Louis St-Laurent
Today is Louis St-Laurent’s birthday. Born in 1882, St-Laurent was Canada’s second francophone prime minister. Known for his warmth and common touch, St-Laurent earned the nickname “Uncle Louis”.
His administration was instrumental in shaping post-war Canada into the society we enjoy today. His administration was a driving force behind the establishment of NATO and in developing UN peacekeeping, which was spearheaded by his foreign minister, Lester Pearson. St-Laurent’s government created the Canada Council for the Arts, hospital insurance (a forerunner of medicare) and the equalization program.
In 1952 – sixty years ago – his government created Canada’s cherished Old Age Security program. In order to support Canada’s rapidly expanding economy St-Laurent’s government invested in important infrastructure projects like the Trans-Canada Highway and the St. Lawrence Seaway.
St-Laurent also established the Supreme Court of Canada as the highest court in the land and in 1952, nominated Canada’s first Canadian-born Governor General, Vincent Massey.
- Bob Rae