control over its own laws.
Official Languages and Cultures
Trudeau's first big law was the Official Languages Act. This law made French and English equal official languages for the federal government. This meant that federal services would be available in both languages.
On October 8, 1971, Trudeau's government announced a "Multiculturalism Policy." This was the first policy of its kind in the world. It recognized that Canada had two official languages but many different cultures. This idea was later copied by other countries like Australia. However, some people in Quebec felt this policy challenged the idea of Canada being a country of two main founding nations.
Helping Newcomers
During the "boat people" crisis, many people fled Vietnam. They traveled in small boats, often to Hong Kong. Trudeau's government was very kind in helping these refugees. By 1980, Canada had welcomed about 44,000 "boat people." This made Canada one of the top places for them to find a new home.
Indigenous Issues
In 1969, Trudeau and his Minister of Indian Affairs, Jean Chrétien, proposed a plan called the "1969 White Paper." This plan suggested ending "Indian Status" and the Indian Act. It would have made First Nations people fully part of provincial governments. It also suggested removing reserve status.
Many Indigenous people saw this plan as unfair. They felt it was an attack on their rights and culture. This proposal led to the first major national protest by Indigenous groups against the government. Because of this strong opposition, Trudeau decided not to go ahead with the plan.
Ending the Death Penalty
On July 14, 1976, after a long discussion, a new law was passed. This law completely ended the death penalty in Canada. Instead, people found guilty of first-degree murder would get a life sentence. This meant they would not be eligible for parole for 25 years.
Social Programs and Support
In 1971, Trudeau's government greatly expanded unemployment insurance. This program helps people who lose their jobs. Coverage jumped from 75 percent to 96 percent of Canadian workers. The program also started offering benefits for maternity, sickness, and retirement. Seasonal workers were covered for the first time.
In 1973, Trudeau's government changed the National Housing Act. This provided financial help for people buying new homes. It also offered loans for co-operative housing and low-interest loans for non-profit housing. The government also introduced programs to help low-income families repair their homes. They also helped make affordable housing available through partnerships with landlords and non-profit groups.
In 1977, Trudeau's government created the Established Programs Financing program. This helped fund healthcare and post-secondary education in the provinces. It provided money and tax benefits to support these important services.
In 1979, Trudeau's government changed family allowances. They increased the role of the tax system in child support. They created a Refundable Child Tax Credit of $200 for families with lower incomes. This helped many families across Canada.
Taxation Changes
In 1969, Trudeau's first finance minister, Edgar Benson, proposed changes to the tax system. These changes included tax deductions for child care. They also aimed to shift the tax burden from poorer people to wealthier ones. One big change was a capital gains tax. This tax was on profits from selling things like property or stocks. Businesses strongly criticized this tax.
The bill was debated for over a year. Some of its more radical ideas were removed. The capital gains tax came into effect on January 1, 1972. Also in 1972, a child care expense deduction was added. This allowed parents to deduct up to $500 per child.
In 1973, Trudeau's government made a big change to income taxes. They linked the tax system to inflation. This meant that tax exemptions and brackets would adjust automatically with rising prices. This change helped protect people from paying more tax just because of inflation. The government also cut personal income taxes three times between 1973 and 1975.
Energy Policy
In 1973, during an oil crisis, Trudeau asked Western Canadian provinces to freeze oil prices. Soon after, his government put a 40-cent tax on every barrel of Canadian oil sold to the United States. This was to control rising inflation and oil prices. The money from this tax was used to help Eastern Canada buy imported oil.
The Premier of Alberta, Peter Lougheed, was very upset. He called it the most unfair action by a federal government against a province. This decision reduced money for Western provinces, especially Alberta.
In the early 1970s, much of Canada's oil industry was controlled by foreign companies. The discovery of oil in Alaska also put pressure on Canada's Arctic regions. Trudeau's government decided to create a national oil company. The Petro-Canada Act was passed in 1975. This created Petro-Canada, a new government-owned company.
Petro-Canada was created to secure oil supplies and do energy research. It also helped with refining and selling oil. Trudeau's government controlled the company's plans. They wanted Petro-Canada to focus on new oil areas like the oil sands and the Arctic. In 1976, Trudeau appointed his friend, Maurice Strong, as the first head of the company.
Foreign Relations
In foreign affairs, Trudeau kept Canada in NATO. But he often chose an independent path in international relations.
Trudeau was the first world leader to meet John Lennon and Yoko Ono. This happened during their 1969 "tour for world peace". After their meeting, Lennon said Trudeau was "a beautiful person." He added that if all politicians were like Pierre Trudeau, there would be world peace.
Retirement and Death
Trudeau retired as Prime Minister in 1984. After that, he did not speak to the public very often. In his retirement, Trudeau worked as a lawyer in Montreal. He also spoke out against the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords. These agreements suggested recognizing Quebec as a "distinct society". Trudeau argued they would make Quebec nationalism stronger.
Pierre Trudeau passed away in Montreal on September 28, 2000. He had prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease. His eldest son, Justin Trudeau, became the 23rd and current Prime Minister of Canada in 2015. Justin Trudeau is the first prime minister of Canada to be the child of a former prime minister.
Images for kids
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Prime Ministers all: (l-r) Future prime ministers Trudeau, John Turner and Jean Chrétien, and Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, in 1967
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Trudeau at the Liberal convention after winning the leadership
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Prime Minister Trudeau in 1980
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Trudeau's eldest son Justin (23rd Prime Minister of Canada) at the age of 10, touring the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille with his father on November 8, 1982
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See also
In Spanish: Pierre Trudeau para niños
