‘Uncle Louis’ – A Quiet Man of Excellence

Born 17 years after Confederation, first elected to office in 1942, defeated as prime minister 64 years ago: Louis St-Laurent seems an unlikely choice to be having a moment now, nearly 140 years after his birth. But a moment it is. In January, the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada (MISC) held an online symposium titled Rediscovering Louis St-Laurent, dissecting his legacy. Written articles since have done the same. A major contribution to the re-examination is The Unexpected Louis St-Laurent: Politics and Policies for a Modern Canada.

Edited by Ryerson University political scientist Patrice Dutil with entries from an all-star team of fellow political historians, the book explores St-Laurent’s achievements in close detail. Among them, Dutil notes, huge infrastructure projects including the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Trans-Canada Highway; creation of the Registered Retirement Savings Plan; university funding, pension and old age assistance reform, support for the disabled, establishment of the equalization program to help have-not-provinces; establishing the Supreme Court as the final judicial body of decision; the entry into Confederation of Newfoundland and Labrador. [MORE]