So much has been written about M. Trudeau, particularly in the past couple of days
that it seems almost pointless to say anything at all, however, Pierre Elliot Trudeau's
own life had generated so much emotion in Canadians (some good, some bad) that I cannot
help but want to take this opportunity to express my feelings about the man and what he
did for me. I grew up and voted in Mount Royal, Mr. Trudeau's riding. We, in that riding,
received no special favour for that being his seat, rather, because of his prime
ministerial duties, we may have been moderately neglected... relegated to the back seat,
as it were, in terms of his duties. This, however, is a realization that came to me only
(relatively) recently.
The passing of M. Trudeau brings much to my mind. It was during campaigning for his
first term as prime minister that I was smitten by a cute little neighbour girl. It
can't be said this was because of him. She was cute and liked me. This was more
than enough for a boy barely entering his teenage years. He was, in a way, there. This
was the start of the "Trudeau" years; not just for Mr. Trudeau but also for many of us,
young, old and middle aged - rich and poor.
No longer was Canada and the world of Canadian politics a stodgy place. It was
dynamic, alive and interesting.
Under Trudeau taxes skyrocketed and we could afford those taxes. Even with a growing
tax burden Canadians were living better than ever. More cars, more coloured T.V.s... more
of everything. People complained about the tax burden but revelled in free health care,
government run pension plans and revenues earned through the sale of Canadian nuclear
technology but this was not all Mr. Trudeau brought to Canada. In his wake came a world
recognition of our country as we had never seen before or since. Canada, traditionally
(and now again) an international appendage to the United States and, at that time,
legally accountable to the Queen of England, was finding, through Mr. Trudeau, its own
footing. As a Canadian, Mr. Trudeau stood behind nobody! He was proud and shared his
pride freely with us, his fellow Canadians.
Mr. Trudeau invoked the War Measure Act in October of 1970. We all, in Montreal, heard
some stories but in fairness, I never felt threatened by a soldier on the street. In
fact, we had more to fear from a mailbox. The FLQ did not care if we died for their
cause and there is no reason to believe they, nor the separatist leadership of Quebec,
ever had regret for the loss of the life of Pierre Laporte. It has been said by some that
invocation of the War Measures Act was a criminal assault on the Quebecois. It
seems to me people should have been equally concerned with the murder of an elected
representative - the representative of the people. Some of the criminals in this incident
were, after a brief exile, forgiven.
In 1982 Mr. Trudeau gave Canada a gift it couldn't live without... The Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms. A perfect document? Not by a long shot! Here is the
unpopular interpretation of what is wrong with it. I would preface by repeating what a
friend of mine said just recently, "Quebec was left out and it was Trudeau's fault."
Not exactly the truth. The fact is, Quebec, under Rene Levesque tried to make his own
deal in spite of his fellow premiers. He got caught and the premiers opted for a deal,
within the parameters of the law, to which Levesque had clearly stated he would not put
his name. He was out-manouevred. He played a losing gambit. It was a wonderful ploy to
make Canada look like a bad deal for Quebec. Quebec was not left out. In reality, the
fact that they used the "not withstanding" clause as a tool of law to negate that
constitution can only mean that they, too, perceived it as the law of the land. If we are
going to go on the premise that they opted (or were left) out, then let us remember that
they were constantly asked to participate but Canada could offer absolutely nothing to
Quebec that would satisfy M. Levesque's desire to partition Quebec. Each invitation for
participation was met with a resounding "No!" This, by any account is not being left out,
it is leaving yourself out.
During this time of constitutional discussions I wrote to Mr. Trudeau for the first
and last time. To his credit, I can say from personal experience that if you communicated
with him in a organized, intelligent manner he responded with the same respect and
dignity you would have shown him. He did not tolerate being called names and was not
interested in attacks without purpose or direction.
In Mr. Trudeau's last run at his federal seat I voted against him. The reasons, for
me, were simple. I thought he had accomplished as much as he could. I believed he was too
comfortable in the job and he should hand the reigns over to new blood. I believed then
as I do today that Mr. Trudeau was Canada's greatest prime minister, greatest ambasador,
and greatest statesman. I believe a piece of Canada died and this has been a sad period
in this household. As such, it is my contention that Mr. Trudeau should be remembered
most for the great things he did for all of us.
As recently as October of 1993, while on a visit to Kashmir in Northern India, a
native, upon hearing I was Canadian, asked me if I could not ask Mr. Trudeau to intervene
in an attempt to bring peace to that troubled part of the world. He was quite
disappointed when I told him Mr. Trudeau was retired for many years and was no longer
politically active. "But maybe he would help anyway?" Our current (as other past
leadership) meant nothing to this unhappy man.
Just prior to this trip to Kashmir, a Kenyan army sergeant with whom I had struck a
passing acquaintanceship, upon learning I was Canadian, said, "Oh, Canada. Isn't that
that little country with this 'hip' prime minister?" It meant nothing to him to know that
we no longer use the term "hip". What had meaning to him was that Trudeau, having been
out of politics for about 10 years with no signs of activity, was still perceived as
Canada's most notable!
Years after he stepped out of political life this Truly Canadian Statesman is still
remembered around the world as a leader, a negotiator and Canada personified.
The passing away of Pierre Elliot Trudeau also takes with it a piece of Canada. We
will never be the same again.
An American friend recently said of Mr. Trudeau, "Pierre Elliot Trudueau put the
'Canadian' into the Canadian id. Other things that may be said are: Pierre Elliot
Trudeau was the father of Modern Canada. Pierre Elliot Trudeau was the father of our
Canadian Psyche. Pierre Elliot Trudeau was the father of the Canadian Constitution.
Pierre Elliot Trudeau was the father of what could have been a "Just Society".
I would like to thank Mr. Trudeau for all those things he did for me as a Canadian and
as an individual. I would also like to thank his family for sharing him with us! We, in
this household, will remember him fondly!
CambridgeWeb
