Pierre Elliot Trudeau

809 Words4 Pages
Pierre Elliot Trudeau was instrumental in changing the political and social environment in Canada during his administration. Trudeau had many accomplishments throughout his astonishing career which changed the face of Canadian politics. Trudeaumania swept the nation, leaving Trudeau a celebrity before he was Prime Minister. Pierre Trudeau leaves behind a legacy, which resulted in changing Canada and Canadian politics. For these reasons Trudeau is without doubt one of the greatest Canadian’s of the 20th century. Pierre Elliot Trudeau had numerous accomplishments throughout his career which played an important role in Canadian politics. In 1969 Pierre Trudeau passed the Official Languages Act making French and English the two official languages of Canada. Trudeau believed that “all Canadians should capitalize on the advantage of living in a country which has learned to speak in two great world languages” (Craats, 21). This act enabled the law to give English and French equal status in the Canadian government. All federal offices had to offer services in English and French and Canadians would be heard before federal courts in both languages. In addition, Pierre Trudeau wanted Canadians to have their own Constitution apart from Britain’s. Trudeau stated “I believe a constitution can permit the co-existence of several cultures and ethnic groups with a single state” (Craats, 23). Therefore, Trudeau introduced the Constitution Act and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Charter of Rights and freedoms is a bill of rights which forms the first thirty-five sections of the Constitution Act. The Charter guarantees certain political rights to Canadian citizens, and civil rights to everyone in Canada. Trudeumania took the country by storm, Pierre Trudeau was a celebrity even before he became Prime Minister. Trudeau was extremely popular in Canada and he was often referred
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