Canadian Leaders from 1948-1970

Chapter 5

Louis St. Laurent

• Took over leadership of the Liberal Party from Mackenzie King in 1948, and was PM till 1957.

• Saw the post-war as a time to bring prosperity and unity to Canada.

• Under his gov’t:

- Oil and mining industries boomed

- Initiated the St Lawrence Seaway, Trans-Canada highway and a trans-Canada natural gas pipeline

- Tremendous growth of American investment in the Canadian economy

• Encouraged Joey Smallwood to organize a petition for Newfoundland’s Confederation with Canada be included in the referendum

• On March 31st 1949, Newfoundland and Labrador became Canada’s 10th province, and Smallwood became its first premier.

John Diefenbaker• In the 1957 federal

election, Diefenbaker (Progressive Conservative) defeated the Liberal Party.

• Was known as “The Chief” because he was a powerful speaker who reflected people’s concerns about the growth of American influence in Canada.

• He strongly believed in a united country and protecting the less fortunate:

- Raised pensions for the elderly and disabled

- Gave financial aid to farmers in the Prairies & Atlantic provinces

- 1960 brought in the Canadian Bill of Rights, which put into law all the basic freedoms including freedom of speech, worship and assembly (but this bill was not part of the constitution)

Lester B. Pearson• Pearson (Liberal) was Prime

Minster from 1963-1970.• He sought to improve French-

English relations by appointing a Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism –the report discovered that French-Canadians did not receive the same benefits as English-Canadians outside of Quebec. This prompted many French-Canadians in Quebec to begin thinking of separating from Canada.

• The Pearson gov’t introduced the Canada Pension Plan and Medicare for all Canadians.

• Pearson thought it was important to cut Canada’s symbolic ties with Britain by changing Canada’s flag (the old flag included the British Union Jack).

• In February 1965, the single red maple leaf design was officially accepted as Canada’s new flag after vigorous debate.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau

• Trudeau became leader of the Liberal Party and PM of Canada in 1968 when Pearson resigned.

• Because he was French-Canadian, many people hoped that he would finally address Quebec’s concerns. People were also attracted to him because he was youthful, casual, stylish, and charismatic. He became extremely popular and Trudeaumania ensued.

• He implemented the Official Languages Act in 1969, to make Canada truly bilingual and bicultural. He believed this would help to make Quebec feel like a part of Canada.

• Trudeau worked on making the Constitution truly Canadian, as it still remained an act of British Parliament. The Constitution Act was signed in 1982, and it included the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.