Pierre Elliot Trudeau was the fifteenth prime minister of Canada. He had many accomplishments that benefited all of Canada which include the official language act of Canada where he made French and English the official languages, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, and the liberalization of laws on abortion, homosexuality and the legalization of lotteries. These are only a few of the many accomplishments that Pierre Trudeau achieved for Canada while his position in Parliament that was important.
Pierre Trudeau first brought out the official language act of Canada in 1969. He presented the Canadian population with the beliefs that Canada should have two official languages, French and English. These would serve two purposes, one of them being to give civil servants the right to speak English or French at their place of employment and secondly it would also serve to protect a Francophone’s rights to speak their language of French anywhere in Canada.
This act also provides the services of federal departments and the Crown Corporation in both official languages which means that either the French politician does not have to learn English or the English politician does not have to learn French to be able to communicate with each other. Also Canadians are provided with the option of having their hearing or attending a hearing in the court system in either of the official language of their choice, parliament is obliged to publish laws in both official languages, and both languages will be regarded as equal and not one superior to the other.
Though the official language act is an accomplishment that Pierre Trudeau did for Canada another one that he has done is the entrenchment of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Pierre Trudeau brought the Canadian Charter of Right and Freedom to Canada in 1982. This charter contains the basic rules of the powers of the federal, provincial, and territorial governments.
The Charter protects important freedoms and rights of the human being by limiting the government’s ability to pass laws that are discriminatory to human rights. This charter means that everyone no matter what race, religion, sex, national origin, age or mental and physical abilities they have they are protected. The charter allows people to have basic human fundamental rights that most government rules and regulations were restricting before it came into act.
The freedom of speech, religion and to associate yourself with whoever you want are just some of those rights that are being offered with the entrenchment of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Finally the last achievements that Pierre Trudeau did that assisted in making Canada better are the legalization of laws on abortion, homosexuality and lotteries. In 1968 Pierre Trudeau liberalized laws on abortion, homosexuality and public lotteries.
Trudeau’s most famous quote came from the legalization of homosexuality and that quote is “there’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation”#. Trudeau views people’s lives as personal and their decision to have sexual intercourse, be in a relationship or marry whatever sex they prefer is their own decision and that is why this law is particularly a good one for the gay and lesbian population of Canada. Instead of being punished for liking the same sex they are now able to be with who they want to be with.
Pierre Trudeau also brought in the abortion law which allows women to have an abortion granted that they get permission from three doctors who say that the pregnancy will negatively affect them emotionally, physically or mentally. Trudeau also brought in the legalization of lotteries which allowed people to participate in buying lottery tickets and gambling. Other minor but crucial details in the Omnibus Bill is that it allowed police officers to administer breathalyser tests to any driver whom they suspect as driving under the influence, and also gun restriction rules on ownership.
In conclusion, the official language act, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, and the liberalization of laws on abortion, homosexuality and the legalization of lotteries are all achievements and accomplishments that Pierre Trudeau has brought upon Canada making it a better place. Without these contributions French might not be one of the official languages, the basic human right might not exist and homosexuality, abortion and gambling might still be illegal. For those reasons that is why Pierre Elliot Trudeau is one of the best and most influential Prime Ministers to date.
