Canadian Prime Ministers Post WWII - Present

Term of Office: Political Party: Liberal Background: Born in Ontario, he had a distinguished legal career and became Minister of Justice Major Events: –Newfoundland joins Canada –Trans-Canada Highway –Canada joins NATO –Korean War –St. Lawrence Seaway Louis St. Laurent

John Diefenbaker Term of Office: Political Party: Conservative Background: Born in Saskatchewan, he was a career politician and remained an MP until 1979 Major Events: –First female Cabinet Minister appointed –Gave Native peoples the vote –Canada joins NORAD –BOMARC missile (atomic bomb) debate

Lester Pearson Term of Office: Political Party: Liberal Background: Originally a History professor, he became a well-known diplomat. As External Affairs Minister he helped to resolve the Suez Crisis Major Events: –Adopted the current Canadian flag –Created the Canada Pension Plan –Introduced universal government healthcare

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Term of Office: (1 st ) Political Party: Liberal Background: Son of a multi- millionaire, Trudeau lived the playboy lifestyle. Well traveled and educated, he was a lawyer and university professor Major Events: –October Crisis –Official Languages Act –Energy Crisis

Joe Clark Term of Office: Political Party: Progressive Conservatives Background: Youngest man to ever become PM, he stayed an MP for more than 20 years after he lost the PM’s office Major Events: –Only in office for 9 months, Clark’s minority government fell to a “no confidence” motion after the other parties joined together to out-vote his tax initiative

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Term of Office: (2 nd ) Political Party: Liberal Major Events: –1980 Quebec Referendum –Canada Act 1982 (repatriation of the Constitution) –Charter of Rights and Freedoms

John Turner Term of Office: Political Party: Liberal Background: A lawyer by trade, Turner spent years in Trudeau’s shadow until Trudeau finally retired and Turner was appointed PM Major Events: –Turner immediately called an election and was defeated

Brian Mulroney Term of Office: Political Party: Progressive Conservative Background: Both a lawyer and a corporate CEO. Mulroney achieved the highest parliamentary majority in Canadian history Major Events: –Can/US Free Trade –North American Free Trade Agreement –Canadian Multiculturalism Act –Canada’s involvement in the 1 st Gulf War

–Introduction of the 7% Goods and Services Tax (GST) –Meech Lake Accord –He resigned after his 2 nd term, as the most unpopular PM in Canadian history –Due to his legacy, the PC party gained only 2 seats in the next election

Kim Campbell Term of Office: Political Party: Progressive Conservative Background: A lawyer and university lecturer, she was appointed to PM after Mulroney resigned. She was the 1 st Canadian female PM Major Events: –Unable to shake the Mulroney legacy, Campbell was easily and resoundingly defeated in the election

Jean Chretien Term of Office: Political Party: Liberal Background: A lawyer by trade, Chretien served in the Trudeau cabinet. Although disfigured by a stroke, it did not hamper his political career Major Events: –1995 Quebec Referendum –September 11, 2001 –Invasion of Afghanistan –Stayed out of 2 nd Gulf War (Iraq)

Paul Martin Term of Office: Political Party: Liberal Background: CEO of a major shipping company, Martin served as Finance Minister in the Chretien government Major Events: - Refused to make Canada part of the American Missile Defense Shield - Forged closer relations with China

Stephen Harper Term of Office: 2006-present Political Party: Conservative Background: Worked as an Economics Lecturer at the University of Calgary. He was a founding member of the Reform Party which later joined with the Progressive Conservatives to form the current Conservative Party