Symbol of Canada: The Trudeau Prime Minister

Author: Liu Guangtai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Trudeau was a sincere and intellectually gifted person, who possessed remarkable vitality and enthusiasm throughout his life. He was a true leader of Canada, and the country has not seen his like since. In a nation lacking heroes, Trudeau will be eternally remembered as a worthy Canadian hero. — Charles Burton, former Cultural Counselor and Political Counselor of the Canadian Embassy in China
This book is another significant contribution by the renowned Chinese-Canadian studies expert, Professor Liu Guangtai, in the field of Canadian studies. Written in Chinese for Chinese readers, it focuses on the former Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau, who served as the country's leader from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s. On the surface, this book appears to be written exclusively for highly specialized Chinese-Canadian researchers, as there is only a small circle of scholars in China engaged in studying this distant country, which has a population comparable to a small Chinese province with only about 30 million people. In reality, however, the book has many aspects that will attract a broader Chinese readership.
First, for many Chinese today, Trudeau's life is full of contradictions. His father was of French descent, while his mother was of Scottish descent. He was fluent in both English and French. Deep down, he possessed the charm of harmonizing the inherent appeal of two entirely different linguistic and cultural traditions through liberal principles. As a typical liberal, he was extremely tolerant of diversity in values and lifestyles. Where conflicts arose, he applied his motto, "Reason over Passion," to mediate them. The rigorous philosophical education he received at a Jesuit school endowed him with extraordinary intellect and talent, which he used to pursue justice for all Canadians—English, French, Indigenous, and Canadians of other cultural backgrounds, including those of Chinese descent. It was during Trudeau's tenure that discriminatory barriers preventing Chinese immigrants from entering Canada were finally permanently dismantled.
Second, Trudeau paid particular attention to what he called "cultural imperialism" in the United States, much like China does today. Throughout his political career, he dedicated himself to preserving Canada's unique cultural identity while respecting Canadians' freedom of choice in what films and television programs to watch, what music to listen to, what books to read, and how to access news and political commentary. His understanding of Canada's unique identity was built upon the two "founding nations" of English and French, a concept that has yet to be tested by time. This can provide valuable insights for China, as the Chinese nation is also rapidly seeking to define its modern identity in a globalized world.
Finally, this is also a book about leadership. Through his personal charisma and impeccable character, Trudeau inspired a nation to follow his vision of achieving a just society in Canada. He possessed the leader's charm and unwavering determination to transform Canada according to his values and principles. Those who agreed with or even opposed his political views (many of whom did oppose him) ultimately respected him and his beliefs. Trudeau was a great leader of his generation, whose life inspired and gave hope to all of humanity. He passed away on September 28, 2000, at the age of 81. During the 16 years from 1968 to 1984, he served as Canada's Prime Minister almost continuously. The news of his passing plunged the Canadian public into unprecedented grief, with politicians from all parties delivering heartfelt eulogies in lengthy speeches. News media extensively covered the public mourning at his state funeral in the Canadian Parliament and the procession of his coffin. People from all walks of life stood solemnly along the entire route of the train carrying Trudeau's remains, from Ottawa to his final resting place in Quebec, paying tribute to his lifelong achievements. After the announcement of his death, special magazines dedicated to honoring him sold extremely well in street-side stores across the country.