Pierre Trudeau

The Right Honourable Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, PC , CC , CH , QC , MA , LL.L , LL.D , FRSC (October 18, 1919 – September 28, 2000) was the fifteenth Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 3, 1979, and from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.

Return to power

Two very significant events for Canada occurred during Trudeau's final term in office. The first was the defeat of the 1980 Quebec referendum proposal on Quebec independence, called by the Parti Québécois government of René Lévesque. Secondly, Trudeau's likely most enduring legacy, was the successful 1982 patriation of the Constitution of Canada and the additional Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Quebec refusal to agree to the new constitution is the source of continued acrimony between the federal and Quebec governments.

Related Topics:
1980 Quebec referendum - Independence - Parti Québécois - René Lévesque - 1982 - Patriation - Constitution of Canada - Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On February 29, 1984 (a leap day), after a famous "long walk in the snow", Trudeau decided to step down as prime minister, ending his 16-year rule of Canada.

Related Topics:
February 29 - 1984

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~