Former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, defeated by Joe Clark only a few months before, announced on this date in 1979 that he was reversing his earlier decision to step aside as Liberal leader. Trudeau’s move came after Clark and his fledgling government were defeated in a confidence vote five days before. With Canada plunged into an election, Trudeau carefully maneuvered his return as Liberal leader. It was a good move as he was sent back to 24 Sussex Drive by voters in the election that followed in February 1980.
You can watch television coverage of Trudeau’s announcement at this link.
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.