Pierre Elliot Trudeau's Impact On Canada

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The role of the government is greatly important as it has a huge impact in changing the life of the citizens in the country. However, to make a change in the country, the government must take a step forward to truly attempt to do so. Pierre Elliot Trudeau has helped to construct Canada of today to be the way it is by taking that step, by which many Prime Ministers were afraid to take. He has allowed the fixated perspective of others to gradually change. Thus, Pierre Trudeau’s policies demonstrates to be beneficial for Canada. Bilingualism and acknowledgement of other minorities has started to root itself into the people’s mind in Canada through the policies of Trudeau, attesting it to be efficient. This is seen through the Official Language Act he passes in 1969. The Official Language Act made both French and English to become the official languages of Canada. Trudeau made everything under the Act of the Parliament of Canada to be printed in both languages and make all Crow corporations, federal government agency, and the courts to be available in both dialects (Bolotta 247). The fact that the relationship between the French and the English Canadians were falling apart was evident for a long time. Regardless, nothing was attempted to mend the crack between the two groups. The Official Language Act is a vast change that happened to try and reconnect the Canadians. This is a step no other Prime Minister was willing to take proving Trudeau’s policies to be effective. The gradual improvement in the placement of francophones in Ottawa is established (Whitaker). This Act gave equality for both Francophones and Anglophones as well as was a way to protect French Canadians identity and culture. Furthermore, Criminal Law Amendment Act, published on 1968-1969, legalizes abortion, decriminalizes contraception and homosexuality, which permits people to open one’s mind. “The state does not belong in the bedrooms of the nation” (Bolotta 245) is a famous quote by Trudeau stating how a nation should not involve themselves in others affairs. Before the Criminal Law Amendment Act was passed, discrimination towards other minorities were huge. The idea of the necessity for one to be like the rest was implanted in many citizens’ mind. They were greatly against homosexuality and complaints of it being legalized was seen. This stereotypical human being in the minds of many were altered, even if it is not fully changed, people had second thoughts on their belief. Additionally, in 1977 the Human Rights Act, which demonstrated federal anti-discrimination code and discrimination forbidden in all matters within federal jurisdiction (Bolotta 289). The purpose for this act is to bring equality to everyone and for the prejudice to diminish (Karan). Discrimination due to the difference of race, skin colour, ethnicity and many more were not carefully planned out about and Prime Ministers failed to protect their citizens on this matter before the presence of Trudeau. …show more content…
For instance, the Multiculturalism Policy is a policy to promote and secure diversity, recognize the rights of Aboriginal people and support bilingualism (Burnet). Trudeau once mentioned how “no single culture could define Canada” (Canadian Museum). Multiculturalism, which was not highly discernible before, is slowly starting to seep into others perceptive. The policy allows the right of all cultures to be prominent, dissipating the emotion of dislike of other cultures, proving Trudeau’s policy to be of advantage to Canada. Also, the Immigration Act is passed on 1978. This Act lets refugees, families, assisted relatives, and independent immigrants to settle in Canada (Immigration Acts). Through this Immigration Act, a lot more diversity in ethnicities, races and much more is brought to Canada. It gives Canada the image of multiculturalism as well as rooted the idea of assortment in the citizens, demonstrating the benefits of Trudeau’s policy. Furthermore, the White Paper suggested the cancelation of the old Indian Act, eliminate the Department of Indian affairs, and on their reserves, given, the Indian bands, the power to control their own affairs (Bolotta 252). Despite the Indigenous people being the first to live in Canada, their existence were forgotten greatly. Nonetheless, the White Paper proposed by Trudeau lets the presence of Aboriginal people to come to light. It allows the power to lay in the hands of the Indigenous people, proving how the policy of Pierre Trudeau to be effectual for Canada. As a result, the detection of Trudeau’s policy to have made progression of multiculturalism and immigration is noticeable in

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