HOTA - Canadian Prime Ministers

King Economic

Post-war boom – low unemployment and industrial expansion.

Unemployment Insurance Act (1940).

Amended National Housing Act for affordability.

King Social

Family Allowance Act (1944) – monthly child payments.

King Rights

Internment of Japanese Canadians during WWII.

Indian Act revisions (1947) upheld assimilation policies.

St Laurent Economic

Infrastructure expansion – Trans-Canada Highway & St. Lawrence Seaway (with US).

Economic growth through trade and industrialisation.

St Laurent Social

Increased federal spending on education and health.

Expanded social welfare.

St Laurent Rights

1947 Citizenship Act – created Canadian citizenship.

Federal funding for Indigenous health and education.

Maintained assimilation policies.

Diefenbaker Economic

Economic downturn and rising unemployment.

Northern Vision – economic development of the North.

Diefenbaker Social

Canadian Bill of Rights (1960).

Expanded pensions and family allowance.

Diefenbaker Rights

Canadian Bill of Rights (1960).

Expanded pensions and family allowance.

Pearson Economic

Auto Pact (1965) – boosted manufacturing trade with the US.

Fiscal measures to control inflation and unemployment

Pearson Social

Introduced Medicare, CPP, and student loans.

Modernised education through federal-provincial cooperation.

Pearson Rights

Launched Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism (1963).

Royal Commission on the Status of Women (1967).

Began consultation with Indigenous leaders.

Trudeau Economic

Inflation and unemployment worsened.

Introduced wage and price controls (1975).

Trudeau Social

Promoted bilingualism and multiculturalism.

Expanded unemployment insurance and tax credits.

Trudeau Rights

1970 White Paper proposed to eliminate Indian status – faced Indigenous backlash.

October Crisis (1970) – War Measures Act suspended civil liberties.

Rise in Indigenous activism