Pierre Trudeau faced Canadian electors five times, four times victoriously. and was the longest serving prime minister since the Second World War, Trudeau's success depended greatly on support from Canadians of Italian origin. 

Italians gave him their support basically because approximately four out of five Italians voted consistently Liberal. Additionally Trudeau was Catholic, could speak Italian, was open to immigration from southern Europe,  his commitment to minority language rights, and his notion of multiculturalism was principally a statement of respect for the diverse origins of Canadians.

Pierre Trudeau faced Canadian electors five times, four times victoriously. The longest serving prime minister since the Second World War, Trudeau?s success depended greatly on support from Canadians of Italian origin. Without them, he would have lost in 1972 and would have been a short term and unsuccessful Canadian prime minister.

 In studies of Canadian federal elections between 1968 when Trudeaumania swept the country and 1980 when he won his final majority government, Italian Canadians are the most consistent supporters of the Liberal Party. Approximately four out of five Italians voted consistently for Trudeau?s Liberals whereas received the support of less than two of five Canadians of British and Protestant origin. 

An easy explanation would be religion, which analysts of the time described as the major determinant of voting behaviour. To be sure, Trudeau was a practising Catholic, although he refused to speak about his religious faith in political circles. Nevertheless, one of his first acts was to appoint a Canadian ambassador to the Holy See. The appointment received strong criticism in some Protestant circles, but quiet approval from Catholics of continental European origin who noted, with some curiosity and occasional resentment, that Canada?s Queen was the "defender of the faith," the Anglican faith.

But religion is a partial explanation. Trudeau, a remarkable linguist, could speak to Italian Canadian audiences in understandable Italian, something no prime minister had ever done. Moreover, in a period when Italian style dominated North American celebrity culture, Trudeau wore Zegna suits and shoes that looked like Guccis. Unlike his grey predecessors, Trudeau radiated ?style? in the cut of his clothing, his Mercedes convertible, and his cosmopolitan tastes. 

Style without substance has a short life. Obviously the Liberal governments? openness to immigration from southern Europe formed a base for political support, but its consistency required reinforcement. Trudeau?s lasting appeal to Italian Canadians resided in his commitment to minority language rights, an issue that exploded in Montreal?s St. Leonard district on the eve of his ascent to the prime minister?s office. In a broader sense, his notion of multiculturalism was principally a statement of respect for the diverse origins of Canadians. Outside of Quebec, Trudeau worked closely and easily with Italian Canadian leaders, notably Charles Caccia of Toronto who held senior posts in his cabinet. 

After Trudeau resigned, Italian Canadian support for the Liberals declined, but there was a so-called "pasta caucus" in the Chr?tien years. Its members, most of them second generation immigrants, received their political education in the Trudeau years. They were a visible legacy of a remarkable bond between Pierre Trudeau and Italian Canadians. 

John English is a professor of History at the University of Waterloo. He is the author of the multi award-winning two-volume biography of Canadian prime minister Lester B. Pearson and general editor of the Dictionary of Canadian Biography. 

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