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Liberal Party of - HISTORY

The origin of Canadian political parties can There had been considerable agitation for be traced to the early days of the English reform throughout the sparsely settled and French colonies of Upper and Lower regions of . In , Canada. The American Revolution had seen similar outcries for reform had led to the the influx into Canada of a substantial election of an Assembly dominated by number of United Empire Loyalists. Settling Reformers led by Papineau. There was a largely in what is now (Upper steady correspondence among the Canada) and in parts of Atlantic Canada, the Reformers in the various regions. Mackenzie majority of the Loyalists believed in the need and Papineau and their followers in Upper for a governing class. This class was and Lower Canada were consciously working comprised of the chief families as well as for the same ends in close alliance. business and professional elite in the colonies and formed a closely-knit group The Reformers were opposed to the special around the British Governor. Like their privileges of the ruling oligarchies in Upper counterparts in England, those who followed and Lower Canada known respectively as this belief became known as . the “Family Compact” and the “Château Clique”. The “Château Clique” was an elite The ancestors of the modern Liberal Party who governed with disregard for and usually contended that freeborn Englishmen did not in opposition to the wishes of the majority. In lose any of their by crossing the Upper Canada, its equivalent, the “Family Atlantic. They believed that the real objective Compact” was equally tyrannical. The of government in the colonies should be the Reformers realized, however, that the only welfare and advantage of the settlers effective way to redress grievances and themselves. destroy special privileges was, as put it in 1835, to establish Following the there was “the British constitutional system, by which increased demand for self-government in the head of the government is obliged to what was to become Canada. The American choose his councilors and principal officers Revolution had established a definitive from men possessing the confidence of the precedent for revolt that the colonists chose popular branch of the legislature”. The to reject in favour of a more gradual process Reformers saw as of change. the means to root out special privilege and give equal rights to all. The Reformers Those who opposed the ruling class theory – Frustration with the seeming impossibility of The Reformers () – were much less reform led the reformers to resort to arms in organized than the Tories who were already the Rebellion of 1837. Although the rebellion in power. In Lower Canada, the Reformers was small, and quickly failed, it demonstrated were led by Louis-Joseph Papineau, and in the reformers determination and the fact that Upper Canada by William Lyon Mackenzie. the need for reform was great.

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Liberal Party of Canada - HISTORY

After the Act of Union the union of Ontario and , but was to In 1838, the British, dispatched Lord Durham be a basic policy of the Liberal Party down as governor with authority to restore order, through the years. to inquire into the causes of the rebellion, and to suggest measures for the future. The Responsible government implies well- result of his mission was the presentation of organized parties because its efficient the Durham Report, which is considered to functioning depends upon a party being able be one of the greatest constitutional to maintain a stable majority in a documents in British colonial history. His two representative assembly. The Lafontaine- major recommendations were the union of Baldwin did not quite become a Upper and Lower Canada and the immediate party in their day, and it disbanded quickly grant of responsible government. when they retired in 1851. Nevertheless, it is one of the great achievements in Canadian In 1841, the Act of Union combined Upper political history. It was the beginning of and Lower Canada and established a single organized party government. The Lafontaine- legislative unit to be called Canada. The Act Baldwin coalition was also the first example provided for a governor, a legislative council, of what has become the most striking and appointed for life by (this was distinctive feature of Canadian politics – the changed in 1856, by making the members biracial party which overcomes differences submit to election for an eight-year term), between French and English and brings them and an elected legislative assembly of 84 together inside one party to conduct a members, each of the two former colonies government on principles on which they can being given 42 members. agree.

The issue of responsible government, The Grits however, was not settled until the general In the years following the adoption of election of January 1848. responsible government (1848), there and Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, the leaders occurred a gradual restructuring of the of the Canadian Reformers realized that political parties. In 1854, a Liberal- responsible government would not become a Conservative coalition was formed in order reality unless they secured the support of a to ensure a majority. This coalition gradually majority of the members of the legislature in solidified into a party under the skillful both of the former colonies. In 1848, seven leadership of John A. Macdonald and years after Upper and Lower Canada were Georges-Etienne Cartier. formed into a legislative union, the voters went to the polls and elected a majority of In opposition to the Liberal-Conservative Reformers. Lafontaine and Baldwin were government of the 1850s, there emerged two entrusted with the task of forming the first groups: The Grits of Upper Canada, headed cabinet. This dual French and English by George Brown, the powerful editor of The speaking leadership was symbolic not only of Globe, and the Rouges of Lower Canada.

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They combined briefly but never quite many reforms. Some of the more notable coalesced into a real party before 1867. were the replacement of open voting by Taking in allies from the Maritime provinces , the confinement of elections to after Confederation, they were to become a single day, the creation of the Supreme the Reform or Liberal Party of Mackenzie, Court of Canada, and of Blake and Laurier. , the public record of the House of Commons Debates. Despite these reforms, Confederation was brought about, as far as the Liberal Party under Mackenzie was the was concerned, by a unable to achieve a solid popular base of coalition of the Macdonald-Cartier support in any province except Ontario, and Conservatives with Brown’s Grits. The in 1878, the government was badly defeated Rouges group refused to join the movement. in the general election. The Conservatives Before July 1, 1867, Brown had led most of won 137 seats, the Liberals 69. his followers out of the coalition. Macdonald formed the first federal government by constructing a cabinet out of his own In 1880, Edward Blake, a great Conservative allies whom he had found in parliamentarian but a man whose leadership and a few Upper Canada Grits. was not extremely successful, succeeded There were a few years of party confusion; Alexander Mackenzie as leader of the Liberal but gradually a pattern of party alignments Party. On the retirement of Blake, the Liberal emerged and by the time of the second members of Parliament elected Wilfrid election in 1872, a straight party fight took Laurier national leader of the Liberals. The place between a Conservative government choice of Laurier to succeed Blake was a and a Reform or Liberal Opposition. clear demonstration that the Liberal Party accepted the equal partnership of the The Liberals – Alexander Mackenzie English and French in Canada. From the The Conservatives dominated the political time of his election as leader, Laurier began scene from the time of Confederation until to preach the ideal of national . Until his 1896, with the exception of the years 1873 to death in 1919, Laurier spent a total of almost 1878. 45 years in the House of Commons, 15 of them as . In November 1873, Macdonald was forced to resign because of the Pacific Scandal and an The Laurier Years election was called for the following year. In has been called the architect the election of 1874, the Liberals won 133 of modern . In , in seats, the Conservatives 73. For the next 1877 – 10 years before he became leader – four years, Canada had a Liberal he defined Liberalism: government under Prime Minister Alexander “The principle of Liberalism resides in the Mackenzie. essence of our nature itself, in this thirst for During these years, the Liberals carried out happiness we bring with us in life, which

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follows us everywhere, but which however, is the disintegration of Macdonald’s regime. never completely quenched this side of The old French-English bitterness flared up Heaven. We gravitate incessantly towards an again. After Laurier’s Liberals defeated the ideal that we never reach. No sooner have Conservatives in 1896 (the Liberals won 117 we reached the point we are aiming at, that seats and the Conservatives won 89), they we discover new horizons whose existence drew into their party many of the Bleus, the we never even suspected. We dash towards moderate Conservatives of Quebec. In this them, and those new horizons, explored in way, they received substantial support in their turn; we discover others to which we Quebec, making the Liberal Party the party are carried away, on and on, further always. of French-English cooperation, just as Thus will it be as long as man is what he is; Macdonald’s Conservatives had been. as long as a soul immortal sits in a mortal body; his desires will always spread wider Laurier’s Liberal government embarked upon than his means, his actions will never reach an ambitious development policy based on the level of his conceptions.” and railway building. The rapid expansion of Western agriculture, based During the late 1880s, the Liberal Party largely on wheat, stimulated and largely made steady advances in the provinces, and created a national economy in Canada for in 1891, the Liberals held office in every the first time. The development of the West province except . Although created an expanding market for Eastern they did not win the federal election that industry. The growth of modern industry in year, winning 92 seats to the Conservatives’ turn brought new difficulties of industrial 123, they had made impressive gains. In relations and social welfare. In 1900, the 1893, Laurier called the first national Liberal government established a convention of the Liberal Party of Canada. Department of Labour to handle problems Some 2,500 delegates from across Canada created by the growth of large-scale urban met in . This was the first time that industry. Liberals from all parts of the country joined together in working out policy. Evidence of Defeat by the new Canadian national consciousness The first period of Liberal reform continued permeated the convention and delegates until 1911. The combination of Laurier’s returned home to build up a truly national Naval Bill, which Quebec Nationalists political party pledged to reconcile provincial denounced, and his acceptance of the United autonomy and national unity, to uphold civil States’ offer of a limited measure of and religious , and to build a self- reciprocity in trade, which the Conservatives governing Canadian nation in which all the attacked, provided the basis for the elements would be harmonized without Conservative-Nationalist alliance. After the losing their own distinctive character. general election in 1911, the Liberal Party The crisis resulting from the execution of once again found itself in Opposition; 132 in 1885 marked the beginning of Conservatives and 86 Liberals were elected.

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Sir Robert Borden became Prime Minister Six months later at the Liberal Party’s and was in office when World War I broke second national convention in Ottawa, out. William Lyon Mackenzie King was chosen leader. The convention again adopted Wilfrid Laurier’s efforts to keep English and resolutions formulating a progressive new French working together were thwarted by a program for Canada designed to strengthen new cause of between the two a country weakened by the prewar groups: the question of Canada’s relations depression and shattered by the impact of with the Empire. Beginning with the Boer war with its resulting and economic War in 1899, the two groups took opposite dislocation. sides on the issue; and when the strain of World War I made itself felt, they divided in The cooperation of the French-speaking the bitter quarrel over conscription. Liberals at the convention, and the choice of an English-speaking leader demonstrated By 1917, the conscription question had that the French-speaking Liberals were become a crisis. Borden was convinced that resolved to restore the Liberal Party on the conscription was necessary but did not basis of racial harmony and national unity. believe a one-party government could apply it successfully. He invited Laurier to join in a In 1921, the Liberals with Mackenzie King as coalition to impose conscription and when their leader were returned to power but the Laurier refused, he entered into negotiations face of the House of Commons was radically with the leading English-speaking Liberals. altered. The Liberals with 116 seats were One after another, they left Laurier and one seat short of a majority, and over half of either joined the Union government or gave it its members were from Quebec – all 65 their support. When the election came in seats in that province had returned Liberals. December 1917, William Lyon Mackenzie The Conservatives had only 50 seats; and King was almost the only English-speaking 65 seats went to the Progressives, a group privy councilor that remained at Laurier’s of farmers elected in protest against side and he went down to defeat. Not a Ottawa’s agricultural policies. single French-Canadian from the province of Quebec had been elected to support the In the next four years, Mackenzie King Union government and Laurier had only a pursued policies such as support for the handful of followers from outside Quebec. Canadian National Railway and its branch Sixty-two of the 82 Liberal members were lines, and the restoration of the Crow’s Nest from Quebec and, of the rest; almost half Pass rates on grain that were highly were elected in constituencies with a acceptable to farmers. But on the issue of substantial French-speaking population. tariff reduction, he did not act quickly enough. As a result, in the 1925 general Mackenzie King election, the Liberals and Progressives split On February 16, 1919, Wilfrid Laurier died. the vote in the West and the Conservatives

7 Liberal Party of Canada - HISTORY

gained. The Conservatives won 116 seats, Liberal Party to endorse a progressive policy the Liberals 101 and the Progressives 24. of social reform. However, the Progressives supported Mackenzie King and he was able to continue With regard to Canada’s position as Prime Minister. internationally, Mackenzie King believed in the conversion of the British Empire into a In June 1926, Governor General Lord Byng Commonwealth of equal nations, freely refused to grant Mackenzie King dissolution associated but without centralized of Parliament, although his minority institutions. After prolonged resistance, this government was defeated in the House of concept was finally accepted as the Commons. Byng asked Conservative leader constitutional basis of the new British to form the government, but at the Imperial he was unable to gain support in the House. Conference of 1926. Another election was held in September 1926. Defeat by Bennett, then Victory After the boom years of 1927 and 1928, the In the interval, an agreement was reached impact of the in 1929 between many Liberal and Progressive shook all of Canada and left the Liberal candidates in and Ontario whereby government uncertain as to how to survive Liberal-Progressive candidates who pledged the social and economic upheaval. In the to support the Liberal government were summer of 1930, the Conservative Party nominated jointly. This alliance and the under the leadership of R.B. Bennett strength of Liberal organization in defeated the Liberal government. The resulted in the restoration of Conservatives elected 137 members and the the Liberal Party to its position as a truly Liberals 88. The Tories, however, were not national party. The Liberals won 116 seats, capable of remedying the economic the Conservatives 91, and Mackenzie King disturbance and were blamed by the people was able to govern with the support of the for failing to stop the disastrous decline in allied minor parties. the standard of living and for the loss of confidence and hope which marked the years The King Years 1930-35. In the election of 1935, Mackenzie The 1920s were a period of growth and King was returned to power with 171 development in Canada. Together with his members. , Mackenzie King strove to add a new After 1935, Mackenzie King and his dimension to the achievements of Liberalism. colleagues were faced with the threat of Recognizing the political and social needs of another world war and with it, the possibility the new urban industrial society that had that Canadian unity might again be in developed rapidly in Canada under the jeopardy. Liberals were divided about the impetus of World War I, he persuaded the best means of avoiding the catastrophe of

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war, but were united in the desire to prevent voted in 125 Liberals and 67 Progressive it. Conservatives.

The Post-War Period One more element essential to this Liberal The war affected the organization as well as victory in a society obsessed by memories of the thinking of the Liberal Party. After the the Great Depression was a promise of full election of March 1940, the Party employment. This Mackenzie King was organization was dismantled until the reluctant to give until he was assured that it summer of 1943, when victory in the war was a politically and economically feasible seemed assured. At this time, Mackenzie objective in peacetime. He recognized that King concentrated activity on the preparation full employment necessitated the expansion of a post-war program. of trade. Although a post-war slump had been widely anticipated, it did not To crystallize thinking and to formulate a far- materialize. It became evident that a reaching program, Mackenzie King called shortage of manpower was more likely to upon the National Liberal Federation to develop than a surplus. In 1947, the Liberal arrange a meeting of its advisory council in government embarked upon an immigration 1943. This meeting considered and debated program that contributed to the greatest policies for Canada that Liberals felt would increase in Canada’s population in any have to be adopted if the country were to decade in our history. continue to grow and prosper after the war. The St. Laurent Years Mackenzie King and his government In January of 1948, Mackenzie King, in his accepted the recommendations of the 29th year as leader of the Liberal Party, council and in the Speech from the Throne announced his intention to retire from the opening the session of Parliament in January Party leadership. A call was issued for a 1944, virtually the whole post-war program national convention to meet in Ottawa in was set out in the government’s legislative August. Louis St. Laurent was chosen as his intentions. This included a new monetary successor on the first ballot. policy, an extensive social security program, a generous and comprehensive re- Mackenzie King had left to St. Laurent the establishment plan for the benefit of strongest Party organization ever known in servicemen, the establishment of the Canada, which, despite the electoral losses Industrial Development Bank to provide of 1945, was in perfect running order. The credit for small business, and such measures Liberal government under St. Laurent was to as the National Housing Act and the Farm accomplish much for Canada in the next nine Improvement Loans Act. This was the years. program which, supported by the people of Canada, gave Mackenzie King his sixth One of the first achievements of the St. victory at the polls in 1945. The electorate Laurent government was the completion of

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Confederation through the Union of Newfoundland with Canada in 1949. The St. Laurent era was also one of the greatest periods of growth in population, in During this period Canada became the national wealth, and in personal incomes in world’s third largest trading nation and the Canadian history. This tremendous economic Canadian government took part in the development was facilitated by the creation of the General Agreement on Tariffs encouragement of of and Trade (GATT). both labour and capital on a large scale.

Canada’s social security program was National development, however, was by no improved. Among the changes were: old age means confined to material progress. One of legislation without a means test, old the most imaginative initiatives of this age assistance, allowances for the blind, government was the appointment of the extension of health grants, enactment of the Royal Commission on the Arts, Letters and Disabled Persons Act, and other measures. Sciences under the chairmanship of . The Canada Council, which Canada’s legal system gained complete provides financial support for the arts in autonomy with the replacement of the Canada, was established as a result of the Judicial Committee of The Privy Council in commission’s recommendations. the United Kingdom by the as the final court of appeal for In the Wilderness Canadian cases, including Constitutional By 1957, the Liberals had been in office for cases. 22 years. This fact, combined with their haste and apparent misjudgment during the In the field of international affairs, St. led the majority of Canadian Laurent and Lester B. Pearson, his newly voters to support other parties. appointed Secretary of State for External Affairs, worked in close collaboration to The Conservatives had a new leader, John secure national support for an active and Diefenbaker, whose powerful oratory and constructive Canadian participation in world political skill was focused on the affairs. Canada’s role at the United Nations, government’s age and its alleged arrogance. in the establishment of NATO, in the formation of the Colombo Plan, as a member An election was called for June 10, 1957. of the International Advisory Commission in Though the Liberal Party had won 40% of the Indo-China, in the Korean conflict and other popular vote and the opposition 30%, only areas made Canada one of the world’s most 105 Liberals faced 112 Conservatives in the respected countries. At the time of the Suez new Parliament. 25 Co-operative crisis, Pearson’s leadership in establishing Commonwealth Federation (CCF) members the United Nations Emergency Force earned and 19 Social Credit members held the him the Nobel Prize for Peace. balance of power in the Conservative

10 Liberal Party of Canada - HISTORY

. On June 21, 1957, himself to the dual task of providing an became Canada’s new effective Opposition and to the rebuilding of Prime Minister. the Liberal Party throughout Canada.

The Pearson Years Under his leadership, the Liberals achieved In September 1957, St. Laurent announced three broad objectives. They established a his intention to resign from the leadership of new direction for the Liberal Party. They the Liberal Party. At the national convention brought in a new team of competent people, in Ottawa in January 1958, Lester B. such as Judy LaMarsh, who was elected to Pearson was chosen as his successor. The the House of Commons in a 1961 by- policies of the Party were also carefully election, Maurice Sauvé, , discussed and reaffirmed with a number of Walter Gordon, , Charles M. significant amendments. For the first time, Drury, Jean-Luc Pépin and to an Atlantic trading community was adopted aid the Party in the discussion and as a political objective of the Liberal Party. A formulation of Liberal policy. And they vast program of national scholarships, provided responsible opposition in supplemented by national funds, to provide Parliament proposing constructive alternate loans for deserving students also became an courses of action. immediate objective. In addition, the Liberal program included establishment of a The first of these objectives was most municipal loan fund and an Atlantic dramatically realized at the Kingston Liberal provinces capital assistance fund, with Conference of 1960, where a new forward- special aid to the Atlantic provinces for the looking and challenging Liberal program, completion of the Trans-Canada Highway including vastly expanded welfare services, and for trunk highway development. was worked out. Academics, politicians and leaders from all fields of Canadian life On February 1, 1958, with the new leader participated in the formulation of Liberal barely in position, Parliament was dissolved policy. and the country was faced with a general election. The Liberals suffered one of the In the 1962 campaign, Pearson emphasized greatest defeats in their history – they won , mismanagement in Ottawa 49 seats, from only four of the provinces. and loss of international prestige, but more The Conservatives won 208 seats, the than any other single issue, the question of largest majority in Canadian history. The nuclear weapons became very important. Social Credit Party did not take one seat, The roots of the issue went back to 1957 while the CCF had elected only eight when NATO decided to stockpile American members. nuclear weapons for the use of its forces (including Canadian troops) in Europe. In The Climb Back to Power 1958, the Diefenbaker government decided Lester B. Pearson immediately committed to abandon the projected construction of the

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Avro Arrow aircraft and to replace it with the desires of the French and English Canadian Bomarc B missile which was to be equipped communities. In the fall of 1963, the with a nuclear warhead. A crisis of indecision government set up the Royal Commission on arose when the time came to furnish the Bilingualism and Biculturalism “to warheads without which the Bomarc was recommend what steps should be taken to nothing but an expensive blank cartridge. develop the on the basis of an equal partnership between the Badly split over the nuclear armament two founding races.” Upon the question, the Conservatives emerged from recommendation of the B and B Commission, the 1962 election with their power the Liberal government began an extensive considerably reduced; dropping from 208 program to promote bilingualism in the civil seats to 116 seats. The Liberal Opposition, service. winning 99 seats, doubled their strength. The Social Credit and the NDP greatly increased In order to counter growing dissension and their support with 30 and 19 seats to strengthen national unity, the Liberal respectively. Only the imbalance in rural government formulated the policy of co- representation allowed John Diefenbaker to operative federalism. This has been defined carry on his government in a minority as cooperation between Ottawa and the position for a few more months. provinces at three levels: pre-consultation in the formulation of federal policies, In 1962, Lester B. Pearson decided that collaboration in the drafting of these policies, Canada’s commitment to NATO must be and coordination in their implementation. Co- honoured, and took a stand in favour of operative federalism harmonized federal and nuclear warheads when and if necessary. provincial initiatives, particularly in the area of social welfare legislation and shared-cost After a campaign based on the promise programs. “Sixty Days of Decision”, the Liberal Party emerged victorious from the April 1963 Pearson’s decision to give Canada a new election but did not win a majority. This was, flag was perhaps the most dramatic in part, due to the unexpected rise in contribution he made to the country as Prime popularity of Réal Caouette’s Créditiste Minister. He was convinced of the need for a movement, which received considerable distinctive flag to assert . support in Quebec. The standings were: The long, difficult struggle over the flag issue Liberals 129, Progressive Conservatives 95, immobilized Parliament for almost six NDP 17 and Social Credit 24. months in 1964. However, on February 15, 1965, the red maple leaf on its red and white banner became the official . Pearson realized on taking office that the The Search for a Majority survival of Confederation depended to a In September 1965, after two and a half great extent on his success in reconciling the years of minority government, Prime Minister

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Pearson dissolved Parliament and sought a manpower placement and retraining majority mandate. The Conservatives programs, and greatly increased financial aid claimed that the election was unnecessary, to the provinces. and the Canadian people, faced with the third election in four years, agreed. Although In , the first Federal-Provincial the Liberals were victorious in the November Conference on the Constitution was held in 8 election, and increased their standing from Ottawa. Pierre Elliott Trudeau, then Minister 129 to 131 seats, they were again denied a of Justice, introduced a Bill of Rights, to be majority. The Tories won 97 seats, an entrenched in the Act increase of two seats over the previous which, if accepted, would have precedence election. over statutes of the federal government and of the provincial legislatures. The Bill of Disappointed but undeterred, the Pearson Rights was of particular importance in that it government rededicated itself to the tasks of would guarantee the protection of the unity and progress; and the Party renewed language rights of French-speaking its efforts to fashion a program and a throughout Canada. philosophy that would merit the confidence of Canadians in all parts of the country. The Trudeau Years On December 14, 1967, Lester B. Pearson It was in this spirit that the Party held its announced his intention to retire as leader of conference in October 1966. the Party. A national This was the first occasion a national party to be held in Ottawa was called for April 4, 5 had held such a policy conference while in and 6, 1968. The choice of Pierre Elliott office. It established a complete legislative Trudeau marked the dawning of a new era program endorsing principles as broad as and a new style in Canadian politics. At the accountability and universal accessibility to convention, he expressed his definition of education. Liberalism as follows:

Although the Pearson government was “Liberalism is the philosophy for our time, accused of inaction or of maintaining the because it does not try to conserve every status quo rather than moving forward, it of the past, because it does not implemented an impressive list of reforms. A apply to new problems the old doctrinaire strong basic structure of social security and solutions, because it is prepared to welfare was established including the Old experiment and innovate and because it Age Security Act, the , knows that the past is less important than the Guaranteed Income Supplement, the the future.” Canada Assistance Plan, and the Medical Care Act. Other significant legislative On April 23, 1968, Parliament was dissolved measures provided the reorganization and and a general election was called for June unification of the Armed Forces, new 25. In the ensuing campaign, Trudeau’s

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vision of Canada and of the “” decision makers in government and party spread contagiously across the country. The workers and supporters in the combination of Trudeau’s image as a man of constituencies. Some 2,000 delegates were reason and his unprecedented charismatic involved in mapping out the Liberal Party’s effect on people swept the Liberal Party back goals for the 1970s. to power with 155 seats. His concern for social justice and his intellectual capacity The outstanding characteristic of Prime captured the imagination and admiration of Minister Trudeau’s first term in office was the entire country. In this first general change and innovation. Many of these election for new leader Robert changes involved governmental and (elected leader at the Progressive parliamentary processes in an attempt to Conservative leadership convention in make them speedier, more methodical, and September 1967), the Conservatives won 72 less vulnerable to unexpected pressures or seats. The NDP won 22 seats while the events. Créditistes took 14 seats. Many other of the Prime Minister’s policies Immediately after the election, Prime were also highly visible. Among these were Minister Trudeau set about the measures taken to strengthen national unity, implementation of the “Just Society”. For the which concerned Mr. Trudeau deeply. first time, the sophisticated techniques of Parliament approved an Official Languages modern management became evident in Act, a policy of was government planning. New priorities were developed, and the Department of Regional established and old programs reviewed. A Economic Expansion was established to lead massive reorganization of government the fight against regional disparities within created new departments to respond to the the country. In the pursuit of greater social problems of the 1970s: Environment, Urban justice in Canada, important advancements Affairs, Science and Technology, and were made for native peoples, for women, Communications. for those with low and fixed incomes, and in the area of law reform. At the same time, the Liberal Party underwent considerable reorganization. The In world affairs, the recognition of the Party completed the most elaborate policy People’s Republic of China, the improvement process in Canadian history, beginning with in relations with the USSR, Mr. Trudeau’s a “thinkers” conference at Harrison Hot instrumental role at the 1971 Commonwealth Springs in British Columbia in 1969, and Conference in preventing the breakup of that culminating in a major policy convention in important body, and the extension of Ottawa in November 1970. The convention jurisdiction over the Arctic to control brought together interested people from pollution, illustrated the government’s desire across the country and made possible a that Canada play an active international role wide-ranging exchange of views between as a mid-sized power.

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Commonwealth. Strong leadership and swift action in meeting two major crises also highlighted the term: The Liberal Party’s national convention, held the FLQ threat in October 1970 and the September 14, 15 and 16, 1973 in Ottawa, negative impact of the United States’ continued the policy process begun at the economic policies in the late fall of 1971. November 1970 convention. This convention covered a wide range of topics: industrial In the general election of October 30, 1972, and resource development, Canadian Canadians elected their fifth minority identity, agricultural economy and rural life, government since 1957: Liberals 109, transportation, work and social policy, and Progressive Conservatives 107, NDP 31 and fisheries and marine resources. Social Credit 15. Mr. Trudeau and his Approximately 2,500 delegates participated colleagues prepared to meet Parliament to in the convention, and 125 resolutions were seek the confidence of the House of adopted. Commons. On January 4, 1973, in the Speech from the Throne opening the 29th The Prime Minister’s historic visit to China in Parliament, the government outlined major October 1973 established a new level of initiatives in the areas of economic and understanding between the two nations and social policy. led to the later acceptance of China as a member of the United Nations by other One important initiative undertaken by the Western countries. Prime Minister during the 29th Parliament was the calling of the Western Economic The Second Trudeau Majority Opportunities Conference in July 1973 at In the House of Commons on May 8, 1974, . This conference was the first time a the combined opposition of the Progressive Prime Minister and Premiers from a specific Conservative and the New Democratic region had met to focus on problems of that parties defeated the minority Liberal region. It resulted in federal government government, on an NDP motion of non- commitments on transportation, resource confidence in the budget that had been development, prairie agriculture, and others, presented two days earlier. which were of great benefit to the western economy. A general election was called for July 8. Mr. Trudeau conducted a vigorous election In August, Canada was host to the 1973 campaign throughout the country and was Commonwealth Heads of Government returned at the head of a majority Liberal Meeting. All Commonwealth countries were government with 141 seats. Robert represented and Mr. Trudeau was warmly Stanfield’s Progressive Conservatives won praised for the positive tone and constructive 95 seats, the NDP 16 and the Social Credit approach of the meeting, which once again 11 seats. demonstrated the vitality and flexibility of the

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The 30th Parliament began sitting on investigation. September 30, 1974. The first two years were dominated by the battle against The government also presented a peace and inflation, which was running high in all security program in two Bills: one to abolish countries in the world. Of the several actions capital punishment and an omnibus bill taken, establishment of prices and incomes directed at crime prevention, both of which guidelines in October 1975, administered by were passed. a newly created Anti-Inflation Board, was the most visible and far reaching. The success A new Immigration Act – the first revision of the program could be seen in the drop of since 1952 – eliminated discrimination and the annual rate of inflation from 12 percent in promoted national economic, social and December 1974 to 6.5 percent in mid-1976. cultural goals. Phase-out of the controls program began in April 1978. A significant development in the participation of the public in government took place in the Other moves against inflation were taken, 30th Parliament: the televising of all the especially to increase the supply of goods proceedings of the House of Commons. A and services. Prime Minister Trudeau and first in the world, the Canadian experiment his government set out to help protect those has been highly successful in increasing particularly hard hit by inflation, and this awareness of and interest in the public involved wider participation in the Canada affairs of the country. Pension Plan, introduction of the spouse’s allowance under the Old Age Security Act, During this period, energy supply and prices increased and extended benefits to veterans became a concern of all Canadians. In 1975, and their families, and the new Registered the Trudeau government created Canada’s Retirement Savings Plan. national oil company, Petro Canada, to give each and every Canadian a stake in their The Liberal government also undertook energy future. Energy conservation was measures to ease the unemployment given a high priority with the introduction of situation in Canada. These included the such measures as the Canadian Home Canada Works scheme, the Young Canada Insulation Program. The Trudeau Works Program, and the Employment Tax government was also responsible for Credit Program. legislation creating the Northern Pipeline Agency, and the groundwork was laid for a A new Human Rights Act afforded Canadians massive gas pipeline. greater protection against discrimination. Under this legislation, a Human Rights Commission was established and a Privacy Internationally, Canada played a particularly Commissioner appointed to perform an effective role in working to bring about ombudsman-type role with wide powers of economic stability, both at the Conference

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on International Economic Cooperation and encourage public efforts to foster unity, and at economic summit conferences. to advise the government on national unity issues. In September 1977, Mr. Trudeau During the Seventies, Canada along with created a new Ministry of Federal-Provincial most countries in the world, had to face Relations. In November and December 1977, serious economic problems. The escalating he traveled across Canada to discuss costs for energy, the massive shift of national unity and constitutional change with financial resources to the oil-producing all the provincial premiers. countries, the instability and wild fluctuation of currencies, the emergence of newly The Speech from the Throne on October 11, industrialized countries in the Third World, 1978 reflected the government’s two main the changes in the pattern of population concerns: strengthening of the economy and growth and structure of the work force, all renewal of the Canadian federation. contributed to unstable global economic conditions. These conditions were generally Major Policy Meetings characterized by spiraling inflation, coupled During this period, the Liberal Party with economic stagnation and high organized three national meetings. In unemployment. November 1975, the Party held its tenth national convention. Delegates from across In July 1978, Mr. Trudeau met with other the country met in Ottawa to discuss policies Western leaders at the Bonn Summit in West and issues of importance to the future of the Germany to work out solutions to and to the future of Canada. The economic problems. emphasis was on individual participation under the theme “The Canada that I want to To meet the commitments made at Bonn and build”. During five major sessions and 10 to answer Canada’s immediate problems, the workshops, the delegates participated in Liberal government introduced an eight-point discussions related to four main themes; program designed to get Canada’s economy political action, Canada and other countries, growing, and to deal with high unemployment growth, and the individual in society. and inflation. Three important measures were: a $20 a month per household increase On March 24-27, 1977, the Liberal Party in the old age pension supplement, a $200 organized a policy workshop in . child tax credit, and increased resources for Over 500 Liberals attended. The workshop industrial development. provided an open forum for people from all parts of Canada to debate and discuss the issues facing Canada in the future. In November 1976, the province of Quebec The participants then returned to their elected its first separatist government. The ridings for further meetings and regional Prime Minister established a Task Force on interchanges, aided by discussion papers on Canadian Unity to hear Canadian’s views, to the four main theme areas planned for the

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next biennial convention – strategies for the nine months of Tory government. An election economy, social programs, rights and was set for February 18, 1980. , and unity. On November 21, 1979, just weeks before The Liberal Party held its national the defeat of the Tory government, Pierre convention in Ottawa on February 24 - 26, Trudeau had announced that he was 1978, with over 3,500 participants in stepping down as leader of the Liberal Party attendance. The delegates received a record and had asked the Party to call a Leadership number of resolutions for discussion and Convention. With the announced election, approval. These resolutions covered the the National Liberal Caucus and the Liberal major issues of vital interest to all Party appealed to him to continue as leader. Canadians, but with the economy and unity Mr. Trudeau accepted the draft to continue dominating. as leader.

Canadians Face Two Elections The Tories’ broken promises, their image of In March 1979, Parliament was dissolved bad government, and their budget, all and an election was called for May 22, 1979. combined to defeat them. On February 18, Redistribution had increased the number of 1980, Canadians elected a majority Liberal seats in the House of Commons to 282. government – the third for After 16 years of Liberal government, since 1968 – 146 seats out of 281 (A Canadians elected a minority Progressive deferred election gave the Liberals another Conservative government. The seat, for a total of 147). The Tories held 103 Conservatives had a new leader – , seats and the New 32. chosen at his party’s national convention in With a strong and energetic cabinet and February 1976 – and 136 members. The revitalized caucus, Mr. Trudeau prepared to Liberals elected 114 members, the NDP 26 lead Canada into the 1980s. and the Social Credit 6. Soon after winning the 1980 election, Liberal In the months that followed, Liberals moved Party members gathered once again in to strengthen the Party across the country national convention. The first to be held and to carry out their role as an effective and outside of Ottawa, the convention took place strong Opposition in the House of Commons. in , July 4 - 6, 1980. A Discussion Paper, which attempted to set out in one The government of Joe Clark survived less document a statement of Liberal Party than one year. On December 13, 1979, it history, purposes and policy principles, was was defeated in a vote of non-confidence. presented to the delegates for debate. Just two days earlier, the Tories had brought Resolutions were limited to each provincial down a budget that was unacceptable to and territorial association presenting three Liberals. The combined opposition of the resolutions considered to be of top priority Liberal and New Democratic parties ended for that province, with the Women and Youth

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Commissions presenting one resolution session, “four in particular have transformed each. The Discussion Paper, with Canada”. amendments by the convention, was referred to the Policy Committee for study and Following the rejection of sovereignty- reporting to the next convention which was association by Quebecers in a referendum, held November 5 - 7, 1982 in Ottawa. the federal Liberal government initiated the process of federal renewal through A new Policy Committee had convened a of the Canadian Constitution with an conference of 100 Liberals in June 1981 amending formula and an entrenched (called the Carleton Conference), to identify Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Due largely the major themes for the convention. A total to the efforts of Prime Minister Trudeau, over of 73 resolutions were passed at the many years, Canada became a fully convention covering economic development; independent nation in April 1982, and the resource development; expansion of new Constitution formally guaranteed every employment; social policy reforms; citizen certain basic rights and freedoms. parliamentary electoral and government reforms; and Party reform. This guarantee was to be strengthened when Parliament adopted, in 1983, a resolution In response to a question put by the Policy urging the Manitoba government to fulfill the Committee, the 1982 convention also constitutional obligations and protect the decided that the 1980 Discussion Paper rights of the French-speaking minority in that should not be the single document stating province. Liberal principles and policies, and that the resolutions process should continue as the Another major accomplishment of the primary basis of policy formulation in the government was the setting up of a National Party. Energy Program in 1980 to provide a comprehensive set of measures to achieve Government Achievements security of supply, greater Canadian On April 14, 1980, Pierre Elliott Trudeau ownership and participation, and fairness to returned to the House of Commons as Prime the consumer in developing our petroleum Minister. The first session of the 32nd potential. Parliament lasted until November 30, 1983; a record 588 days – the longest and most During the early 1980s, Canada was caught productive session in Canadian in the grips of a severe global economic parliamentary history. More than 200 pieces recession. The Liberal government of legislation were introduced and over 150 responded with the introduction of the 6 & 5 of these were proclaimed into law. Many program to protect Canadians as much as major initiatives were launched by the possible from international recession and Liberal government and in the words of the domestic inflation. This program, limiting Speech from the Throne closing the first incomes and prices to six percent and five

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percent over two years, was reinforced by initiative for arms control and disarmament. widespread voluntary adoption by the private The Prime Minister’s efforts focused world sector and the provinces. attention on renewing dialogue on these issues – a major victory for Mr. Trudeau and To further fight the effects of inflation on for Canada, which won him the Albert Canadians, the government-assisted Einstein Peace Award. homeowners with grants of up to $3,000. Special measures were enacted to assist The Turner Years farmers, fishermen and small businesses. After serving as Liberal Party leader for over The childcare expense deduction was 15 years. Pierre Elliott Trudeau announced doubled to $2,000 per child. And training and his intention to retire on February 29, 1984. employment programs for Canada’s young A national leadership convention was called unemployed were launched. for June 14, 15 and 16, 1984. More than 3,400 delegates gathered in Ottawa; and on The fourth major highlight of the the second ballot on June 16, John Napier parliamentary session was the passage, in Turner was elected leader of the Liberal late 1983, of the Western Grain Party. Two weeks later, on June 30, he was Transportation Act, replacing the outdated sworn in as Canada’s Prime Minister. Crow’s Nest Pass freight rate with a more equitable system. The development of a On July 9, Parliament was dissolved and more modern and efficient rail system in Canadians went to the polls on September 4, resulted in stimulating 1984. The Canadian voter had a choice of billions of dollars in direct investment by the two new leaders: Prime Minister John Turner railways and creating thousands of new jobs. and , whom the Progressive Conservative Party had chosen at its The Liberal government proved to be leadership convention in June 1983. As well, innovative on several other fronts. The first the Liberal Party had held continuous power woman Speaker of the House of Commons since 1963 – over 21 years – except for the and first woman justice on the Supreme short-lived Conservative government of Joe Court of Canada were appointed. O Canada Clark in 1979. As the campaign wore on, it became the official national anthem. The became apparent that the Liberals were government also took steps to strengthen the facing an electorate again bent on change. system in this country. On September 4, 1984, Canadians elected a Canada’s foreign policy took on special majority Progressive Conservative importance when Prime Minister Trudeau government. In the new Parliament were 211 outlined a bold plan to ease East-West Conservatives, 40 Liberals, 30 New tensions through political rather than military Democrats and 1 Independent. initiatives. Mr. Trudeau met with many world leaders to seek support for his peace Although the election results were

20 Liberal Party of Canada - HISTORY

devastating to Liberals, the Leader, the universality of Canada’s social programs; National Federal Caucus and Party members programs successive Liberal governments across the country quickly took up the had put in place. Strong opposition in the challenge and opportunity to renew and House of Commons, and in the country at modernize the Party. The 1982 National large, forced the government to back down in Convention resolution 40 on Party reform 1985. had resulted in the establishment of the President’s Committee on Reform of the The Liberal Caucus held the government to Liberal Party, with a mandate to consult account on a wide range of issues, including Party members broadly and to recommend a series of scandals that saw the wide-reaching reforms on the structure, resignations of several Cabinet Ministers. organization and practices of the Party. This democratic reform process had been After repeated promises not to raise taxes, interrupted with the leadership convention the government increased the tax load on and election during 1984, but was taken up low and middle income Canadians and with vigor again in 1985. As John Turner had decreased it for the wealthy and large said at the leadership convention: “For corporations, eventually bringing in the 7% Liberals across Canada, it is the beginning Goods and Services Tax which took effect in of an era of reform and renewal.” January 1991. The government also reduced support for social programs and regional Opposition 1984 development funding, withdrawing With only ten more seats than the New completely the federal contribution to the Democratic Party in the House of Commons, Unemployment Insurance Program, bringing there were dire predictions from ‘pundits’ and in the “clawback” on old age , observers that this was the last chapter of refusing to honour promises on child care the long history of the Liberal Party in and worker retraining, among others. Canada. John Turner and his Caucus colleagues set out to prove them wrong. Liberals in the House of Commons and in the Senate opposed these regressive policies Liberals had not faced an extended period in vigorously. Liberals across Canada helped Opposition since the Diefenbaker sweep of sustain and encourage the Parliamentary 1958. Traditional opposition skills had to be opposition with well-considered and relearned and new strategies created in compelling debate and discussion at several order to respond as the official Opposition to policy conventions. the right-wing agenda of the Mulroney government. Party Renewal and Rebuilding The first major confrontation with the In November of 1985, under the guidance of government came over their proposal to de- Party President , Liberals index old age pensions. Liberals led the fight gathered at the Reform Conference in against this challenge to the principle of Halifax. They proposed a number of changes

21 Liberal Party of Canada - HISTORY

to the Party Constitution designed to update was the Conservative government’s trade and modernize the Party, and encourage deal with the United States, which was more active participation by women, young actively opposed by the majority of Liberals. people, aboriginal Canadians as well as a John Turner asked Liberal Senators to delay representation that better reflected the passage of the deal until the people of multicultural nature of the country. Many of Canada had the chance to vote on this these and other proposals were brought to complex new arrangement. Among the the 1986 Policy Convention in Ottawa and problems with the deal pointed out by were endorsed by delegates from across Liberals was the gradual reduction of Canada. Included among them was the Canadian sovereignty and control over our adoption in principle of a resolution own economic and social policies, the supporting the creation of an Aboriginal negative impact of the deal on farmers, Peoples’ Commission. The Convention also fishermen and several other groups, the responded to the automatic leadership inadequacy of support programs for those review question by giving John Turner a adversely affected and a number of other strong vote of support. concerns including the agreement of the government to lengthy negotiations with the After the 1986 Convention, the Leader called Americans over the definition of “subsidies”. for a series of Canada Conferences to bring together Liberals and experts in various Constitutional Change fields. Over 450 people participated in the In 1987, the federal government and the ten three conferences held in late 1987 and provincial governments signed the Meech early 1988. The conference themes were: Lake Accord to amend the Constitution. Building the Canadian Economy: the agenda Following debate and discussion within the for the ; Building the Canadian Party, and the presentation of Liberal Society: family and social values for a amendments, the majority of Caucus maturing nation; and Building the Canadian Members supported the initiative to bring Nation: sovereignty and foreign policy in the Quebec back to the negotiating table. The 1990s. deal was later to fall through, not receiving unanimous provincial support following the These discussions, the 1985 and 1986 three-year confirmation period. Both the Convention resolutions, a 1988 conference rigidity of the process and the unwillingness on aboriginal and human rights issues and of the Mulroney government to consider any other meetings and discussions among changes were sighted as the major reasons for its demise. Liberals led to the production of the 40 point Campaign 1988 platform for the 1988 election. Although the dominant issue of the campaign was the trade deal, the Liberal Party’s 40- The Canada-U. S. Trade Deal point platform also included commitments to The focus of the 1988 election, however, fair taxation, child care, housing, the

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environment, and a number of other progressive measures. John Turner’s spirited One of the first things the new leader did performance during the campaign, was launch an active campaign to revamp particularly in the debates with the other two the organization of the party and to renew party leaders, won the praise and admiration fundraising efforts in order to put the Party of Canadians. The election results were on an election readiness footing. The Leader disappointing for Liberals, however the also rearranged the “shadow cabinet”, disappointment was alleviated somewhat by allocating new responsibilities to Liberal the fact that Liberal representation in the Critics. House of Commons doubled, the NDP had not made substantial gains, and the On December 10, 1990, Jean Chrétien was government’s majority was reduced. The elected in a by-election in Beauséjour, New final result was Liberals 83, Conservatives Brunswick, and joined his Caucus colleagues 169 and NDP 43. in the House of Commons. He was sworn in as Leader of the Opposition on December 1990 Calgary Leadership Convention 20, 1990. The new leader quickly took steps On May 3, 1989, John Turner announced to speak out for national unity on behalf of that he was stepping down as Leader of the the Liberal Party. Appearing before the Party. A Leadership Convention was called Bélanger-Campeau Commission on the for Calgary in June of 1990. future of the province just days after the by- was named Leader of the election, Mr. Chrétien said: Opposition in the House of Commons on “A careful weighing of the evidence February 7, 1990 and served until the new inevitably leads us to the conclusion that the leader was sworn in in December of that accomplishments that have made us one of year. In the period leading up to the the most advanced societies in the world convention, six Leadership Forums were deserve to be protected.” conducted across Canada to give candidates the opportunity to explain their approach to Reform Commission issues, and to listen to the concerns of A mandate to study and bring forward Liberals in every region. proposed amendments to the Party’s Nearly 5,000 delegates converged on Constitution was given to the Reform Calgary, not only to elect a new leader, but Commission by the 1990 Liberal Leadership to vote on a new national executive, and a Convention in Calgary. The Reform number of changes to the Party’s Commission was specifically asked to make constitution. Hosted by outgoing President recommendations on the method of universal Michel Robert and Ethel Blondin, the suffrage to be employed in the election of Member of Parliament for the Western Arctic, the next Liberal leader, the establishment of the convention chose the Honourable Don a permanent electoral commission, Party Johnston as its new President, and the finances, the structure of the Party, its Honourable Jean Chrétien as its new Leader. membership and any other proposals that

23 Liberal Party of Canada - HISTORY

would enhance , accessibility, formulation of the National Campaign accountability and equity within the Party. Committee and the National Platform Recommendations in the Commission’s final Committee. report entitled “Road Map to Reform” were used as the draft constitutional amendments 1993 Election document at the 1992 Constitutional In February 1992, the Liberal Party’s Convention that was held in Hull, Quebec on Biennial Convention, bringing together February 20 - 21. thousands of Liberals from across Canada, passed a series of resolutions setting out Aylmer Conference objectives for a new Liberal government. Shortly after being elected, Mr. Chrétien Throughout 1992 and the first half of 1993, asked the Liberal Party of Canada to the Party’s Platform Committee, co-chaired convene a conference to discuss and debate by and Chaviva Hosek, built on Canada’s place in a world that was changing the work of 1990 and 1991 and traveled dramatically, structurally as well as across Canada, meeting and listening to internationally. The objective was to bring thousands of Canadians. This consultation together experts from Canada and abroad to resulted in the formulation of “Creating discuss the implications of this globalization Opportunity: The Liberal Plan for Canada”. and government’s role in the economy, the Released during the election campaign, the environment, health care, and science and Red Book, as it became known, is based on technology. an integrated and coherent approach to economic, social, environmental and foreign Held from November 22 - 24, 1991, the policy. conference was a resounding success. It brought together 200 participants from On October 25, 1993, the Liberal Party of industry, the volunteer sector, interest Canada won 177 seats, the only political groups and learning institutions to discuss party to elect Members of Parliament in major issues facing our nation as it enters every province of the country. Jean Chrétien the 21st century and, in particular, the was sworn in as Canada’s 20th Prime challenge of governing in this new era. Minister November 4, 1993.

The Aylmer Conference marked the revival 1996 Biennial Convention: Three Years of of a Liberal Party tradition of “ideas Liberal Government conferences” established by the Port Hope Creating Opportunity, better known as the Conference of 1933 and the Kingston Red Book, was the centrepiece of the 1993 Conference of 1960. It also marked a key election campaign. For the first time, a step in the Liberal Party pre-election plan, political party made a detailed, written which included the Party’s National statement of how it intended to govern. Constitutional Convention and Biennial Convention in February 1992 and the At the Party’s 1996 Biennial Convention, the

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Right Honourable Jean Chrétien broke new grandiose schemes or make grand gestures. political ground by unveiling “A Record of Instead, he offered Canadians a practical Achievement”, a detailed 120-page account and workable plan. The Party’s platform of how his government kept an incredible document “Securing Our Future Together” 78% of Red Book commitments, only three was a plan that built on the solid and stable years into a five-year mandate. foundations that had been laid over the past four years; a plan that proposed feasible From broad, big-picture commitments, such measures for moving forward together and as getting Canada’s fiscal house in order expanding opportunity for all Canadians in and creating a climate for job creation, to order to advance with confidence and very specific commitments, such as restoring success into the next century. funding for literacy programs or the creation of a prenatal nutrition program, “A Record of The 1997 election also saw a record number Achievement” gives an honest accounting of of women candidates run for Parliament. the government’s record since its election in The Prime Minister had announced that the 1993. Party would have at least 75 women candidates. By the time nominations closed, Election 1997: Liberals Win 155 Seats, 84 Liberal women would carry the Liberal Second Straight Majority banner, 37 of them successful in their bid to On June 2, Liberals across the country become a Member of Parliament. celebrated as the Chrétien government won its second straight majority, the first time With the results of the election producing since Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent won five official parties in the House of back to back victories in 1953. With Commons, the 36th Parliament promised to Members of Parliament elected in every be an interesting mix of diversity and region of the country, the Liberal Party of politics. Canada was still the only Party who could claim to be a truly national political party. 1998 Biennial Convention Over 2500 delegates from across Canada When the Prime Minister called the election met in Ottawa in March 1998 for the Biennial April 28 for the beginning of June, he knew Convention. They gave their Leader a that Canadians would look at their options 90.19% approval rating, a ringing and decide what kind of country they endorsement from the Party rank and file. In his closing remarks on Sunday afternoon, wanted, for themselves and for their the PM emphasized his government’s children. achievements in the areas of tax reduction, helping young Canadians build their lives, Throughout the campaign, Jean Chrétien making major investments in our national offered his vision of Canada to the Canadian health care system, and helping re-connect public. His approach was not to promise Canadians with their government and with

25 Liberal Party of Canada - HISTORY

each other. in 1972 and a second majority in July 1974. Announcing his intention to resign after the Biennial Convention 2000 1979 election defeat, Mr. Trudeau returned Held in March in Ottawa, over 2,800 to fight the February 1980 election, winning delegates saw Prime Minister Jean Chrétien a third . Having served deliver his main address – a passionate as Prime Minister for more than 15 years, he vision of the Liberal Party of Canada - the was responsible for the Official Languages only party with a national vision. Invoking the Act, lead MPs in a free vote abolishing the names of great Liberal leaders of the past, death penalty, became the first Prime the Prime Minister recalled the Minister to address the U.S. Congress and accomplishments of Laurier, King, St. appointed Bertha Wilson and Jeanne Sauvé Laurent, Pearson and Trudeau. “The Liberal as the first woman to sit on the Supreme Party is a party that builds bridges,” he said. Court of Canada and the first woman “A party that is open to new ideas … that Governor-General respectively. For many unites rather than divides.” Several times Canadians, his greatest achievements were the packed house erupted with applause and the repatriation of the Constitution, giving ovations. Many came during his attack on Canada full legal independence from Great the values of Liberal Party opponents. Britain, and the entrenchment of the “Canadians do not want a right wing party in Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. this country. They do not want a party that does not support a women’s right to choose His vision was of a mature and confident … that supports the National Rifle Canada shaping its own destiny, tied Association against gun control.” Having together by a common citizenship based on drawn the line between the values of shared rights and mutual responsibility; a Liberals and those of the right, the Prime bilingual Canada in which citizens could Minister promised ground would not be lost enjoy and benefit from its rich French and after the gains of the first two mandates. “We English heritage; a country respectful of the will not let them erode medicare through special place of aboriginal people; a multi- creeping privatization,” he said. “That will not cultural Canada, open to the world and fully happen under the watch of the Liberal Party seized of its global responsibilities; and a of Canada, under the watch of Jean just Canada in which opportunity is truly Chrétien!” equal.

Trudeau’s death Election 2000 - A Third Consecutive On September 28, 2000, Pierre Elliott Majority Trudeau died of prostate cancer in his On October 22, 2000 Prime Minister and residence. Sworn in as Canada's leader of the Liberal Party of Canada Jean 15th Prime Minister on April 20, 1968, he Chrétien called an election by saying that formed his first majority government in June Canadians had a clear choice. And on of that year. He won a minority government November 27, 2000 the people of Canada

26 Liberal Party of Canada - HISTORY

made a clear choice and elected the Liberal Party of Canada with a third consecutive majority mandate. The Party increased its majority by 17 seats over the 1997 election (172 vs. 155) and our percentage of the popular vote (40.8% vs. 38%) And for the first time since 1980, the Liberal Party won a plurality of the votes in Quebec (44% to 39.9% for the BQ)

The platform – Opportunity for All – outlined a plan that would ensure a brighter future for all Canadians. Canadians chose a Liberal Plan that was moderate and balanced – striking the right balance in terms of paying down the debt, cutting taxes fairly, investing in health care, research and innovation, families and children and the environment. With the Speech from the Throne in January 2001, Canada’s Governor General, her Excellency, Adrienne Clarkson, announced to Canadians the direction the third Liberal majority government would take as the work of the 37th Parliament began. Building on the achievements of the last two Liberal mandates, the government focused efforts on ensuring that all share in the fruits of an economy with record low rates of unemployment, strong growth, and a workforce that is ready to meet the challenges of the global knowledge-based economy.

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