With Justin Trudeau tendering his resignation as Leader of the Liberal Party and as Prime Minister of Canada, the story of the most prominent family in Canadian politics may be coming to an end. Justin, Pierre, and Margaret have all spoken to the Empire Club of Canada at one time, each speaking on different issues that have affected their political legacies.
Pierre Eliiot Trudeau, Library and Archives Canada, Governement of Canada.
During his first time in office in 1972, Pierre spoke to the Empire Club on his foreign policy agenda. Coincidentally, this speech took place only a day after the final game of the 1972 Summit Series, in which Paul Henderson scored a goal in the final minute to win the game and series for Team Canada against a strong Soviet Union national hockey team. This series — and goal — was an important moment in Canadian history, not only for its lasting impact on the game of hockey, but for its political stakes, signifying a battle between democracy and communism. Even after only a day, Trudeau understood the importance of this moment. “For this meeting of mine with yours comes at a point after the series of games, but also at a point during an election campaign and also at a point of Canadian history about which I think we want to take stock,” he said. He went on to talk about foreign policy objectives, their relationship with the Soviet Union, and Canada’s involvement in conflicts around the world. “Now in all of these interrelated policies, and there are many more, I suggest that Canadians have benefited, and they have benefited because we have been willing to take a long view and because we have been willing to take fresh perspectives,” he said.
In 2010, Margaret Trudeau also spoke to the Empire Club of Canada about Children’s Mental Health Week. She has long been an advocate of mental health, specifically of people with bipolar disorder, for which she has been diagnosed. She has made a name for herself as more than just the ex-wife of Pierre, or the mother of Justin, saying, “I want to
Margaret Trudeau’s signature ECC Guest book. Empire Club Foundation Archives
be more than a rose in my husband’s lapel.”
Written by Silas Le Blanc. Silas Le Blanc is a Toronto based journalist, writer and content creator. She has previously worked at Xtra Magazine, The Varsity, The Review of Journalism and CJRU 1280 AM.
This speech was in conversation with Valerie Pringle, an award-winning television host and journalist. Trudeau spoke about her struggles with bipolar disorder and postpartum depression. She recalls that at the time, doctors were not as educated about mental health, and she wasn’t able to receive any effective treatment. “I remember the psychiatrist wanted to get me back to being a good prime minister’s wife,” she said. “I sort of felt like a broken car that needed something fixed, but it wasn’t the right approach.”
She emphasized the importance of people receiving help, and being able to get treatment whenever they need. “I say the shame is not having a mental illness,” she said. “The shame is having one and not seeking treatment and not getting better and not being able to be the whole wonderful person that you are meant to be. You are impaired by something in your brain. Why can’t we look at our brain the same as any of our other organs?”
Justin Trudeau speaking at the Empire Club of Canada, 2013
In 2013, before he was Prime Minister, and merely a candidate for leadership of the Liberal Party, and an MP for the Montreal riding of Papineau, Justin Trudeau gave a speech to the Empire Club of Canada, where he touched on the role of young people in politics. He spoke about what made him decide to run, and how he was motivated by the idea that the Liberal Party was stuck in the old way of doing things. “The problem that we identified was that the Liberal Party was no longer able to connect with Canadians,” he said. They’d no longer earned Canadians’ trust and confidence. For me it’s not about demonstrating to the Liberal Party that we’re smart and we have these solutions, the answers that we’ll put forward that will fix this country’s challenges. It was about instead drawing Canadians back in, not just to the Liberal Party, but to the idea of politics.” He said that many Canadians were cynical about politics, and that it was his goal to help those people get excited again.
Throughout their careers, the Trudeau family has had a lasting impact on Canadian politics, with all three of these individuals contributing in their own way. While remaining extremely divisive and controversial, it is interesting to see the three prominent members of this family at specific points in their careers, to look at the way this country has been shaped for better or for worse.