Pierre Elliot Trudeau

[wulf42]

You know i am a hard core Tory always have been... always will be...............but i have to say i saw some old footage of Pierre Trudeau the other night and one thing i will say for the man he had charisma...and he was a good leader....he had women chasing him around Ottawa like a rock star for petes sake.....lol.......the Liberal's might have been a real threat to Harper if they had a man like that today.... unfortunately Dion has about as much charisma as road kill.....!

Edited September 30, 2008 by wulf42

[capricorn]

....he had women chasing him around Ottawa like a rock star for petes sake.

PET was a bachelor at the time. Hearts were fluttering. Look where it got us.

[wulf42]

PET was a bachelor at the time. Hearts were fluttering. Look where it got us.

true enough but he vigorously defended the newly implemented universal health care back in the day......so i have to give him credit for that!

[capricorn]

true enough but he vigorously defended the newly implemented universal health care back in the day......so i have to give him credit for that!

The push for universal health care started way before Trudeau's days as PM. It goes without saying that health care for all was definitely something he championed.

Canadians are fortunate to have one of the best health care systems in the world. The creation of that system began in 1957, when the Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act was approved by Parliament. The Act provided free acute hospital care and laboratory and radiological diagnostic services to Canadians. It was followed by the Medical Care Act of 1966, which provided free access to physician services.

----

In 1964-65, the Royal Commission on Health Services released a two-volume report recommending a comprehensive and universal medicare system for all Canadians. The report advocated that medicare cover physician care and prescription drugs.

By 1966, the majority of Canadians were insured for physician services through various private or public insurance plans. That year, the Government of Canada passed the Medical Care Act. However, according to the Canadian constitution health care is a provincial area of jurisdiction so the Government of Canada entered into negotiations with each province individually. By 1972, each province had established its own system of free access to physician services and the federal government shared in the funding.

http://www.canadianeconomy.gc.ca/English/e...57medicare.html

[wulf42]

The push for universal health care started way before Trudeau's days as PM. It goes without saying that health care for all was definitely something he championed.

I think he will always be known for fighting the separatists in Quebec ..........and of course his larger than life image.....really when Pierre left politics that was the beginning of the end for the liberal Party.....Chretien will always be known for screwing the country over and damaging it maybe beyond repair!

[blueblood]

I think he will always be known for fighting the separatists in Quebec ..........and of course his larger than life image.....really when Pierre left politics that was the beginning of the end for the liberal Party.....Chretien will always be known for screwing the country over and damaging it maybe beyond repair!

No, Trudeau did a good job of that as well. Pierre leaving politics was a good thing, the mistake is getting his croonies to carry the torch.

[Slim MacSquinty]

In 1957 Trudeau was nowhere on the political front, so don't give him credit for universal health care, which party brought it in? The Tories under Dief.

[Smallc]

Chretien will always be known for screwing the country over and damaging it maybe beyond repair!

I thought that was Mulroney?

[Canadian Blue]

I think that every single leader since Pearson has screwed up Canada, the one that I can think of who didn't do long term damage was Joe Clark.

[independent]

I think that every single leader since Pearson has screwed up Canada, the one that I can think of who didn't do long term damage was Joe Clark.

Canada is in not that bad of shape. None of the PMs did permanent damage to the country. They all had their faults and their gifts. Some of them did stay in to long and they started to get arrogant. As long as they realize who put them in and listen too the people they are adequate. As soon as they start working on there own agenda or start paying off political debts that is when the problems start.

[wulf42]

In 1957 Trudeau was nowhere on the political front, so don't give him credit for universal health care, which party brought it in? The Tories under Dief.

I only gave him credit for defending......it....Dief was good but he really screwed up when he cancelled the Arrow!!

[Mr.Canada]

You know i am a hard core Tory always have been... always will be...............but i have to say i saw some old footage of Pierre Trudeau the other night and one thing i will say for the man he had charisma...and he was a good leader....he had women chasing him around Ottawa like a rock star for petes sake.....lol.......the Liberal's might have been a real threat to Harper if they had a man like that today.... unfortunately Dion has about as much charisma as road kill.....!

Yep, I agree wholeheartedly. He was a real charmer. I guess he had to be if was going to change the constitution and turn Canada into a socialist country.

[wulf42]

Yep, I agree wholeheartedly. He was a real charmer. I guess he had to be if was going to change the constitution and turn Canada into a socialist country.

True enough............but i have to admire the man for having all the chicks chase him around Ottawa.....lol, how many politicians today can claim that?

[OddSox]

I have always believed that Mulroney got the shaft as far as the 'lying brian' thing. NAFTA and the GST were initiatives that he put forward because he believed they were good for the country - they sure as hell did not do much for him politically. Over time, those two initiatives made it possible for Trudeau's out-of-control deficit spending to be reeled in - and Liberals ended up getting the credit for it.

Edited October 19, 2008 by OddSox

[Moonbox]

I only gave him credit for defending......it....Dief was good but he really screwed up when he cancelled the Arrow!!

The Arrow was costing tax payers so much money it wasn't at all worth it.

The fact that nobody could find foreign buyers for the project really shows you how much spin Canadian media put on it as to the merits of the project.

[Argus]

I have always believed that Mulroney got the shaft as far as the 'lying brian' thing.

That was deliberate strategy by the Liberals, and in particular, making use of the 'rat pack' who they thought oculd get away with being crude and ignorant in the House. So what if they got thrown out for calling the Pm a liar. They'd just 'apologise" and be back the next day. But the newscasts would cover their accusation, and them being escorted out by the sergeant at arms. It made for good political theatre. They believed that accusing him of lying constantly would eventually result in tarnishing people's image of the man - which at that time was quite good. The irony is the people they used like Copps and Boudria were rather notorious for being dishonest. But it really helped lower the tone of the House, and I don't think decorum ever recovered.

NAFTA and the GST were initiatives that he put forward because he believed they were good for the country - they sure as hell did not do much for him politically. Over time, those two initiatives made it possible for Trudeau's out-of-control deficit spending to be reeled in - and Liberals ended up getting the credit for it.

Mulroney reigned in tough economic times. Chretien had the good fortune to reign in great economic times. Reverse the times and see how well Chretien and Martin would have done with what Mulroney and Neilson were handed - and what Mulroney would have done with the bountiful surpluses Chretien had to play with.

[Argus]

true enough but he vigorously defended the newly implemented universal health care back in the day......so i have to give him credit for that!

And he used that credit to pay for that health care! Yup, put it on the old credit card!

And you're paying for it now.

[Topaz]

That was deliberate strategy by the Liberals, and in particular, making use of the 'rat pack' who they thought oculd get away with being crude and ignorant in the House. So what if they got thrown out for calling the Pm a liar. They'd just 'apologise" and be back the next day. But the newscasts would cover their accusation, and them being escorted out by the sergeant at arms. It made for good political theatre. They believed that accusing him of lying constantly would eventually result in tarnishing people's image of the man - which at that time was quite good. The irony is the people they used like Copps and Boudria were rather notorious for being dishonest. But it really helped lower the tone of the House, and I don't think decorum ever recovered.

Mulroney reigned in tough economic times. Chretien had the good fortune to reign in great economic times. Reverse the times and see how well Chretien and Martin would have done with what Mulroney and Neilson were handed - and what Mulroney would have done with the bountiful surpluses Chretien had to play with.

The question is what did Harper do with the 12 BILLION of surpluses that will put Canada into a deficit again! 3 times when he thought the Libs were going to bring down his government he went out and spent! He said Canada will never be in a deficit under his government and next year we will probably have a 10 Billion or larger. Those tax cut cost and has put the country back in the red and don't be surprised if the Cons come along and have to increase taxes.

[wulf42]

The Arrow was costing tax payers so much money it wasn't at all worth it.

The fact that nobody could find foreign buyers for the project really shows you how much spin Canadian media put on it as to the merits of the project.

Actually the Americans had alot to do with that project being cancelled..............back in the day the Arrow broke records the aircraft was second to none....a fact the Americans did not like...how dare Canada have a better weapon than them...........so they told old Dief at the time ...look we will protect you from the Russians you don't need the Arrow.................and now thanks to years of Liberal leadership we still depend on the Americans to protect us....we Canadians won't admit it and we don't like it but our big brother next door still looks after us .

here is an interesting link about the Arrow

http://archives.cbc.ca/science_technology/...ics/topics/275/

[Argus]

The question is what did Harper do with the 12 BILLION of surpluses that will put Canada into a deficit again!

I still do not understand where people ever got the idea that it was a good idea for the government to tax them more than it needed - just in case. Not a little more, not a few billion more just in case, but many, many billions more, just in case.

He gave it back to you. He lowered taxes. He decided he should not be taking that money when he didn't need it. This also had the affect of stimulating the economy, btw.

Now if he finds he needs it, and can make a case for that for something other than sucking up to Quebec, then I don't mind if he increases taxes again.

[Who's Doing What?]

I still do not understand where people ever got the idea that it was a good idea for the government to tax them more than it needed - just in case. Not a little more, not a few billion more just in case, but many, many billions more, just in case.

He gave it back to you. He lowered taxes. He decided he should not be taking that money when he didn't need it. This also had the affect of stimulating the economy, btw.

Now if he finds he needs it, and can make a case for that for something other than sucking up to Quebec, then I don't mind if he increases taxes again.

Funny I don't notice anymore money in my pocket.