"We wish nothing more, but we will accept nothing less. Masters in our own house we must be, but our house is the whole of Canada."
Photo Credit: Warren Kinsella

As the first decade of the 21st century passes into its final year, most Canadians will continue to have much to be thankful for.

Our country is a nation rich in history, security, freedom and resources and remains one of the most culturally diverse on the face of the Earth.

For those of us who became politically conscious during the early 1970’s, few can refute the claim that a great deal of our current Canadian identity was forged by the indomitable figure of Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

For all his many critics, it is hard to deny that Trudeau left an indelible stamp on the rest of the world as to what it is to be Canadian.

He envisioned a country that was proud of its dual heritage, one that welcomed immigrants to become a part of the tapestry of this land, one that saw itself not as a global conqueror but rather as a global partner in the stewardship of this nation, our planet and all humankind.

Trudeau was unapologetic when denouncing what he saw as the raw imperialism of other nations, but was equally comfortable recognizing and reaffirming those traditions and values he understood to have meaning and purpose to those for whom they represent stability and strength.

In 1968, Pierre Trudeau rose to power by symbolizing the burgeoning hopes of a nation long relegated to the often smothering shadow cast by its dominant southern neighbour. He was young, intelligent, well educated, brilliantly articulate and physically vigorous, and enraptured the youth of the country with all the sex appeal and flamboyance of a rock star, something never before seen in Canadian politics, and certainly not seen since.

What is more, he was able to set the aspirations of Canadians from coast to coast to new heights which celebrated the unique world view that as a people, this nation was second to none; not by virtue of our sense of entitlement, but rather in large part because of our lack of it.

With his trademark rose and debonair, playboy manner, Pierre Trudeau was a true original who hit the then stuffy confines of Canadian politics like a proverbial bat out of hell, and was a renaissance man full of contradictions. An unabashed intellectual who was equally comfortable cursing as he was waxing poetic, he was also a single father of three young boys in the hedonistic 1970’s who famously dated Barbara Streisand, Bianca Jagger and Liona Boyd. He was a shrewd and brazen politician respected by everyone from the likes of Queen Elizabeth to John Lennon and was an avid outdoorsman. He was a student of history who embraced the future, and above all, he accepted the challenges of his time by understanding that his would be a fateful tenure.

"We peer so suspiciously at each other that we cannot see that we Canadians are standing on the mountaintop of human wealth, freedom and privilege." Photo Credit: The Coast

In his first acceptance speech, Trudeau eloquently spelled out the aspirations for his emerging nation; “Canada must be unified; Canada must be one; Canada must be progressive; and Canada must be a just society.”

Few will forget the hushed, expectant pride which filled living rooms across the country as citizens from coast to coast listened to the new and exciting voice which emerged that evening so long ago to speak on our behalf. Those words still cause many hearts to swell with emotion. So powerfully did they convey the ideals that all Canadians could look to with an honorable optimism still vital and relevant today.

Yet 40 years on, where among Canada’s political ranks is the leadership, the vision, the passion for which Pierre Trudeau remains internationally recognized? Where is the strength of character and force of will to direct this country rather than take direction, on issues ranging from the environment, economic realignment or international terrorism? Has there been a single personality to arise from the post-Trudeau era who has rallied the population of the land to accept the challenges of the 21st century, and to spearhead a uniquely Canadian approach to overcoming them?

The answer, all too sadly, has been no.

From Joe Clark to Brian Mulroney to Jean Chretien, Canadian Prime Ministers in the last 25 years have far too often seemed smaller than life, floundering as they were between ineffectual policies and insignificant achievements at best, or embroiled in political intrigue and scandal at worst.

In the years since Trudeau relinquished control in 1984, no one best exemplifies the lack of charismatic and audacious leadership of Canada better than the current Prime Minister, Stephen Harper.

Politically of course, Harper is on the other end of the scale; his roots in the Reform/Alliance movements from the Canadian West are diametrically opposed to those of Trudeau’s liberal Quebec grounding. Internationally, where Trudeau shone a light on Canada, Harper prefers to shun the limelight (his preference for performing Beatles’ songs notwithstanding); where Pierre refused to play bridesmaid to the United States, Harper actually seems to relish the role of flower girl.

With each passing year, Mr. Harper seems all too content to remain as politically unassuming as possible, fearing it seems, to upset the Americans at every turn. Whether it be the stewardship of the environment, the economy or issues of mutual security, there has been no attempt by his ruling Conservatives to take the lead or champion any policy that might so much as hint of Canada pursuing its own path, free of U.S. guidance or approval.

This is in stark contrast to Trudeau’s determination to establish Canada as a truly independent nation, free of influence from its geographic realities or empirical history.

Perhaps pollster Michael Adams said it best of Trudeau: “He represented the high mark of Canadian idealism, the last real coherent articulator of a Canadian vision of the country. Love him or hate him, we are all Trudeau’s children.”

The next decade looks to be pivotal for Canada if we are to realize Pierre Trudeau’s dream of a nation which can be an international player, capable and willing to usher in solutions to global issues without resorting to military intervention or economic penalties, a nation which can utilize diplomacy and innovation and not unilateral dictation.

Ever since the days of ‘Trudeaumania,’ this nation has been revered around the world as truly a just society. It’s now incumbent upon the next generation of Canadian Prime Ministers to ensure that this legacy not only remains intact, but is improved upon to maintain our image as the true north, strong and free.

Whomever they may be, Canada’s next Prime Ministers would indeed be fortunate to enjoy even a fraction of Pierre’s lustre.

We all would.

Related posts:

1. Is Michael Ignatieff The Next Pierre Trudeau Or The Next Adlai Stevenson? Clearly, one of the main reasons the Liberals recruited Michael...
2. On Leadership and Smear Campaigns With the Conservatives already planning their attack ads against Michael...
3. Good or EVIL! As an English Quebecer via BC and Ontario, I believe...
4. Stephen Harper Declines the Opportunity for Canadian Leadership on Climate Change at the Commonwealth Summit At the recently concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)...
5. In the Realm of Canadian Federal and Provincial Politics, it Does Appear to be True That Nice Guys Come in Last “Great men are almost always bad men.” - Lord Acton...

Tags: canada, leadership, pierre trudeau, prime minister

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 2nd, 2010 at 2:04 pm and is filed under Canada and the World, Our Country. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.