COMPARING COLD WAR PRIME MINISTERS Louis St Laurent

COMPARING COLD WAR PRIME MINISTERS

Louis St. Laurent - 1948 - 1957 Leadership Style: Ø “Uncle Louis” Ø Kind, gentle and calm person Ø Disliked Communism Ø Cold Warrior Ø Entered politics late in life Ø Business-like and efficient

Louis St. Laurent - 1948 - 1957 Achievements: Ø Encouraged Newfoundland to join Canada. Ø Developed natural resources. Ø St. Lawrence Seaway, Trans -Canada Highway, and trans -Canada pipeline Ø Promoted NATO Ø Led Canada into the Korean War Prime Minister St. Laurent (on the far right) at the breaking ground ceremony for the St. Lawrence Seaway, August, 1955.

Louis St. Laurent - 1948 - 1957 Failures: Ø American Investment grew enormously. Ø People believed Canada had “sold out” to the Americans allowing too much US influence.

Louis St. Laurent - 1948 - 1957 Problems: Ø Lacked political experience. Ø Dealing with the post war economic boom.

John Diefenbaker 1957 -1963 Leadership Style Ø “The Chief” Ø A powerful and emotional speaker. Ø Champion for the underdog.

John Diefenbaker 1957 -1963 Achievements: Ø Pensions for the elderly, disabled and war veterans were raised. Ø Aid given to the Maritime and Prairie provinces. Ø Developed the North and created jobs. Ø Passed the Canadian Bill of Rights.

John Diefenbaker 1957 -1963 Failures: Ø Lost the trust of Canadians. Ø Cancelled Avro Arrow project

John Diefenbaker 1957 -1963 Problems: Ø Did not listen to anyone. Ø His emotional style would upset some Canadians. Ø Had no clear plan on how to govern Canada. Ø Alienated members of his own party. Ø Poor relations with the U. S.

Lester Pearson 1963 -1968 Leadership Style: Ø A diplomat Ø Not a flamboyant leader. Ø Experienced in politics.

Lester Pearson 1963 -1968 Achievements: Ø Appointed the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism to improve relations between French and English Canadians. Ø Tried to improve federalprovincial relations with shared cost programs Ø Introduced Canada Pension Plan. Ø Introduced Medicare. Ø Introduced the flag in 1965.

Lester Pearson 1963 -1968 Failures: Ø English Canadians were bitterly opposed to any policies that seemed to favour French Canadians and weaken the Federal government.

Lester Pearson 1963 -1968 Problems: Ø Pearson had a difficult time keeping strong ties with English Canadians.

Pierre Elliot Trudeau 1968 – 1979, 1980 - 1984 Leadership Style: Ø “Trudeaumania” Ø “Rock Star” Ø Young, athletic and wealthy bachelor Ø Brilliant scholar and lawyer. Ø World traveler Ø Charismatic and media savvy Ø Adaptable and tough

Pierre Elliot Trudeau 1968 – 1979, 1980 - 1984 Achievements: Ø Promoted a Just Society Ø Made many young Canadians interested in politics. Ø Believed in a strong federal government. Ø Introduced bilingualism (Official Languages Act) Ø Improved benefits for the poor and elderly. Ø Kept energy prices down. Ø Fought American investment. Ø Patriated the Constitution.

Pierre Elliot Trudeau 1968 – 1979, 1980 - 1984 Failures: Ø Trudeau’s centralist views alienated the West and Quebec who wanted more power to go to the provinces.

Pierre Elliot Trudeau 1968 – 1979, 1980 - 1984 Problems: Ø Did not care about the opposition and fought for his vision of Canada