Why is Pierre Trudeau seen as such a villain in French Canada?

PIERRE TRUDEAU - A VILLAIN IN FRENCH CANADA

Introduction

Pierre Trudeau an eternal Canadian nationalist could be rightfully ascribed for building the strong foundations of federalism in Canada in the turbulent period of the 1970 's and the 1980 's . He represented the quintessential Canadian liberal politician of his times , hobnobbing with the likes of John Lennon and Yoko Ono while imposing what some say the draconian War Measures Act in 1980 to quell the wave of terrorism unleashed by the separatists in Quebec . Unafraid to speak and act as per his

personal proclivities in a World which was adjusting to the rise of Communism , Trudeau prevented its backlash into Conservatism and ultra nationalism as seen in Quebec , affect the country as a whole . His vision of nationalism included acceptance of plurality in a multi cultural state , represented by introduction of bilingualism in Canada at his behest . The force of his personality supported the strength of his ideas thereby making him a strong object of worship as well as revulsion . It was thus but natural that Trudeau would be finding many detractors particularly amongst the Francophone of Quebec . Pierre Trudeau is seen as a villain in French Canada due to his vitriolic contrarian personality , his espousal of the liberal ideology representing the virtual counter culture of the 1970 's and his strong espousal of federalism which came in direct confrontation with Quebec nationalism

Contrarian Personality

Trudeau 's flamboyant personality , his disrespect for formal authority represented by the famous pirouette behind the Queen of England 's back provided reasons to his detractors to run down his achievements . Trudeau born in a French Scottish background and educated in the College Jean-de-Brebeuf perhaps was well set to be a nationalist as well as a clerical fascist . Fortunately the vistas of his personality opened as he traveled widely and came into intellectual contact with liberals as Jacques Maritain and John Locke . The influence of these years of travel and study , in France , UK including the London School of Economics and the United States bore an undefinable imprint of political liberalism on his personality . It also strangely brought him closer to figures as the British pop band Beatles . His rejection of the Second World War did not go too well with nationalists and believers who continued to have faith in the values for which the War was being fought . He is also reported to have spoken at an anti draft rally thus being expelled from the Canadian Officer 's Training School for indiscipline . All this was not suited to endear him universally and provided fodder to the French Canadians

After the War he became the leading dissident against the ideas of conservatism from both sides of the Anglo French divide in Canada which was expanding each day . This along with his dabbling in trade unionism with a Marxist touch was anathema to the political class of the times The Marxist leaning was evident with the ban imposed on him in the United States for attending a...