Gara Pierre and Margaret disembark in happier times. THE HOUSE What By ARCH MacKENZIE OTTAWA (CP) — Plerre Trudeau's resignation as na- tional Liberal party leader may help atabllize the fragile political balance over the short term. And |t gives Liberals the opportunity to select somebody who may give the party a better chance in the next general election. Trudeau, in announcing his resignation Wednesday, suggested a leadership conventlon in March. That would mean puting a freeze on any Liberal ap- petite to defeat the minority government of Prime Minister Clark before then. No political party relishes fighting a leadership battle and a general etection. As matters were developing, Liberal and NDP MPs appeared to have a goed chance — If they exerted thelr opposition on certain subjects — of top- pling the Clark government. The Progressive Con- servative voting margin in the Commons was reduced ta one this week by Liberal and NDP byelection victories. That assumed continued Pierre’s goodbye OTTAWA = (CP) Following is a text of former prime minister Trudeau's statement announcing hia resignation as leader of the Liberal party: I'm announcing today that after spending nearly 12 years as leader of the Liberal party I’m stepping down from the teadership and asking the national executive of the party to call a convention for next March to choose a new lender. There la no easy way or ideal time to leave and there are always strong public and private reasons both for golng and for staying on. Ata polnt In time one simply makes the decision as to what is best. 1 will burn aver a healthy party to my successor, We aye 114 energetic and aedicated members af Parliament who in many cases have been my friends and colleagues since I came to Otlawa. Many senators have alao been loyal sup- porters. I'm grateful to them and to all the Liberals throughout the land for having given me such an ex- traordinary opportunity to serve my country. Our party has a large and growing plurality of support from Canadians, as wit- nessed by the recent rovincial and federal yelections. These Ca- nadians are dedicated to Liberal principles and policies and are deeply concerned over the present fovemiient's actions, [ ow that before too long they will call on our party to govern Canada agaln. Liberals are in the process of rethinking the party's policies and of rebuil Its organization to be ready ta return to office. In my view one element of that renewal should be a change in the leadership. . I thought a good deal about a change of leaders with the Quebec referendum facing Canada, presumably late next spring, [ want to assure all Canadians that wherever Iam or whatever J do, I will continue to work and fight for our country. As member of Parllament for Mount Royal and as a Canadian born and ralsed In Quebec, J wish in particular to express my thanks to the people of my canatituency and of my province for thelr unfailing support. As they have stood by me In every battle since 1965, so to the ¥ best of my ability I shall stand with them to fight for ‘Canada during the referendum. But I also know that the struggle for unity will be an ongolng one, lasting well be- yond the referendum. It will require long and sustained efforta to build the kind of Canada that most of us want, I feel it’s time for a new leader to take up thls work. And to you (the press), I think what hasn’t been ap- parent collectively ia that when we meet singly or in small groups [ can say that 1 ‘enjoyed working with you, And if I can be permitted to turn around a phrase, I would aay that I’m kind of sorry I won't have you to kick around anymore. support for the Con- servatives from the five- member Social Credit caucus and leader Fabien Roy had indicated that some issues, such as the Con- servative housing leglalation, could not be ae- cepted as they stand. The general Commons mood also had detorlated in _the elx weeks since the new Parliament met Oct. 9, to the polnt that only two bills had gone through Parliament as of Tuesday. The Clark government has Tun into heavy weather on two main questions — its inability to get agreement with Alberta on a new energy policy pushing petroleum prices up sharply and on the perceived need to maintain record-high Interest rates to keep ahead of those In the United States. All that will be griat for Liberal leadership can- didates, and it will mean that the political debate is going to flow beyond Parliament until the leadership choice la made, Clark moved quickly Wednesday to say he plans . AU: a look back The Herald, Friday, November 23, 1979 Page 5 Trudeaumania to the back bench By KITTY MCKINSEY OTTAWA (CP) — Plerre Trudeau, the Montreal in- tellectual who first came to power 11 years ago In a blaze of Trudeaumania, an- nounced today he js leaving politics just as suddenly aa he entered, Trudeau, 60, who seemed £0 young when he burat onto the federal scene in. 1965, saya it is time for someone else to take up his fight ogainst separatism in Quebec. After years aga vociferous critic of the Liberal party, he came to Ottawa as a Liberal MP in 1985 to show Quebecersa they had a place in the federal system. [ronically, as he leaves federal politics, the separatist threat looms larger than ever and critics say Trudeau exacerbated the situation through his rigid federalist stand and in- abillty to compromise. Announcing his resignation — he plans to stay on until a successor is selected next March — he sald the party needs a new. leader to continue fighting for natlonal unity after the Quebec referendum on sovereignty-association next spring. . In the dying days of the May 22 election Trudeau, still preaching the national . tinity theme of his first election, was almoat begging voters to glyve him one more chance to deal with Quebec. That the voters turned Instead ta boyish rival Joe Clark, a man Trudeau never took seriously, had to be a severe disappointment to a man who seldom has failed _ at anything In his life, After hla almost chance entrance into politica — the Liberals were chasing Jean Marchand, who wouldn't come to Ottawa without Trudeau and Gerard Pelletier — the Montreal millionalre's son became the darling of the media and of adoring women who showered him with roses and kisses wherever he went. The swinging bachelor justice minister, who wore an ascot and sandals to the the future holds no general election call that would take advantage of Liberal preoccupation with choosing a new leader. He speculated that the Trudeau velopment may help the government get moving more quickly on its legislative program. And Stanley Knowles, veleran House leader of the New Democratle Party, said the Trudeau announcement means "there will be no election for the next few months." Trudeau was a new leader in 1968 when he was unable to win the first majority government since 1062, beatIng new Conservative leader Robert Stanfield. Joe Clark was the unsung leadership winner in 1976 and went on in 1979 to win a minority decision. But any yisions of a natlonal sweep, of the kind recorded by John Diefenbaker in 1858 after he as a new leader won a minority election, appear to be less ilkely. That at least was one mes: sage in the byelection results in Saskatchewan and New- foundland thls week, ze “, MECHANICAL UPGRADING . TRAINING PROGRAM Finning Tractor & Equipment are now accepting applications for participation In a six month Mechanical Upgrading Training Program on Caterpillar equip- ment. This program will commence in January 1980 In Prince George and suc- cessful graduates will be employed In Prince George, Houston or Terrace, MaacKenzle, Quesnel, This program Is intended for individuals with @ good mechanical apiltyde and 2-3 years previous experience in the heavy duty or automotive trade. Participants will be pald an hourly rate of $8.91 and we offer a comprehensive company paid benefit package. Some relocation assistance may be considered, Please apply In writing to: Patricta Elliott Personnel Manager Finning Tracter & Equipment Co. Ltd. 1100 Pacific St, Prince Gearge, B.C. V2N 2K8 Commons and took the atate out of the bedrooms of the nation, won the Liberal leadershi almost ef: fortlessly in 1968. . His youthful charisma and vague promises of a Just Society coincided perfectly i¢ mood with the optimlis sweeping Canada the year after the Centennial and Expo ‘67. —_ The mercurial Trudeau has always confounded observers with his willingness and ability to change styles. Often appear- Ing aloof and. arrogant, he proved even in his last election that he could turn on thS chariama at will. His personal motto was "“yeagon before passion” but be was infamous for his ill- tempered outbursts, mouthing the legendary “fuddle-duddle’' phrase across the floor of the Com- mons ard later threatening - to kick the ass of a Con- bervatlve MP who heckled Never knewn for his respect or affection for j te, Trudeau once got Into a shoving match with a radio reporter. And he took one final shot at reporters as he announced his resignation. “If J can be permitted to turn around a ase, I- would say that I'm kind of sorry I won’t have you to kick around any more,” he seid ap he left the news conference. At the beginning of the last election campalgn, he seemed almost intent on allenating voters, He called farmers professional complainers, told a heckler to get off his ses and find a job and labelled the. provinces selfish and egotistical, But, aides said, galvanized by the realization that Clark had a good chance of taking away his job, Trudeau finished strongly with blazing attacka on his Con- servative rival. Tronically, public opinion polls showed voters over- whelmingly considered Trudeau the most competent and most attractive of the a SS Sa Seo fe “al NS Wes “e oe aS e¥, yn so ame" re pa Oe: rs eo: = ties My a RE OE. an EES gs three party leaders, ; The battle he could not win was against the apparent widespread feeling that after 16 years of Liberal govern- ‘ment and 11 years of Trudeau, it was time for a change. But in his first three elections he appeared to have a Midas touch. Whichever image he choae to adopt appealed to the voters. In 1968 the public loved him as an International jet- setter who dated stars like Barbra Streisand. And when he married three two years later, Canadians fell in love with his bride Margaret, 29 years his junior. She was, the media burbled, beautiful, sexy | brilliant and accom- Shaken by his near-loss at the polls in 1972, she took to the campaign trails in 1974 praising him as a man who taught her “a lot about loving,” When Margaret left him in 1977 for a jet-set life of her own and later published her kissand-tell autoblography, there was a great outpouring of public sympathy for Trudeau, left to ‘raise three small sons on his own, His political rivals, especially Clark, ruled Trudeau's marriage troubles atrictly out-ofbounds in the last election. After his defeat, Trudeau, always the stoic, conceded gracefully to Clark and promised to give the new government a chance to govern. ; He then disappeared for the summer, canoeing in the Northwest Territories and vacationing with his sons in the Maritimes. Some said his most significant ac- complishment In his first four months as Opposltion . leader was growing a beard. For a man who once ridiculed MPs as nobodies, It was hard to see any promise In the job of Opposition leader. Once Parliament resumed in October, It seemed obvious his heart was not in the role. He rarely led off questioning ln the Commons Se ee, nD RE ls SE iE IDE OB BE aes question period, aa ls traditional for an Opposition leader to do, and waa only roused to speak when his policies or administration ‘were under attack. In Opposition, Liberal MPs who thought they had been slighted by Trudeau felt [ree to voice thelr dissension. With rivals for hls job breathing down his neck, Trudeau recently began mending po'itical fences at Liberal gatherings. But stirring attacks on the government, written for him by aides, were delivered Ina unenthusisatlc monotone, as If he were just going through the motions. The Conservative party's Joss In two byelectiona this week may have increased the pressure on Trudeau to resign. With the rma government hanglng a one-vote thread, an election might have been forced at any time, A number of Liberala were said reluctant to fight another election with Trudeau as leader and party officials were to decide this weekend whether to call a leadership convention. —April, 1968: Trudeau becomes Liberal leader and days later succeeds Lester Pearson as prime minister of Canada. —October 3, 1672: Trudeau's Liberals hang on to power with 100 seats, narrowly edging Robert Stantield's Conservatives who win 107 seats in federal election. —Nov. 21, 1879: Trudeau quits as Liberal leader and calls for a leadership convention next March, If you've . gotwhatit <