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Challenging Canada's 'sacred cows'

Broadcast Date: Jan. 23, 1968

It's a month after the Omnibus Bill is introduced and Trudeau is starting to feel the heat from members of the House. Some claim abortion is murder and that the sexual acts clause promotes homosexuality. Asked if he plans to proceed with the bill in the upcoming session of Parliament, Trudeau tells the CBC's Ron Collister in this clip that it is "classed as top priority for this session" and it "should be passed forward as fast as it can".

Challenging Canada's 'sacred cows'

• While the bill sought to liberalize abortion laws in Canada, it didn't allow women to have 'abortion on demand', much to the disgruntlement of a growing number of feminists and pro-choice advocates at the time. Women didn't receive that freedom until Jan. 28, 1988 when the Supreme Court of Canada struck down Canada's abortion law as unconstitutional because it infringed upon a woman's right to "life, liberty and security of person."

• In this same interview, Trudeau is asked about rumours that he planned to announce that weekend his intention to run for the Liberal leadership. His answer? "That speculation is completely false." Less than two weeks later Trudeau formally declared his candidacy. On Apr. 6, 1968 he won the Liberal leadership election in a landslide and was sworn in as Canada's 15th Prime Minister on April 20.

Challenging Canada's 'sacred cows'

Medium: Television

Program: CBC Newsmagazine

Broadcast Date: Jan. 23, 1968

Guest(s): Pierre Trudeau

Host: Ron Collister, Norman DePoe

Duration: 2:53

Last updated:
Aug. 14, 2003