11.1 Trudeau's Vision of Canada and Key Policies

Pierre Trudeau's vision for Canada centered on creating a "Just Society" with equality and social justice. He introduced policies promoting bilingualism, multiculturalism, and economic nationalism, aiming to strengthen national unity and reduce inequality.

Trudeau's era saw significant changes in Canada's social fabric and international standing. His government pursued an interventionist economic approach, asserted foreign policy independence, and championed human rights globally, shaping modern Canadian identity and values.

Social Policies

Trudeau's Vision of a Just Society

Top images from around the web for Trudeau's Vision of a Just Society

• 

  Justin Trudeau - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Justin Trudeau - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Justin Trudeau - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Justin Trudeau - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Justin Trudeau - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Trudeau's Vision of a Just Society

• 

  Justin Trudeau - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Justin Trudeau - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Justin Trudeau - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Justin Trudeau - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Justin Trudeau - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Trudeau campaigned on the idea of creating a "Just Society" in Canada that promoted equality, individual rights, and social justice
• Introduced several progressive social policies and programs aimed at reducing poverty and inequality (expanded social welfare, increased funding for education and healthcare)
• Believed in the importance of a strong federal government to promote national unity and protect individual rights across the country
• Promoted the concept of "participatory democracy" encouraged greater citizen involvement in the political process through public consultations, town hall meetings, and referendums

Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism

• Trudeau was a strong advocate for bilingualism and passed the Official Languages Act in 1969, which made English and French the official languages of Canada and required federal institutions to provide services in both languages
• Believed that bilingualism was essential for national unity and for ensuring that French Canadians felt included and respected within the federation
• Introduced the policy of multiculturalism in 1971, which recognized and celebrated Canada's cultural diversity and encouraged immigrants to maintain their cultural identities while integrating into Canadian society
• Multiculturalism policy was seen as a way to promote social cohesion and inclusivity, and to distinguish Canada from the "melting pot" approach of the United States

Economic Policies

Economic Nationalism and the National Energy Program

• Trudeau pursued economic policies that aimed to increase Canadian ownership and control over key sectors of the economy, particularly in the energy and resource sectors
• Introduced the National Energy Program (NEP) in 1980, which sought to promote Canadian ownership of the oil and gas industry, regulate prices, and redistribute wealth from the oil-rich provinces to the rest of the country
• The NEP was highly controversial and opposed by the oil-producing provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, who saw it as an intrusion on their jurisdiction and a threat to their economic interests
• The program was eventually dismantled in the mid-1980s due to falling oil prices and political opposition, but it remained a symbol of Trudeau's economic nationalism and his willingness to use federal power to shape the economy

Interventionist Approach to the Economy

• Trudeau believed in a more interventionist role for the government in managing the economy and promoting social and economic goals
• Increased government spending on social programs, infrastructure projects, and economic development initiatives
• Introduced wage and price controls in the mid-1970s to combat inflation, which was controversial and met with mixed success
• Nationalized several key industries, including Air Canada and Petro-Canada, as part of his vision of a mixed economy with a strong public sector presence

Foreign Policy

Asserting Canada's Foreign Policy Independence

• Trudeau sought to assert Canada's independence in foreign policy and to distance the country from the influence of the United States
• Established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1970, ahead of the United States, and maintained relations with Cuba despite American opposition
• Reduced Canada's military commitments to NATO and pursued a more neutral stance in the Cold War, including efforts to improve relations with the Soviet Union
• Promoted Canada's role as a middle power and peacekeeper, and increased Canadian involvement in United Nations peacekeeping missions (Cyprus, Middle East)
• Criticized American foreign policy on several occasions, including the Vietnam War and the coup in Chile, and stood up for Canadian interests in trade disputes with the United States

Championing Human Rights and International Development

• Trudeau was a strong advocate for human rights and used Canada's foreign policy to promote democratic values and social justice around the world
• Introduced a new focus on international development assistance and increased Canadian aid to developing countries, particularly in Africa and Asia
• Supported the international campaign against South African apartheid and imposed sanctions on the apartheid regime
• Welcomed refugees from oppressive regimes, including Chileans fleeing the Pinochet dictatorship and Vietnamese "boat people" in the late 1970s
• Played a key role in the creation of the G7 group of industrialized nations and hosted the first G7 summit in 1976, which focused on global economic cooperation and development issues