In your opinion, who is the greatest prime minister of Canada?

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Imaka

Pierre Trudeau. He was a statesman as well as a politician. He was someone to look up to and be proud of.

He reformed the Criminal Code of Canada, pursuing his aim to create a "just society" in Canada. He promoted bilingualism and a pluralistic society, creating the Official Languages Act, which served the dual purpose of giving civil servants the choice to speak in English or French at work and protecting Francophones' rights to speak French anywhere in Canada. Trudeau worked closely with the NDP to create popular social programs.

In 1980 Trudeau swayed the public's vote to "No," and when the referendum about Quebec separation took place, 60 per cent of Canadians were against separatism. He was instrumental in repatriating the Canadian Constitution and including a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. When Queen Elizabeth II came to Canada on April 17, 1982 to proclaim Canada's new Constitution, it was the crowning moment for Trudeau.

In his final years as prime minister, Trudeau devoted his energies to global matters, launching his own peace initiative in 1983. He paid personal visits to leaders worldwide, urging them to reduce their production of nuclear weapons.

Even after he left public life he was not forgotten and Canadians continued to listen intently whenever he spoke publicly on an issue. Whether they loved or hated him, Canadians never grew tired of watching Pierre.

For many Canadians he will always be our "PET" - Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

Ajidamoon

I can't say that I can narrow it down to one, as there have been many Prime Ministers who have helped shape the face of this great country, some in the smallest of ways.
Roney:
*I am also glad Canadians are not americans.......who would ever want to be american? Land of the free, my ***.

Scott

I have only been alive for Jean Chetien, Paul Martin (who could forget him) and Stephen Harper (current)

I like Harper, not all of policies nor for what he stands for but he has made some wonderful changes that have really affected a lot of people in Canada, for the better.

spencerthiessen

Before an answer can be given, one must understand the criteria for "great"ness. If you are a person who considers valor on a battlefield to be the measure of greatness, you will find (comparatively) little of it in Canadian prime minister's history.

If you instead look at the men themselves, and whether you would consider them to be men who have set themselves apart from others of their times by taking on the challenges of leading a nation at peace, then there is greatness in many.

And finally, if you consider the men who led the country during it's greatest conflicts to be proprietors of greatness, then they are very few, and easy to look up. I would say that what you will find there would be less than inspiring.

Having said this, there is still most certainly greatness in our history, and in our country. We are one of few nations recognized worldwide for our efforts toward peace, and also one of few that attempt to preserve the culture of our citizens, in order to serve what I would call a grand experiment in unity. I personally consider this to be a great thing for the global community to be allowed to examine. My personal patriotic feelings aside, I will answer your question.

Sir John A. MacDonald should most likely be given this honor, being that he was quite literally the "father" of this country. If one is to examine the challenges of founding a nation out of such cultural diversity, incredibly large land mass, and people of such differing political interests, there can be no greater leader in Canadian history. What he accomplished is beyond most people's comprehension.

Pierre Trudeau stands distinguished from the others in that under his tenure, the power or Great Britain was significantly diminished in Canada's courts. He is the most recognizable prime minister Canada has had, although it is often for behaviour unbecoming a prime minister. I hesitate to label him the "greatest", however he was one of the longest serving.

Most other notable prime ministers (Wilfred Laurier, Mackenzie King, and Trudeau included) have managed to fall prey to large scale criticism of their leadership, as is common in such a diverse population. This tends to have tempered any form of "greatness". It is true that we have had great leaders, but such a country would have a hard time recognizing them.

countpetez

Lester B. Pearson...Trudeau the absolute worst, and Harper could become a very good one.

Lydia

Trudeau was. Period. And I'm not a Liberal.

u r dumb

Pierre Trudeau

finbear

roney - i'm so glad i'm not american too hahaha. gross, if i was i'd have to act like my country was admired and respected all over the world when really every other country is laughing at our (your) poor decisions and rapid decline.

to answer the question asked: i think trudeau was a legendary PM who basically shaped Canada into the great place it is today. if only we could find someone similar to him today into the joke of a PM we have right now.

Tlfce

Stephen Harper...

The best thing that ever happened to this country

Red Hat

I'm so glad Canadians aren't Americans

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