The First Trudeau

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Moment in time: 

Dec. 21, 1967 - Pierre Trudeau speaks on the 'bedrooms of the nation': 

"There's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation," Pierre Trudeau. 

The Justice Minister was defending legislation that, in its final form, decriminalized homosexuality, permitted abortion in certain circumstances, decriminalized contraception, introduced the 0.08 blood alcohol concentration limit for drinking and driving, legalized lotteries, restricted the use of firearms and more. 

That year Trudeau introduced the bill, the Supreme Court had upheld a dangerous-offender life sentence for a man convicted of homosexuality, and NDP Leader Tommy Douglas appeared enlightened when he declared in 1968:

 "Instead of treating [homosexuality] as a crime and driving it underground, we ought to recognize it for what it is: It's a mental illness." Despite an attempted filibuster from the Créditistes, Bill C-150 passed in May, 1969 - with Trudeau as Prime Minister at that point - forever shattering the power of religion to restrict the actions of government and bringing social tolerance to this land.

(John Lbbitson)