COMPARING
COLD WAR
PRIME MINISTERS
Louis St. Laurent - 1948 - 1957
Leadership Style:
 “Uncle Louis”
 Kind, gentle and calm
person
 Disliked Communism
 Cold Warrior
 Entered politics late in life
 Business-like and efficient
Louis St. Laurent - 1948 - 1957
Prime Minister St. Laurent (on the far
right) at the breaking ground ceremony
for the St. Lawrence Seaway, August,
1955.
Achievements:
 Encouraged Newfoundland
to join Canada.
 Developed natural
resources.
 St. Lawrence Seaway,
Trans-Canada Highway, and
trans-Canada pipeline
 Promoted NATO
 Led Canada into the Korean
War
Louis St. Laurent - 1948 - 1957
Failures:
 American Investment grew
enormously.
 People believed Canada had
“sold out” to the Americans
allowing too much US
influence.
Louis St. Laurent - 1948 - 1957
Problems:
 Lacked political experience.
 Dealing with the post war
economic boom.
John Diefenbaker 1957-1963
Leadership Style
 “The Chief”
 A powerful and emotional
speaker.
 Champion for the underdog.
John Diefenbaker 1957-1963
Achievements:
 Pensions for the elderly,
disabled and war veterans
were raised.
 Aid given to the Maritime
and Prairie provinces.
 Developed the North and
created jobs.
 Passed the Canadian Bill of
Rights.
John Diefenbaker 1957-1963
Failures:
 Lost the trust of Canadians.
 Cancelled Avro Arrow
project
John Diefenbaker 1957-1963
Problems:
 Did not listen to anyone.
 His emotional style would
upset some Canadians.
 Had no clear plan on how to
govern Canada.
 Alienated members of his
own party.
 Poor relations with the U.S.
Lester Pearson 1963-1968
Leadership Style:
 A diplomat
 Not a flamboyant leader.
 Experienced in politics.
Lester Pearson 1963-1968
Achievements:
 Appointed the Royal
Commission on Bilingualism
and Biculturalism to improve
relations between French and
English Canadians.
 Tried to improve federalprovincial relations with
shared cost programs
 Introduced Canada Pension
Plan.
 Introduced Medicare.
 Introduced the flag in 1965.
Lester Pearson 1963-1968
Failures:
 English Canadians were
bitterly opposed to any
policies that seemed to
favour French Canadians
and weaken the Federal
government.
Lester Pearson 1963-1968
Problems:
 Pearson had a difficult time keeping strong ties with English
Canadians.
Pierre Elliot Trudeau 1968 – 1979, 1980 - 1984
Leadership Style:
 “Trudeaumania”
 “Rock Star”
 Young, athletic and wealthy
bachelor
 Brilliant scholar and lawyer.
 World traveler
 Charismatic and media
savvy
 Adaptable and tough
Pierre Elliot Trudeau 1968 – 1979, 1980 - 1984
Achievements:
 Promoted a Just Society
 Made many young Canadians
interested in politics.
 Believed in a strong federal
government.
 Introduced bilingualism
(Official Languages Act)
 Improved benefits for the poor
and elderly.
 Kept energy prices down.
 Fought American investment.
 Patriated the Constitution.
Pierre Elliot Trudeau 1968 – 1979, 1980 - 1984
Failures:
 Trudeau’s centralist views
alienated the West and
Quebec who wanted more
power to go to the
provinces.
Pierre Elliot Trudeau 1968 – 1979, 1980 - 1984
Problems:
 Did not care about the opposition and fought for his vision of
Canada