Just Society

Trudeau entered office in 1968 with first majority in a decade

Program of a just society

• Equality \n • Individual rights

Known federalist

Just Society

• Trudeau’s 1968 campaign promise – Inclusive and fair society

• Enhanced social programs \n • Equalization programs for regions • Language rights \n • Criminal code amendments

Criminal

Had begun in 1967 and continued in 1968 and 1969

Two most significant of these:

Code • Abortion and homosexuality

Revisions

• Decriminalization:

• Separation of morality from criminal law

1969 Omnibus Bill

Language

• Introduced official languages bill, 17 Oct. 1968

• –  EnglishandFrenchestablishedas official languages in all branches of federal civil service, courts, crown corporations
• –  Alsoinallfederalcourtsinbilingual districts (where minority group made up 10% of population)
• –  Extensionofcivilservicelanguage training (started in 1964) aiming for bilingualism
• –  Appointmentofalanguage commissioner
• Economic inequality   * Trudeau’s vision \n – Economicequalitylinkedto

    national unity

    – BeganwithdevelopmentinEastern Quebec and Maritimes   * Established a Department of Regional Economic Expansion (Dree) headed by Jean Marchand   * Dree ended up stimulating economic activity in other areas of slow economic growth as well   * Regional Development Incentive Act provided funds for firms in designated areas   * Difficulties with regional development     * Did not create national unity     * Led to complaints from provinces

      – Felt they were not consulted

      – Complained that funds were not evenly distributed across country

      Post 1972 elections       * Used DREE funds more politically       * Disbanded in 1982       * No notable improvements to problem of regional disparity in the Trudeau era

        Social Security

        • Unemployment Insurance \n – Introduced 1941 \n – 1971: expansion of program:         * Maternity, sickness, retirement benefits for workers         * Increased benefits         * In some cases for a longer period

          Family allowance and universality           * Trudeau introduced idea of doing away with universality in name of equity           * Introduced Family Income Support Program early 1970s

            – Planfailed

            Indigenous Persons and the Just Society

            •

            1960s it was clear that Indigenous were far below Canadian avge re:

            – Mortality rates – Earnings             * –  Health outcomes             * –  Education outcomes

              Harry Hawthorne: A Survey of the Contemporary Indians of Canada: Economic, Political, Educational Needs and Policies (Hawthorne Report 1966)

            – Exposed situation of Aboriginal communities and recommended assimilationist policies be abandoned

            Trudeau’s philosophical difficulty: liberal values vs special status

            White Paper 1969             * Called for integration of minority and racial groups into mainstream society             * Chretien saw special status as basic problem of disadvantaged position of “Native People”

            – Went against requests of National Indian Council to retain Indian identity and for an Indian claims commission to settle growing land claims

            • 1970s: Indigenous people made strides with land policy in the courts             * –  James Bay: scotched development until claims examined and compensation granted             * –  Calder case recognized Aboriginal title to lands

              Federal- Provincial Relations               * Trudeau broke with Pearson’s asymmetrical federalism

                – Opposed to special status for Quebec               * Opting out \n – Quebec did with regards to

                • Vocational education • Old age assistance \n • Health grants \n • Family allowance

                Fiscal Federalism

                • In postwar period Federal grants for areas of provincial responsibility (eg. health and universities grants)

                – Price to be paid: provinces had to comply with federal policy initiatives

                – Conditional block grants

                Fiscal Federalism’s challenges                 * Postwar prosperity ends in the 1970s                 * Energy crisis in 1973 \n – OPEC following Yom Kippur War                 * Stagflation                 * High interest rates                 * High unemployment: 1973-5%; 1982 11%                 * Trudeau govt response: \n – Anti-Inflation Board \n – Wage and Price Controls

Quebec

• Rise of PQ \n – Bourassa and Bill 22, 1974

• French as official language of Quebec and of commerce

– Certificates of francization – Levesque and Bill 101

• Anglo exodus \n – 1980 sovereignty association

referendum

• Trudeau’s intervention and promise of constitutional reform

– 59.5% in favour of remaining in Canada

\ Constitutional reform

• At start of 1980s uncertainty re future of Canada

– Canadian West worried about control of natural resources

• Courts had ruled unconstitutional for Alberta to pass tax laws regulating gas and oil sector

– Political element as well \n • No liberal elected in BC, Alberta,

Sask

– Maritimes gripes re offshore nat. resources and fisheries

• 80 constitutional cases at SCC 1975-82 – Need for reform

\ Constitutional Reform

• Since 1975 in St. John’s Trudeau called for repatriation of constitution
• Premiers wanted this in context of distribution of powers reforms
• Trudeau also wanted a Charter of Rights by the late 1970s, and Senate and SCC reform
• He also held firm to need to stop decentralization in the early 1980s

Constitutional Reform

• Thus Trudeau’s vision in constitutional reform for a strong national state supported by a charter of rights and freedoms
• Civic vs ethnic nationalism \n – civil rights and equality of rights

  to be protected in constitution

• Repatriation required consent of all provinces

  – Conference called for Sept 1981. It was a failure

  – Trudeau announced he would go forward unilaterally

\ Gang of Eight

• Back to drawing board with provinces in November 1981
• Gang of Eight premiers met with Trudeau
• 7 of 8 agreed to deal with feds – “Night of long knives” –
• April 1982 Constitutional Act, 1867 new name of constitution

Assessment

• How to Assess Trudeau?
• Changed Canada forever   * –  Dual compact of cultures gave way a Canada based on liberal individualism   * –  Economic policy aimed at centralizing the country   * –  Civic nationalism replaced an ethnic one: multicult   * –  Unilateral in his National Energy Policy of 1980 with which Ottawa’s share of revenues increased from 10 to 24%

Legacy

• Admirers and detractors

• –  Canada transformed into a modern secular society with Charter
• –  Economy
• –  Divisions in Canada
• –  Bilingual, multicultural Canada made no difference to French- English relations
• –  Wounds in Quebec, among Indigenous peoples, in the West

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