The End of Liberal Power

The Pipeline Debate and the end of Liberal Power The Liberals decided to finance the construction of a natural gas pipeline from Alberta to Ontario. The Conservative opposition feared that a largely American owned pipeline company was getting too good a deal. When the Liberals forced the bill through Parliament by using “closure” it gave John Diefenbaker a election issue.

John Diefenbaker John Diefenbaker was a western Canadian of German descent. He was a criminal lawyer by profession and styled himself as a champion of ordinary Canadians. “The Chief” was a powerful speaker who won the loyalty and admiration of many Canadians.

The Election of 1958 Diefenbaker called another election in 1958 and won a landslide victory with 208 seats to the Liberal 49. He had convinced Canadians of Liberal arrogance and aroused fears that the Americans were taking over our economy. The Diefenbaker Conservative government was, however, inexperienced and widely criticized.

The Diefenbaker Government His vision of the nation was a “Canada of the north.” He wanted to open the north for development with “roads to resources” and to provide jobs for all Canadians. His government also began a massive irrigation project on the South Saskatchewan river and constructed the Trans-Canada Highway.

The Diefenbaker Government II Diefenbaker was most proud of the Canadian Bill of Rights which was passed in 1960 giving written form to constitutional conventions.Canadian Bill of Rights Until the entrenched Charter of Rights and Freedoms was incorporated into our constitution in 1982 this document was the only written expression of our democratic freedoms.

Diefenbaker and the United States Diefenbaker made himself very unpopular with our American neighbors. When the Avro Arrow was replaced by Bomarc missiles his cabinet refused to arm them with nuclear warheads.Avro ArrowBomarc missiles Canadian support of the Americans during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 was, at best, hesitant. Cuban Missile Crisis

The End of Conservative Power A devaluation of the Canadian dollar in 1962 was very unpopular. Diefenbaker, a unilingual Canadian, did not have much support in Quebec. The refusal to accept American nuclear warheads for Canada’s Bomarc missiles divided the cabinet. In 1963 a discredited Conservative party was defeated by Lester Pearson and the Liberals.

Lester B. Pearson

The Liberals and Lester “Mike” PearsonLester “Mike” Pearson Pearson was a successful career diplomat and a striking contrast to the more politically comfortable John Diefenbaker. His government undertook many reforms including a medical insurance plan and the Canada Pension Plan. Relations with the Americans improved and the Bomarc missiles were equipped with nuclear warheads.

Canadian Nationalism and the Liberals Unification of the three Canadian military services were carried out under the Liberals. It was hoped that this would improve their efficiency but it was also intended to end a strong connection with British military tradition. The Bilingualism and Bicultural Commission was established in 1963 to study the relations between French and English Canadians. In 1964 the Liberals adopted the new Canadian flag in spite of a storm of protest.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau

The End of the Pearson Era The celebration of Canada’s centennial in 1967 was the highlight of Pearson’s term as prime minister. Pearson was succeeded as leader of the Liberal party in 1968 by Pierre Elliot Trudeau.Pierre Elliot Trudeau Trudeau was from Quebec but he was not a “narrow nationalist.”

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Trudeau brought a breath of fresh air to Canadian politics and a new term entered the language - Trudeaumania. His message, that bilingualism was to be the future for Canada, was very clear. He won a sound majority on the 25th of June 1968 by defeating Bob Stanfield, the new Conservative leader.

The Election of 1968 In 1968 the Liberals led by Pierre Trudeau defeated the Conservatives by 155 seats to 72 seats forming a majority government. The charismatic Trudeau campaigned on the slogan of a “Just Society.” Bob Stanfield could not match the “style” of Pierre Trudeau.

Trudeau and Quebec

Trudeau rejected the separatist vision of Quebec as a French nation in North America.separatist vision of Quebec as a French nation in North America His former colleague and intellectual rival in the struggle for the future of Quebec was Rene Levesque. Trudeau would not support any special status for Quebec. One of his most important pieces of legislation was the “Official Languages Act” which established English and French as the languages of government.

Trudeau and Quebec II The greatest challenge of the Trudeau years was the FLQ (Front de Liberation du Quebec) crisis in October of This terrorist group kidnapped the British Trade Commissioner (James Cross) and a Quebec Cabinet Minister, Pierre Laporte. Before the crisis was over Laporte had been murdered and the War Measures Act invoked by Trudeau.War Measures Act invoked by Trudeau.

Trudeau and Quebec III Rene Levesque’s Parti Quebecois had demonstrated increasing strength during the early 1970s. In 1977 Bill 101 was passed by the Quebec government making French the only language of government, business and education. In 1980 Levesque held a referendum on sovereignty- association but lost when 60 percent voted “non.”