Pierre Elliott TrudeauPierre Elliott Trudeau

• Was the fifteenth Prime Was the fifteenth Prime Minister of Canada from Minister of Canada from 20 April 1968 to 4 June 20 April 1968 to 4 June 1979, and from 3 March 1979, and from 3 March 1980 to 30 June 1984. 1980 to 30 June 1984.

• Trudeau was the first Trudeau was the first Canadian Prime Minister Canadian Prime Minister born in the 20th century.born in the 20th century.

• Trudeau was a Trudeau was a charismatic figure.charismatic figure.

TrudeauTrudeau’’s Foreign Policys Foreign Policy

- a lot of Canadians were against the wara lot of Canadians were against the war

- when Trudeau came to power, his views when Trudeau came to power, his views reflected the changing attitudes of reflected the changing attitudes of Canadians at the timeCanadians at the time

- he defied U.S. pressure and worked at he defied U.S. pressure and worked at establishing links with Communist nations establishing links with Communist nations around the worldaround the world

What was Trudeau’s goal?What was Trudeau’s goal?

- ease Cold War tensions by scaling back ease Cold War tensions by scaling back Canada’s participation in the nuclear arms Canada’s participation in the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Unionrace with the Soviet Union

- chart a course in foreign policy that was chart a course in foreign policy that was less dependent on U.S. approvalless dependent on U.S. approval

Diplomatic Recognition of Diplomatic Recognition of Communist ChinaCommunist China

- MMainland China was a great power ainland China was a great power and it would be economically and it would be economically beneficial to strengthen a trading beneficial to strengthen a trading relationship with itrelationship with it

- TThis signalled the beginning of his signalled the beginning of Canada’s Canada’s

growth as a growth as a Middle PowerMiddle Power

Canada as a Middle PowerCanada as a Middle Power• Prime Minister Trudeau went on a world tour Prime Minister Trudeau went on a world tour

endeavouring to engage world leaders in a endeavouring to engage world leaders in a campaign to mediate between the superpowers. campaign to mediate between the superpowers.

Provincial Exam SampleProvincial Exam Sample

Why was Canada viewed as a Why was Canada viewed as a ““middle powermiddle power”” after World after World War Two?War Two?

A. It was a member of the Commonwealth.A. It was a member of the Commonwealth.

B. Its nuclear weapon program was developing.B. Its nuclear weapon program was developing.

C. Its economy was based on primary resources.C. Its economy was based on primary resources.

D. It was becoming influential in international D. It was becoming influential in international

affairs.affairs.

Changes to Canada’s National DefenseChanges to Canada’s National Defense

1970-721970-72

• • Nuclear missiles were removed from Canada’s NATO forces in Nuclear missiles were removed from Canada’s NATO forces in

EuropeEurope

19841984

• • BOMARC missiles and nuclear warheads were removed from BOMARC missiles and nuclear warheads were removed from

CanadaCanada

• • Spent less on national defense and reduced Canada’s NATO Spent less on national defense and reduced Canada’s NATO

forces in Europe to half its former strengthforces in Europe to half its former strength

• • Still participated in NATO and NORADStill participated in NATO and NORAD

Military officers, diplomats, and US embassy did not like these Military officers, diplomats, and US embassy did not like these actionsactions

When asked about consequences When asked about consequences for Canada-U.S. Relationsfor Canada-U.S. Relations……

““Living next to you is in some ways like Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt.”affected by every twitch and grunt.”

What is Trudeau implying here?What is Trudeau implying here?

While Canada is a Middle While Canada is a Middle Power…Power…

19831983

• The U.S.A. increased its defence spending The U.S.A. increased its defence spending and a Korean passenger jet was shot and a Korean passenger jet was shot down over the U.S.S.R. after it wandered down over the U.S.S.R. after it wandered into Russian air space. into Russian air space.

• U.S. forces invaded Grenada and deposed U.S. forces invaded Grenada and deposed a pro-Soviet government. a pro-Soviet government.

Bridging the Gap as a Middle PowerBridging the Gap as a Middle Power

• Economically the world was divided between rich and poor.Economically the world was divided between rich and poor.

Rich=Northern CountriesRich=Northern Countries

Poor=Southern CountriesPoor=Southern Countries

• Trudeau government wanted to promote world peace and Trudeau government wanted to promote world peace and understanding between nationsunderstanding between nations

Trudeau’s planTrudeau’s plan

• Reduce nuclear weaponsReduce nuclear weapons

• Establish more trade with communist statesEstablish more trade with communist states

• Wanted more help for poor countries by rich North Wanted more help for poor countries by rich North countries helping the poor Southcountries helping the poor South

• This plan was called This plan was called policy of trade and aid.policy of trade and aid.

Implementing Tied AidImplementing Tied Aid

• Trudeau also recognized the split between Trudeau also recognized the split between development in poorer countries and richer development in poorer countries and richer countries and part of his mission was to improve countries and part of his mission was to improve their economic status. their economic status.

• C.I.D.A., C.I.D.A., the Canadian International Development the Canadian International Development Agency, was formed to assist developing countries. Agency, was formed to assist developing countries.

• Canada used Canada used “tied-aid”“tied-aid”, whereby countries , whereby countries receiving aid agreed to buy Canadian goods, as an receiving aid agreed to buy Canadian goods, as an improvement strategy.improvement strategy.

• Canada joined Canada joined La FrancophonieLa Francophonie, an , an organization of French speaking organization of French speaking countries, many former colonies of countries, many former colonies of France. France.

• Canada also participated in the Canada also participated in the Colombo PlanColombo Plan, a plan to assist , a plan to assist developing countries. developing countries.

• Canada invited overseas students to Canada invited overseas students to study in Canada and sent experts study in Canada and sent experts overseas to give technical assistance.overseas to give technical assistance.

In February of 1984, after his famous walk in the snow, Trudeau decided to leave politics.