Making Dreams Reality Trudeau’s Just Society

Making Dreams Reality Trudeau’s Just Society Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Canada’s 15th prime minister, has always dreamed of Canada becoming a united society. This idea was announced and introduced after his candidacy in 1968. He described his idea of a Just Society as one that : one in which all of our people will have the means and the motivation to participate, in which personal and political freedom will be more securely ensured than it has ever been in the past, in which the rights of minorities will be safe from the whims of intolerant majorities, in which those regions and groups which have not fully shared in the country’s affluence will be given a better opportunity. ”[1] Trudeau wanted Canada to become a united society that is independent from Britain and the U. S. A[2] The term ‘Just Society was used in 1968 during ‘Trudeaumania’ .
The ‘Just Society’ Trudeau dreamed of was also a country that will be bicultural because of its justice toward society. A society with justice means that every individual will have freedom, but they will also have responsibilities. Justice also gives people rights that must not be abused. In order to assure equality among citizens, people should help protect those in society who are vulnerable to subjection or prejudice. [3] Trudeau was an efficient prime minister who greatly changed Canada and turned it into a ‘Just Society’
Trudeau, unlike the previous prime ministers who made minimal attempts to make Canada an independent country from Britain and the U. S, applied many changes that allowed Canada to be independent. To begin, one of Trudeau’s contributions to Canada was in 1976 when Trudeau successfully allowed Canada to be a part of G7, a group of seven major economic powers[4]. This was Canada’s own choice and did not require Britain’s approval in order to join. Moreover, in 1982 Trudeau passed a bill called Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This was a huge step for Canada’s independence.

The Canadian Charter allowed Canada to have fundamental freedom, democratic rights, and more which led to the Constitution Act of 1982. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom guaranteed the rights and freedoms to a certain extent, which allowed Canadians to make more of their own decisions while regarding the law. Finally, on November 5, 1982, 114 years after the Confederation, Trudeau and nine other premiers made The Constitution Act which would finally allow Canada’s independence. This meant that Canada was free from British and American legislation. 5] The Constitution Act was signed by Queen Elizabeth II to make it official and it granted Canadians Democratic Rights, Mobility Rights, Legal Rights, Equality Rights, Official Languages of Canada Minority Language, and Educational Rights. [6] Any changes required the approval of the Canadian Parliament and 7 of the 10 provincial legislatures that make up at least 50% of overall population of Canada. [7] In doing this, Canada opened its doors to others ensuring everyone receives an equal chance. In conclusion, Trudeau made various changes that increased Canada’s independence.
The Contribution Act of 1982 was merely a part of Trudeau’s dream of a ‘Just Society’, he also wanted Canada to be a bicultural country where everyone was welcomed no matter what their nationality, or background was. First, due to the fact that Trudeau was both a French and English, he wanted Canada to become a bilingual country. [8] Soon he enforced bill 22 which was a part of the Constitution Act and was under the name of the Official Languages of Canada and Minority Language Educational Rights. [9] This made Canada a more united country.
Also, before the bill was passed most of Canada’s citizens were divided into two groups. One half of the country was the French Canadians, while the other half were the English Canadians. Trudeau wanted to live in a country in which French Canadians chose to live among English Canadians and English Canadians chose to live among French Canadians without abandoning their cultural heritage. The bills which Trudeau created made French and English the official languages of Canada. In Bill 22 it was made sure that French is the official language of Quebec and ensured that newcomers will become a part of the French-speaking community.
In addition, during the Constitution Conference one of the decisions made was that French-speaking Canadians outside of Quebec were expected to be treated equally to English-speaking Canadians. [10] Trudeau welcomed all and introduced the immigration act in 1976. The act gave more power to the provinces to set their own immigration laws. Soon Canada’s population grew because of this because immigrants felt safe and welcomed. In doing this Canada is open to others and is able to communicate more with other countries.
This allowed Canada’s economy to grow and be more successful. In conclusion, Trudeau also promoted equality within the Canada. To further ensure equality within the country, Trudeau wanted to apply political equalities. Firstly, Trudeau was neither a dictator nor a fascist leader. The “Just Society” Trudeau dreamed of allowed everyone to have freedoms that he was not intending to ever take away. Trudeau did not want to cause any problems due to extreme control such as the Holocaust of 1941-1945. Also, Trudeau wanted Canada to be a democratic country.
He wanted everyone to have an equal opportunity and believed that the growing gap between the rich and poor between his home and Third World countries should be reduced. When Trudeau was the justice minister he introduced legislation that expanded grounds for divorce and abortions and stopped penalties for homosexual acts between two people. When Trudeau was still the justice minister of Canada, he stated, “There’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation. ”[11] Lastly, Trudeau often referred to the Constitution Act in order to lead his nation because it allowed Democratic Rights, Mobility Rights, and Legal Rights.
The Democratic Rights allowed every Canadian citizen to vote, Mobility Rights allowed every citizen the right to leave, enter or remain in Canada, and Legal Rights allowed the right to life, liberty and security of a person. In doing this, Trudeau made every Canadian feel like any other person. In conclusion, Trudeau gave Canadians many opportunities to be equal as a nation. In end, the “Just Society” Trudeau dreamed of, was achieved through many methods and he managed to do many amazing things and turn the ‘Just Society’ into a reality.
He transformed Canada into a new country, a new nation completely independent from the British and Americans. Trudeau Created equality for Canada nationally and internationally. If Trudeau did not step up at the time Canada would not be where it is now and all of us should be very thankful for it. Bibliography * WORDS: WOE & WONDER http://www. cbc. ca/news/indepth/words/misquotes. html * Statement on the introduction of the Official Languages Bill, October 17, 1968 http://www. collectionscanada. gc. ca/primeministers/h4-4066-e. html * Pierre Trudeau http://www. canadahistory. com/sections/politics/pm/pierretrudeau. tm * Constitution Act 1982 http://laws. justice. gc. ca/en/const/9. html#anchorsc:7 * The Constitution Act 1982 – Trudeau’s greatest victory http://www. sharenews. com/features/2010/06/16/constitution-act-1982-trudeaus-greatest-victory * Pierre Elliott Trudeau: Philosopher and Prime Minister http://archives. cbc. ca/politics/prime_ministers/topics/2192/ * Official Statement by the Prime Minister, “The Just Society”, June 10, 1968 http://archives. cbc. ca/politics/prime_ministers/clips/13269/ Towards a Just Society A Literacy and Human Rights Educational Resource Reader, 81-82 * http://peacefulschoolsinternational. rg/smf/index. php? action=dlattach;topic=363. 0;attach=182 * Pierre Elliot Trudeau http://www. suite101. com/content/pierre-elliott-trudeau-a141463 * John English, Citizen Of The World : The Life Of Pierre Elliot Trudeau Volume One: 1919 – 1968 (Vintage Canada Edition, 2007) * John English, Just Watch Me : The Life Of Pierre Elliot Trudeau 1968-2000 (Alfred A. Knopf Canada) ———————– [1] Official Statement by the Prime Minister, “The Just Society”, June 10, 1968 http://archives. cbc. ca/politics/prime_ministers/clips/13269/ (accessed December 8, 2010) [2] ibid 3] Towards a Just Society A Literacy and Human Rights Educational Resource Reader, 81-82http://peacefulschoolsinternational. org/smf/index. php? action=dlattach;topic=363. 0;attach=182(accessed December 8, 2010) [4] Pierre Elliot Trudeau http://www. suite101. com/content/pierre-elliott-trudeau-a141463 (accessed December 8, 2010) [5] Pierre Trudeau http://www. canadahistory. com/sections/politics/pm/pierretrudeau. htm (accessed December 8 2010) [6] Constitution Act 1982 http://laws. justice. gc. ca/en/const/9. html#anchorsc:7 (accessed December 8 2010) [7] The Constitution Act 1982 – Trudeau’s greatest victory