In considering the evolution of Canadas Just Society, the politicians who were instrumental in its development during the Twentieth Century are particularly worthy of contemplation. Though numerous political personalities contributed to the development of Canadas identity, five individuals made contributions that dominate the landscape of modern Canadian political society. In reverse order of importance, there individuals are former PM Kim Campbell, Social Democrat Tommy Douglas, former PM Brian Mulroney, Quebecois leader, Rene Levesque, and former PM Pierre Trudeau. While each of these individuals played a vital role in shaping Canadas 21st century Just Society, it is undoubtedly Trudeau whose political legacy best embodies the ideals and realities of the Just Society.
Kim Campbell, despite being a conservative Prime Minister, is the embodiment of one of the key elements of the Just Society. This element is the promotion of individual equality in Canadian Society. (Couture Bosley, 90). Included in the umbrella of individual equality is sexual equality. Prior to Campbells election as Prime Minister in 1993, Canadas high office had never been held by a woman. Her short tenure (132 days) and the quick eclipsing of her leadership make the characteristics of her actual governing influence minor ones at best. (Kornberg, et. al., 185) This fact places her at the bottom of the list of influential political figures in Canadian 20th century history.
A much more influential conservative, Brian Mulroney, occupies a higher position on the list. In defining the Just Society envisioned by Trudeau, the opposition party to this vision illustrated the values and ideals that countered this vision, yet were embraced by many in Canada in the late 1980s. Mulroneys government embodied these conservative ideals in an era dominated by conservative politics. (Kornberg, et. al., 96) By appealing to diverse interests, such as Quebecs nationalists and the influence of Western Populists, Mulroney built a strong conservative coalition. (Kornberg, et. al., 98) Despite the support of Quebec nationalists, Mulroneys political platform embraced Canadian national unity and privatization of industry. (Banting, et. al., 24) These priorities are somewhat antithetical to the notion of the Just Society, but at the same time embrace an opposition that is based in Canadas national interest. (Banting, et. al., 32)
Despite the brief upsurge in Conservative viewpoints embodied by the two politicians listed above, the true heart of the Canadian Just Society is based in a liberal political platform which was embodied by Tommy Douglas, former premier of Saskatchewan. Douglas was responsible for the creation of many of the Crown industries, which competed with private industries in key areas. (Ameringer, 136) He helped to found the NDP (New Democratic Party) political party, which embraces many of the ideals of Trudeaus Just Society. (Ameringer, 137) Among these ideals are corporate taxation, human rights, aboriginal rights, reduction of poverty, workers rights, and public health care. (Ameringer, 138) Douglas himself was instrumental in the creation of a Medicare program in Saskatchewan in the early 1960s. (Ameringer, 141) As a founding member of the party from which the Just Society was derived, Tommy Douglas deserves a prominent place on this list. Only the presence of a uniquely Canadian issue in national politics prevents Douglas from claiming the number-two spot. The issue in question is the status of Quebec in Canadian politics. Given the importance of this issue in the settling of Canadian political affairs, the champion of the rights of Quebec and French Canada, Rene Lvesque, also deserves a prominent spot on a list of influential Canadian Politicians.
Levesque is responsible in large part for the continuing political and cultural conflict between Quebec and the other provinces of Canada. The formation of the Parti Quebecois, for which Leveque is responsible, is a large part of the reason. (Saywell, 9) This party is dedicated to the notion that Quebec, because of its cultural and historical affiliation with France, ought to be independent of the remainder of Canada, which has similar ties to Great Britain and the United States. (Saywell, 11) Lvesque encouraged the enactment of the infamous Bill 101, the Quebec Charter of the French Language, which required that French be made the language of commerce, instruction and everyday life in Quebec. (Saywell, 18) Additionally, Leveque spearheaded a referendum on Quebecs independence that took place in 1980. (Saywell, 100) Though the referendum failed, the 40 showing it received remained a rallying point for those who favored a sovereignty-association relationship between Quebec and the remainder of Canada. (Saywell, 107) Despite this failure, Leveque is considered the spiritual founder of Quebecs separatist movement(Saywell, 109) , and thus, a dominant figure in 20th century Canadian political history.
At the top of the list of political influence in Canadian Political history in the 20th Century is the Prime Minister who coined the term and defined the meaning of the Just Society, Pierre Trudeau. Despite philosophical leanings in line with Tommy Douglas LDP party, Trudeau felt that the alienation of the Quebecois that the party engendered made it unlikely to win a national election. He thus took the philosophies of the LDP and ran them in the Liberal party instead. (Couture Bosley, 108) Trudeaus philosophies still form the foundation of Canadian National Identity. They include, above all things, a sense of Canadian nationalism, differing from the attitude that Canada is a mere appendage of the British Crown. (Couture Bosley, 110) Trudeaus ideal of a Just Society is still the model upon which 21st century Canadas politics and society is built. (Couture Bosley, 115)
Trudeaus Just Society rhetoric and its continued influence upon the political and social rhetoric in Canada makes him an obvious choice for the most influential political figure of the 20th century. The others upon this list contributed in their own ways to the definition and implementation of the ideals purported by Trudeau, but it was Trudeaus activities that gave them their voice and influence in Canadian political life. Douglas liberalism, Lvesques love for Quebecois rights, and even opposition viewpoints embraced by Mulroney and Campbell helped to place focus on the tenets of the Just Society. Their efforts and accomplishments earn them a spot on the list, and perhaps it may be argued that Trudeau saw farther because he stood on the shoulders of earlier political giants, it is indisputable that the 21st Century Just Society has as its legitimate father, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
Kim Campbell, despite being a conservative Prime Minister, is the embodiment of one of the key elements of the Just Society. This element is the promotion of individual equality in Canadian Society. (Couture Bosley, 90). Included in the umbrella of individual equality is sexual equality. Prior to Campbells election as Prime Minister in 1993, Canadas high office had never been held by a woman. Her short tenure (132 days) and the quick eclipsing of her leadership make the characteristics of her actual governing influence minor ones at best. (Kornberg, et. al., 185) This fact places her at the bottom of the list of influential political figures in Canadian 20th century history.
A much more influential conservative, Brian Mulroney, occupies a higher position on the list. In defining the Just Society envisioned by Trudeau, the opposition party to this vision illustrated the values and ideals that countered this vision, yet were embraced by many in Canada in the late 1980s. Mulroneys government embodied these conservative ideals in an era dominated by conservative politics. (Kornberg, et. al., 96) By appealing to diverse interests, such as Quebecs nationalists and the influence of Western Populists, Mulroney built a strong conservative coalition. (Kornberg, et. al., 98) Despite the support of Quebec nationalists, Mulroneys political platform embraced Canadian national unity and privatization of industry. (Banting, et. al., 24) These priorities are somewhat antithetical to the notion of the Just Society, but at the same time embrace an opposition that is based in Canadas national interest. (Banting, et. al., 32)
Despite the brief upsurge in Conservative viewpoints embodied by the two politicians listed above, the true heart of the Canadian Just Society is based in a liberal political platform which was embodied by Tommy Douglas, former premier of Saskatchewan. Douglas was responsible for the creation of many of the Crown industries, which competed with private industries in key areas. (Ameringer, 136) He helped to found the NDP (New Democratic Party) political party, which embraces many of the ideals of Trudeaus Just Society. (Ameringer, 137) Among these ideals are corporate taxation, human rights, aboriginal rights, reduction of poverty, workers rights, and public health care. (Ameringer, 138) Douglas himself was instrumental in the creation of a Medicare program in Saskatchewan in the early 1960s. (Ameringer, 141) As a founding member of the party from which the Just Society was derived, Tommy Douglas deserves a prominent place on this list. Only the presence of a uniquely Canadian issue in national politics prevents Douglas from claiming the number-two spot. The issue in question is the status of Quebec in Canadian politics. Given the importance of this issue in the settling of Canadian political affairs, the champion of the rights of Quebec and French Canada, Rene Lvesque, also deserves a prominent spot on a list of influential Canadian Politicians.
Levesque is responsible in large part for the continuing political and cultural conflict between Quebec and the other provinces of Canada. The formation of the Parti Quebecois, for which Leveque is responsible, is a large part of the reason. (Saywell, 9) This party is dedicated to the notion that Quebec, because of its cultural and historical affiliation with France, ought to be independent of the remainder of Canada, which has similar ties to Great Britain and the United States. (Saywell, 11) Lvesque encouraged the enactment of the infamous Bill 101, the Quebec Charter of the French Language, which required that French be made the language of commerce, instruction and everyday life in Quebec. (Saywell, 18) Additionally, Leveque spearheaded a referendum on Quebecs independence that took place in 1980. (Saywell, 100) Though the referendum failed, the 40 showing it received remained a rallying point for those who favored a sovereignty-association relationship between Quebec and the remainder of Canada. (Saywell, 107) Despite this failure, Leveque is considered the spiritual founder of Quebecs separatist movement(Saywell, 109) , and thus, a dominant figure in 20th century Canadian political history.
At the top of the list of political influence in Canadian Political history in the 20th Century is the Prime Minister who coined the term and defined the meaning of the Just Society, Pierre Trudeau. Despite philosophical leanings in line with Tommy Douglas LDP party, Trudeau felt that the alienation of the Quebecois that the party engendered made it unlikely to win a national election. He thus took the philosophies of the LDP and ran them in the Liberal party instead. (Couture Bosley, 108) Trudeaus philosophies still form the foundation of Canadian National Identity. They include, above all things, a sense of Canadian nationalism, differing from the attitude that Canada is a mere appendage of the British Crown. (Couture Bosley, 110) Trudeaus ideal of a Just Society is still the model upon which 21st century Canadas politics and society is built. (Couture Bosley, 115)
Trudeaus Just Society rhetoric and its continued influence upon the political and social rhetoric in Canada makes him an obvious choice for the most influential political figure of the 20th century. The others upon this list contributed in their own ways to the definition and implementation of the ideals purported by Trudeau, but it was Trudeaus activities that gave them their voice and influence in Canadian political life. Douglas liberalism, Lvesques love for Quebecois rights, and even opposition viewpoints embraced by Mulroney and Campbell helped to place focus on the tenets of the Just Society. Their efforts and accomplishments earn them a spot on the list, and perhaps it may be argued that Trudeau saw farther because he stood on the shoulders of earlier political giants, it is indisputable that the 21st Century Just Society has as its legitimate father, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
No comments:
Post a Comment