Pierre Elliot Trudeau
As one of the Canada’s greatest leaders, Pierre Elliot Trudeau brought change that would change Canada forever in a positive manner. Although it can be argued that Trudeau’s behavior was outlandish and informal at times, it could be considered charismatic, however, his behavior to politics was superior. He was inspired to change Canada and make it a better place to live. He did so by implying the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, multiculturalism, and using laws to make Canada a better place. Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s actions changed Canada for the better. On April 17th, 1982, when the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was signed into law (_The History of the Charter_), Canadians lives would change forever. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was a defining moment in Canadian history because not only did it ensure that every Canadian citizen was guaranteed equal treatment under the law but it severed the last remaining ties our country had to Britain thus giving us complete independence. Laws could be passed at our own free will and we were no longer controlled by our mother country. Britain helped to shape Canada into the country it is today, but finally breaking off from them with our own Charter of Rights and Freedoms was the last step to complete independence. Trudeau said that “The state has no business in the bedrooms of the nation.” (CBC Archives) What he means by this is that same-sex relations should be allowed just as heterosexual relations are. This is just one of the many things that Trudeau had changed with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Fundamental Freedoms in the charter allowed Canadians to express themselves freely. The Fundamental Freedoms includes freedoms such as; freedom to conscience and religion, freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication. These fundamental freedoms allow Canadians to not be oppressed and discriminated against, regardless of their race, age,
Cited: Canadian Human Resources. Multiculturalism And The Charter. Toronto: Carswell Company Limited, 1987
Hryniuk, Stella.20 Years Of Multiculturalism. Winnipeg : St. Johns College Press,1992
Clark, Bruce W. & Wallace K. John. Canada, Land Of Diversity. Prentice Hall Canada. Ontario,1989
Muticulturalism In Canada. www.pch.gc.ca/csp-pec/english/about/multi/index.html
Charting the Future: Canada 's New Constitution http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/constitution/topics/1092/