Pierre Elliott Trudeau

(Liberal)
April 20, 1968 - June 3, 1979
March 3, 1980 - June 29, 1984

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Pierre Elliott Trudeau (Liberal Party of Canada) was Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968, to June 3, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980, to June 29, 1984. Major events during his terms include the creation of the Official Languages Act in 1969, the enactment of the War Measures Act during the FLQ-October Crisis in 1970, the creation of the Canadian Charter of  Rights and Freedoms in 1982 and legal independence from Britain with the signing of the Constitution Act of 1982. He was the first Prime Minister in Canadian history to appoint women to the positions of Speaker of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Commons and Governor General. Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau was Canada’s Minister of Justice from 1967 to 1968 and, between his terms as Prime Minister, he was Leader of the Opposition from 1979 to 1980. Mr. Trudeau was first elected to the House of Commons in 1965; before entering public life he practised law. He was born on October 18, 1919, and died on September 28, 2000, in Montreal, Quebec.

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